Like everyone else in St Pirran, Adam was delighted to see these two together. It was obvious they were made for each other. Their banter and teasing friendship had been a slow burn to something even deeper. For two people who usually shied away from opening up, their feelings had swiftly blossomed into a closeness that would bring a tear to the most cynical eye. Adam certainly had a lump in his throat when he saw them together. The tenderness with which Fern strapped up Merryn’s wrist and the protective way he drew her close as they walked through the grounds reminded him of how he and Elly had been. At least he could think about Elly now without that clawing sense of loss. Acceptance was the final stage of grief, and Adam did now accept that she was gone and would never return to him. Acknowledging this fact didn’t stop the dull ache of missing her; that would never go away. Nevertheless, for a while spending time with Lucy had lulled him into believing – hoping – that the future might not be as bleak and as lonely as he’d feared.
But Lucy had chosen her brother over him, and although Adam knew that she’d felt unable to do otherwise, he’d been hurt by her decision all the same.
So now, as Jamie Penwellyn strode towards the town, Adam decided to follow him. It was maybe a sixth sense or perhaps just a distrust of Jamie after everything that had happened, but he couldn’t help noticing that whenever Lucy’s brother chose to spend a few days in St Pirran problems soon arose on the island.
Adam had been working on the Pilgrim’s Gate for several weeks and during this time there had been several incidents. None of them had been significant enough to arouse suspicion at the time, but to Adam’s mind they seemed almost too much of a coincidence to be unrelated. A tourist claimed to have fallen on an uneven part of the castle and had threatened them with a claim unless he was compensated. Another visitor had found a cockroach in her slice of Victoria sponge, which had prompted a public health inspection. And yesterday the tea shop’s freezer had somehow become unplugged, ruining all the contents and costing hundreds of pounds to replace the spoiled food. Ness, despite looking worried, had dealt with all these problems in the calm manner that was her hallmark – but she was already in hock to Ambrose Investments, and doubtless wouldn’t want to incur further borrowing unless she had to.
Adam frowned. It was a little odd that Jamie’s arrival in town always coincided with these unfortunate incidents. It wouldn’t hurt at all to see what Jamie was up to. Like all the visitors in town, Jamie was probably here for the festival and Adam was being paranoid – but he’d walk into town anyway, grab a quick pint and collect Josh from sailing club. Maybe they could pick up fish and chips on the way home.
Adam’s heart constricted as he recalled the night he and Lucy had enjoyed their al fresco takeaway and watched the sunset. The conversation had flowed so easily and he’d felt the warmth of simply being happy with someone. If only things could have stayed that way…
Jamie Penwellyn had reached the far end of the path and was heading into town. Setting down his empty bottle, Adam followed him into St Pirran. The streets were thronging with visitors eating ice creams and milling around outside gift shops. Bunting fluttered in the breeze and there was already a carnival atmosphere as a busker strummed his guitar outside the pub and a troupe of morris dancers assembled on the quay. It all boded well for Island Fest, Adam thought, as he drank in the scene with pleasure.
Unfortunately, all this distraction was enough for Adam to lose Jamie in the crowd. He’d probably ducked into The Castle Inn for a pint or had returned to his hotel. Adam felt a little foolish now. Honestly, what was he thinking following Jamie? He was a stonemason, not Jason Bourne! And his quarry was just an upper-class nitwit, not some international gangster. He must have been sitting in the sun too long; either that, or that beer had been stronger than he’d thought!
Shaking his head at his own behaviour, Adam turned into one of the town’s narrow side streets so that he could get to the pub without having to elbow his way through the holidaymakers. He’d only walked a few hundred yards when he spotted none other than Jamie Penwellyn standing in a shadowy doorway, deep in conversation. Adam stopped abruptly. Had Jamie seen him? And if he had, would he even recognise the “oik” who’d been in Sorrentina with his sister?
