“How is that going to help?”
“When doesn’t coffee help?” Vina pointed out.
Taking a seat in the corner of the café, Motts fidgeted with her phone. She wondered how the police had identified Rose. Despite Vina’s thoughts, she knew taking someone in for questioning wasn’t the same as them actually being arrested.
Still, Motts couldn’t help wondering why. What in the world would lead Rose to throw a stone through her cottage window? She’d welcomed Motts so kindly.
Was it all the questions about Rhona?
Vina brought over two mugs of coffee and a plate of breakfast pasties. She sat across from Motts. “Have you heard from Detective Inspector Tall, Dark, and Brooding?”
“We need an acronym for him.” Motts picked at the flaky layers of the pasty. “He hasn’t texted. I saw him yesterday.”
“I heard all about it. River messaged Nish and me.”
“Of course he did.” She shook her head. “Marnie never mentioned the arrest when I dropped by to see her.”
“Maybe she doesn’t know.” Vina shrugged.
“Possible.” Motts dug into her pasty. She’d need the energy for her cycling adventure. “Can I fill my water bottle here? I’m cycling to Polruan. I’m going to make a circuit of it.”
“Polruan? That’s a good two hours or more of cycling, depending on how you go. Have you lost your mind?” Vina leaned forward to rest her palm against Motts’s forehead. “You don’t feel feverish.”
“I’m fine. But I need to get going. I don’t fancy cycling late in the afternoon. If I leave now, I’ll have time to explore and get back to the cottage before it gets dark.” Motts intended to go a little out of her way to Lantic Bay, or at least hike up to the top of the cliffs to enjoy the view. “Want to go?”
“Not even if we were still dating.” She shook her head. “You’re going to need snacks. Good snacks. Don’t go anywhere.”
“Vina,” Motts groaned. Her ex-girlfriend had already disappeared, racing into the café’s kitchen with Motts’s water bottle in hand. “Brilliant.”
Between Vina, Nish, and their parents, Motts wound up with overflowing saddlebags. She had the filled water bottle along with a range of travel-ready snacks. There was no way she could eat all the food they’d given to her.
Leena and Caden, in particular, had insisted on making sure her mobile phone had been charged. Caden turned very paternal. He gave her a local road map (in case her GPS stopped working), a tyre patch kit, and a fancy mini pump.
“I’m not cycling to the other side of the world.” Motts waved off the Griffin parents’ offer to pick her up in Polruan. “I’ll be perfectly fine.”
“Don’t hesitate to give us a ring if you change your mind.” Leena hugged her tightly.
I’m not leaving forever.
Motts had learned over the years from painfully embarrassing moments not to blurt out all of her thoughts. “Thanks.”
When in doubt, a one-word response tended to keep her safe from making a mistake. Motts endured the well-meaning advice and hugs. She cycled out of sight as soon as possible.
Heading west out of the village, she took mostly smaller roads, going left by a farm and stopping for a flock of sheep. The wee lambs made her smile.
About three-quarters of the way to Polruan, Motts eased off the road onto a dirt path. She made her way on foot, pushing her bike up the hill. The view at the top of the cliff had definitely been worth the effort.
Dodging one of the cows munching on the grass, Motts wandered over to one of the trees along the clifftop. She rested her bike against the trunk, grabbed her bottle of water, and sat on the grass to stare out across the bay and sea. The wind whipped her hair around her face and cooled her off.
I needed this.
A peaceful calm settled over Motts. She didn’t always enjoy being out in nature with her allergies. But every so often, cycling less crowded routes offered a rare opportunity to relax without having to engage in conversation.
Nothing stressed Motts as much as small talk. The dinner at her auntie and uncle’s had been a total nightmare even with Teo coming to the rescue. People always expected a conversation to flow smoothly.
And she frequently wanted to not have to talk.
At all.
Cows definitely didn’t require a chat. Motts sat for almost an hour up on the hill. She’d set a timer for herself to keep from staying too long.
Snacks.
I have snacks.
Motts dug into her saddlebag and grabbed half a sandwich. She peeled apart the bread, eating the cheddar and thinly sliced beef separately. “The bicycle isn’t going to take itself home.”
Walking back down the path to the road, Motts had time to let her snack settle before climbing onto the bike. She’d spent a little longer than intended by the sea but not by much. There was plenty of time to explore Polruan before heading home.
After a warm mug of tea at Crumpets, Motts meandered around the village for an hour. She’d planned to start the journey home no later than two in the afternoon. The grey clouds beginning to fill the sky changed her mind.
I can’t believe I forget to check the weather. What a silly mistake to make. I’m going to get soaked through to the bone.
Pulling out her phone, Motts entered her cottage into the map and picked the most direct route home. She had a feeling the rain would arrive before she got there. Her legs weren’t prepared for a full-on sprint for an hour.
