The Harbour Lights Mystery by Emylia Hall

Author:Emylia Hall [Hall, Emylia]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-10-16T16:00:00+00:00

36

Jayden stands outside the hotel, planning his move. It’s an ordinary-looking chain, not the kind of place he can saunter into, pretending to be swinging by for a coffee or brunch. Mullins tipped him off that since the fire Phil Butt’s been staying here in Penzance. It isn’t classified information, but nevertheless, Butt probably won’t welcome the intrusion. Jayden reckons his best bet is to plant himself in a spot where he can watch the door and catch him in passing; make it look as casual as possible.

If Phil’s passing, that is. He might just be holed up in his room, the outside world no kind of a temptation. First a murder then a fire: not good times for Phil Butt.

Jayden scans the street, the wind slicing his cheeks. There’s no car parking round here, and it’s way too chilly for just sitting on a bench. He decides to try his luck inside.

Ducking through the sliding doors he sees a tourist ahead of him at the desk, a man dressed in long khaki shorts and flip-flops, despite the weather. He’s going deep with questions on St Michael’s Mount and tide times, so Jayden takes a few steps on and looks through to the dining room. It’s right at the tail end of the breakfast sitting, and just a few tables are still occupied. A little three-person family sit eating a yoghurt apiece, spoons moving in perfect time. A game-looking elderly couple are dressed up in hiking gear, maps spread out across the table. And there, in the far corner, on his own, is a man who looks like he doesn’t want to be here at all. Jayden recognises him from his photo, the same one that has popped up in various news articles ever since the fire.

Phil Butt. A lucky break, but he’ll take it.

‘Can I help?’ the girl on reception is calling out to him in a tone that’s polite but questioning. She wears a shiny white blouse and a badge says her name is Anya.

‘Morning,’ says Jayden. ‘I’m meeting a friend here.’ He points to the breakfast room. ‘Am I okay to just go on through?’

‘Are you a guest?’

‘No, but my friend is,’ he says with a grin.

‘Sure.’ She smiles back. ‘But you’ll have to pay. £8.99 for Continental, £11.99 Full English. It’s a buffet. And we’re about to stop serving.’

‘What about just a coffee?’

‘That’s included in the Continental.’

Her smile has a note of triumph in it, now. Well, fair enough. Jayden reaches for his wallet. It is, he thinks, a small price to pay for direct access to a lead.

‘Alright, I’ll go for the Continental,’ he says, handing over a tenner. ‘Bon appétit, right?’

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