Who was Jamie talking to? In the gloom of the side street it was hard to see, but whoever it was, he was a skinny, unhealthy-looking individual. He had the pallid skin of someone who rarely saw fresh air and lank dark hair that kept flopping across a sunken-cheeked face. He seemed to irritate Jamie, whose voice had risen loud enough for Adam to overhear.
“We agreed a price! We had a deal!” Jamie cried.
“Keep your bloody voice down or the whole thing’s off,” the other man shot back. He wasn’t shouting, but there was menace in his tone and instantly Jamie was contrite.
“Don’t be hasty, Logan. Look, how about another forty?” Jamie reached into his jacket and pulled out a wallet. Peeling off some notes, he held them out hopefully.
The other man laughed. “Double it and we might be getting somewhere.”
Jamie glanced over his shoulder. Instinctively, Adam crouched down and made himself look busy tying a shoelace. When he glanced up, Jamie was still talking, but softly now, and the other man was counting money. As far as he could see, absolutely nothing else had changed hands. Not wanting to be spotted, Adam straightened up and left them to it – but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy. Whatever their exchange was about, Adam’s gut instinct told him it wasn’t good news.
Something was very wrong here.
Very wrong indeed.
Chapter 27
“Aren’t you going to come and listen to the next band? They’re supposed to be amazing. I’ve called you over the radio a couple of times and I’m starting to think you’re ignoring me.”
Ness looked up from her clipboard to see Merryn, clad in his high-vis steward’s tabard and brandishing a walkie-talkie.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you jump,” he said. “It’s just you’re working so hard and we all think you should come and enjoy the festival. Chill a bit. The hard work’s done, Ness. Look around! This is a massive success!”
Merryn was right: the festival was a hit. Visitors had been streaming onto the island since eight o’clock that morning. The English weather had been on side for once, and all the grassy areas had been claimed by people enjoying picnics as they sunbathed and listened to the music. The stage was surrounded by people dancing; even the security guards hired for the event were tapping their toes in time to the beat. Meanwhile the hog-roast stand was doing a roaring trade and the inner courtyard was crammed with an eclectic mix of stalls selling everything from hair wraps to local artwork. Down at the tea room customers were queuing out of the door – Lucy and her team of helpers hadn’t stopped all day – and the seagulls were gleefully feasting on any leftovers and scavenging through the bins.
“It’s not over yet,” Ness reminded him, and then laughed. “Lord! I sound such a killjoy, don’t I? You’re right: it’s been wonderful so far.”
“Then come and enjoy it,” Merryn insisted. He started to steer Ness away from her post by the Pilgrim’s Gate. “Seriously, Ness. At least have ten minutes off. There’s enough people helping out for you to take a break.”
Ness allowed herself to be gently guided towards the lawn. Although she was touched by the way her friends kept trying to persuade her to enjoy the music or grab a burger, she knew she wouldn’t be able to relax until the fireworks had lit up the night, the last visitor had left the island and the event was over. Her nerves were as taut as guitar strings, and although it sounded crazy she just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was going to go wrong. It was paranoia, of course, because everything was well planned and running beautifully – but even so, there was a niggling sense of unease that she couldn’t ignore. It might have had something to do with the fact that Jamie Penwellyn was here. Ness was certain he took no pleasure from seeing her fundraising attempts going so well, so why was
he wearing that smug expression? She didn’t like the look of the pale and shifty character he’d been talking to either. Neither man had seemed in the festival mood, and they hadn’t talked for long, but for some reason her insides had started to knot. Ness guessed it was because she trusted Jamie about as far as she could hurl his grand piano.
“I wasn’t entirely joking: I really was beginning to think you were avoiding me,” Merryn was saying as they wove their way through the press of people.
Ness looked at him, confused. “Why on earth would you think that?”
“Because of me and Fern getting together. After that time you and I went to the beach…”
Merryn looked worried, but he didn’t need to be. In truth, whenever Ness thought about being on the beach with a man, that man was always Max Reynard. Max, with his penetrating grey-eyed gaze and lithe panther’s grace.