Halfway down the road to Polperro, the skies opened above her. Motts wound up drenched within ten minutes. She cursed herself for not checking the weather more closely in the morning.
Several cars beeped when they passed her on the road. Motts didn’t understand the point. She was fully aware her life decisions had let her down.
She hadn’t missed the fact it was raining. It streaked down her face and made keeping her cycling straight more complicated. She briefly considered making a rude gesture at the next driver who thought it was funny to drive through a puddle next to her.
Why are people such jerks?
A vehicle pulled up beside her about twenty minutes from home. Nish hopped out and helped her get her bicycle into the back of the delivery van. She climbed into the front, shivering in her damp clothes.
Nish slipped into the driver seat. He reached over to turn up the heat. “Let’s get you home so you can get into dry clothes.”
“Thanks, Nish.” Motts took the towel he tossed to her and dried her face. She’d been looking forward to cycling along the coast. “It didn’t seem stormy earlier in the day.”
“Did you enjoy your day, aside from the sudden onslaught of rain?” Nish pointed to a thermos on the console between them. “Amma sent some tea. She thought you might appreciate the warmth.”
Motts poured herself a cup, managing to keep from spilling it when Nish went over a bump in the road. “I spent some time on the cliffs about Lantic Bay. It was lovely. The rain, not so much.”
Sipping the tea, Motts tried not to shatter her teeth shivering. The cold had definitely begun to sink into her bones. She’d be heading straight for a hot bath the minute she got home.
Nish guided the van up the road to park outside her cottage. He took the finished thermos cup from her. “Here. I’ll get your bike secured. You get inside and warm yourself. I’m sure one of us will check in on you later. Maybe bring up some stew or soup for supper.”
Cactus was sitting by the front door when Motts finally got her fingers to work enough to turn the key in the lock. She waved at Nish before shutting the door. Her clothes dripped a trail of water down the hall into the bathroom.
Meow.
“Yes, I’m aware I’ve left a mess in my wake.” Motts got the water in the tub going. She stripped out of her wet clothes, tossing them into the laundry basket in the corner. They could wait until later. “Just one of my many mistakes today.”
Grabbing a spare towel, Motts dropped it and shuffled around on her feet to dry the
floor. Cactus didn’t need to catch a cold as well. She finished up just as the bath had filled.
Motts climbed into the tub and sank into the blissfully hot water. She rested her head against the edge. The warmth felt like the best hug in the world.
Meow.
“I’ll feed you as soon as I stop shivering like it’s forty below outside.” Motts reached out to rub Cactus on the head. He leapt up to sit on the shelf at the foot of the tub to watch her. “Do not jump into the water.”
Cactus had made the mistake more than once. He wanted to join her and always managed to look as if she’d betrayed him when his little paws hit the water. Motts sat forward to dislodge him to a safer spot.
Turning his tail up, Cactus strolled out of the bathroom. She had a feeling she’d need a few extra treats to get on his good side again. That was a problem for later, when her body had stopped acting like she’d gone for a dive in the sea on a winter morning.
She reclined back in the tub and let out a heavy sigh. “Well, who says going outdoors is good for you?”
Chapter Seventeen
The following morning, Motts struggled to get out of bed. She curled under the covers to keep warm until her stomach and Cactus protested too loudly to ignore. Brunch it is.
She’d barely sat down with her usual toast with lemon curd and a large mug of coffee when the doorbell rang. She grumbled all the way to the door, lifting Cactus up to keep him from running outside. “Inspector Ash. Up early.”
He glanced down at his watch. “It’s near eleven.”
“You’re up here at my cottage early.” Motts hadn’t even changed out of her pyjamas. She coughed against Cactus to keep from doing it in the inspector’s face. “Something wrong?”
“Can I come in?”
No?
I’m in my pyjamas. My toast is getting weirdly soft. My coffee is definitely cooling off. And Cactus might claw my face off for coughing against his skin.
No.
No?
Can I tell a police inspector to go away? Close the door?
Oh my god, say something before he thinks you need your brain rebooted.
“Okay.” Motts twisted around, not bothering to invite him inside. She set Cactus on the couch and returned to the table to finish her toast. “Is this about Rose?”
Inspector Ash nodded. “She’s admitted to lobbing the stone through the window.”
“I don’t understand why.” Motts picked at the crust on her toast. “She treated me so kindly the few times I met her.”
“She refuses to answer our questions outside of admitting to having committed the vandalism. She’ll likely be fined and told to pay the damages. It’s her first offence. I doubt she’s going to see any further punishment.” He stood uncomfortably for a minute, then finally sat down when Motts continued to casually eat her toast. “I didn’t want you to wonder if you saw her in the village.”
“Was she trying to deter me from asking questions about Rhona’s disappearance?”
“Let us handle the investigation.”