“I thought that when we went swimming that time you thought we might… I was… Oh shit! I’m making an idiot of myself, aren’t I?” Poor Merryn was turning red, and his light-blond hair seemed even brighter against the scarlet hue of his skin.
Oh! He was thinking about the time they’d swum in the rock pool. That day felt like another lifetime to Ness; so much had happened since then. Yet there had been an attraction, albeit a pale imitation of the white-hot desire she’d felt when Max had kissed her, and Ness took pity on Merryn.
“Of course you’re not,” she said gently. “I’m thrilled about you and Fern. You’re made for each other, you always were.”
“I love her,” Merryn said simply. “I didn’t realise just how much until I saw that bastard hurting her. Honestly, I could have killed him. She’s so special, Ness, and so brave.”
It sounded as though Merryn had solved the mystery of Fern, thought Ness. She supposed this was one less secret the island was hiding. She was no nearer to finding out the truth about her mother’s death, the family feud or her uncle’s odd legacy. Rose Hellier’s words hadn’t helped at all. Maybe she’d never know.
“Fern’s lucky to have you on her side and so am I,” she told him. “I’m lucky to have found all of you.”
“We’re the lucky ones. Without you none of us would still be living here, that’s for sure.”
“I just hope it can stay that way,” Ness said.
“If it doesn’t, nobody could have tried harder,” Merryn assured her. “You never met Armand, Ness, but he’d have been proud of you. You’re a lot like him too – he would never take any crap or sell out either. Whatever the future holds and whatever his reasons were for leaving the island to you, you need to know that everyone around here thinks you were the right choice.”
Ness’s vision swam with tears; she blinked them away rapidly, before Merryn saw them. Luckily at this point their conversation was interrupted as a popular local band took to the stage and began to belt out a set, much to the delight of the crowd. Giving Ness a thumbs up, Merryn set off on a sweep of the area, leaving her to enjoy the performance.
As the group played, Ness glanced around and felt a warm glow to see so many people having fun. This was the perfect setting for a summer festival: the grassy slopes were just right for containing the audience, and the granite walls of the castle provided amazing acoustics. Maybe they could rent the island out for more events like this. Perhaps even big names might come to play here, like they did at Eden and Powderham. She felt a thrill of optimism. After all, there had always been music on this island. Some of the best-loved works of the past century had been composed here, and every day the castle rang with Josh and Lucy’s playing. Ness hoped her uncle would have approved of today’s events. In her heart she felt sure he would have done, because it was something very special to see so many people rapt by music. Armand would have known that joy too.
The sun was lower in the sky now, bathing Pirran Island in pinks and golds. Ness raised her face to the warmth and for the first time began to relax, letting the exhaustion and tension slip away as she lost herself in the melodies. Perhaps this was the turning point?
“Hello, Ness.”
Max Reynard had made his way through the crowd, and was standing just inches away from her. Ness was instantly jolted from her thoughts.
“Max. I didn’t think you’d be here.”
“Why not?”
He looked at her quizzically and she was struck again by just how handsome he was, with those intense grey eyes and that inky dark hair. As his confident gaze flickered over her, Ness felt her stomach flip. Despite the effect he had on her, she tried to steel herself for the inevitable battle of wits between them. Any second now, he’d probably offer her ten million.
“Because I turned your offer down,” she replied.
“Which one?” Max asked. The question was loaded and she found that she couldn’t look at him.
“Selling this place, of course.”
“Ness, that’s business.” Max raised his bottle of Evian water to her. “This festival is fantastic. You should be very proud.”
“Are you being serious?”
“Absolutely,” he said quietly, inclining his dark head until his face was close to hers.
In order to hear him against the loud music, Ness hadn’t had any choice but to step closer to him, which she knew was dangerous. Max could be devilishly charming when he wanted to be. Careful! she warned herself. He’s probably just trying to work out another way of persuading you to sell.
“I mean it, Ness. You’ve done an amazing job. Turning this place around would make most people head for the hills – but not you. You’ve met every challenge head-on. You’re an incredible woman.”
She stared at him. Was he being sarcastic?
“I mean it,” Max repeated, probably able to tell by her incredulous expression that she thought he was playing with her. His voice was low but his eyes held hers with that penetrating grey stare. “I know we haven’t always agreed on everything—”
“That’s one way of putting it! All you ever do is keep telling me how I should sell to you and how I’m letting the place go to ruin! I bet that’s what you’re thinking right now, isn’t it? That I should sell to you?”
He held up his hands. “You got me. Guilty as charged. Look, Nessa, I develop property and I love this island, so I’d be lying if I said I didn’t still want it or think I could do a great job here, but that doesn’t mean I can’t see that you’ve worked your socks off to get this far or that I’m not quite impressed.”
“Wow,” said Ness drily. “Quite impressed. You really know how to make a girl feel good.”
Max grinned, and she was surprised to see how much his face was transformed by the smile. It was like the sunshine appearing after a storm. She noticed the dimple in his cheek and how boyish it made him seem all of a sudden.
“You know I do,” he said softly.
“Do I?” Ness knew this was a dangerous challenge but she couldn’t help herself. Something about Max Reynard made her reckless. “Really?”
“Yes,” Max replied – and, moving closer, he kissed her gently, brushing his mouth against hers. It was such a fleeting kiss, lighter than gossamer, that Ness was shocked by just how hard her heart was beating; she wouldn’t have been surprised to hear it thudding above the bass of the music. She shivered with sudden longing and before she could stop herself she rose onto her tiptoes and kissed him back.
Max’s hand cupped the back of her head, his fingers threading into her curls; Ness slid her hand under the cool linen of his shirt to trace the sinews of his back, the heat of his skin searing her fingertips. She could blame it on the sun, the intensity of the day or anything she chose, but all she knew at that point was that she longed for more. Enemy. Rival. Sparring partner. Nemesis. None of this mattered anymore, not when she was melting at his slightest touch.
A loud and rather awkward throat-clearing behind them broke the moment. As Ness and Max sprung apart like teenagers caught snogging behind the school bike sheds, she noticed Adam standing in front of them. He was acco
mpanied by two policemen and a man in a suit.
Adam’s usually cheerful face was serious. “Sorry to interrupt, guys, but these officers would like to have a word with Ness.”
Ness’s heart went into free fall. The last time policemen had come looking for her it was to break the news that Addy had wrapped his motorbike around a fence.
“No one’s hurt, are they?” she whispered.
“Is there something wrong, officers?” This was Max, his voice firm. His hand reached out and took hers, and Ness found that she was clinging to it as though it was all that was keeping her steady.
“I need to speak to Miss Penwellyn?” said the suited man.
Ness swallowed her rising terror. “That’s me. Can I help?”
“I’m Detective Chief Inspector Allen, Kernow CID. I’m afraid a serious allegation has been made.”
Ness didn’t understand. “What do you mean? What kind of allegation?”
“We received an anonymous phone call this afternoon. A member of the public claims that drugs are being sold on the island and that this festival is being used as a means of dealing them.” The Dertective Chief Inspector’s gaze was unfaltering. “The caller also claims that children are being exposed to drugs and that they’re being sold from the stage area.”
“That’s utterly ridiculous.” Max said firmly. “Who’s made these allegations?”
“As I said, sir, it was an anonymous call, but CID have it on good authority that an individual known to us has indeed visited this island recently and been seen in the vicinity.” Inspector Allen turned back to Ness. “I’m sure you understand that we can’t ignore such an allegation?”
Ness nodded. Her mouth felt dry with fear. “Absolutely, I do.”
“We’d like to search the stage area, if we may?”
This was her call and her call only, Ness realised. The creeping dread she’d been trying to shake off all day was intensifying now. There was no real choice: of course she’d let them search.
The Island Legacy Page 31