Motts squished a piece of crust between her fingers. “Was she protecting herself or Innis?”
“Ms Mottley.” Inspector Ash bent forward with his elbows on the table. “We are competent detectives. We won’t rest until we have answers. Please don’t insert yourself any further into the investigation.”
“Of course. Can I see you out?” Motts liked Marnie; she thought the bridal shop owner’s husband needed a lot of work. “It’s lovely to see you.”
It’s not.
Please, please go away so I can finish my toast.
The inspector left. He seemed bemused by her rushing him out the door. Motts tried to settle in to finally finish her brunch.
Shoving her plate away, she gave up on the toast. She hated when it got too soft from the lemon curd. Her mind kept turning to the mystery of Rose and the stone.
Why?
Why would she lob a stone through Motts’s window? Had it been in defence of Innis? Was she trying to scare Motts away from asking any more questions?
Trying to stop her from probing too deeply into their family’s history? Or was she trying to protect herself? If that was the case, what motive had Rose had to hurt Rhona?
In the end, Motts supposed both Rose and Innis had the same motive. They’d suffer equally if the Salty Seaman had been sold out from under them. Money tempted even the saintliest of people to commit terrible crimes.
“Want to go visit Auntie Vina and Uncle Nish?” Motts decided a special mug of tea from Griffin Brews was in order. It usually made her feel loads better. The weather was still cool enough for Cactus to be able to venture out with her. “Let’s get your little T-shirt on.”
Before taking Cactus outside, Motts checked on her bicycle. It had dried off after the rain the previous day. She set up a cushion in the basket on the front for her beloved cat.
“Ready to be spoiled?” Motts secured him into the basket. She’d fashioned a seat belt, of sorts, for him. “I’m sure Granny Leena will be thrilled to be graced with your presence.”
Cycling down the hill, Motts rode more carefully with her precious cargo. She parked outside Griffin Brews and lifted Cactus up to wave at Nish through the glass. He rushed out to snatch Cactus from her arms.
“We’ll be in the office.” Nish dashed through the café, much to her amusement.
“What did you do to my brother?” Vina greeted her when she stepped up to the counter.
“He had Cactus,” Motts explained. She glanced at the board for new options. “Do you have your masala chai blend? My throat is sore.”
“I’ve got one with extra ginger. We’ll add a dash of honey to help.” Vina reached for the special mug they kept just for Motts. “Why don’t I get you one of Amma’s pumpkin and saffron sugar spiced pasties?”
“Will it help my throat?”
“Sure.” Vina grinned. “Marnie popped by earlier. She said Rose would be home by the end of the day. She sent Perry to warn you.”
“Inspector Ash stopped by already.” Motts wondered if Marnie had meant the warning to be different than the one she received. “Don’t think he approves of me.”
“Who wouldn’t approve of you? You’re brilliant.” Vina busied herself making the tea. She spooned in a decent amount of honey. She stirred vigorously, then slid the mug across the counter. “I’ll get you the pastry. Why don’t you head into the office? Cactus won’t want to be without you for long.”
“If he’s seen your mum, he won’t even notice me.” Motts grabbed the mug and followed Vina through the swinging doors. She waved at Caden, who was elbows deep into whipping up some sort of dough. “Hello.”
“Did she get you sorted with breakfast?”
“I wouldn’t let our Motts starve, Dad.” Vina protested. “Honestly. I’m offended you think I’d ignore her needs.”
“I’m ignoring you both.” Motts left the father and daughter duo to pretend to argue with each other. She knew from experience they could be a while. Nish and his mum were fawning over Cactus in the small café office. “Are you spoiling him?”
“Amma’s idea.” Nish pointed to his mum, who was feeding Cactus by hand. “She made treats especially for him. It’s all cat safe. Promise.”
“As though I would ever even dream of feeding this little angel anything that might hurt him.” She kissed Cactus on the head, murmuring to him in Punjabi. Her attention returned to Motts. “Are you well? Chai with honey? Are you sick? I’ll make my chicken soup for you to take home.”
Motts blinked as Leena disappeared in a swirl of her sari, a deep purple silk with gold embroidery. She wore them often; usually, according to her, on days when she wanted to feel extra beautiful. Nish snickered at Motts’s dumbfounded expression. “Quit laughing at me.”
“One of these days you’ll believe my parents think you’re their third child. And their favourite,” he teased. “Guess who has another date with your cousin?”
“No idea.” Mott
s sipped her tea, allowing the warmth to coat and soothe her throat. She felt almost an immediate relief. “Brilliant. So, who’s River going on a date with?”
“Me.” Nish shook his head. “You’re hopeless.”
“No, I’m autistic, and sometimes I think you’re joking when you’re being serious.” Motts shrugged. She dipped her pastry into the tea and took a quick bite. “I have a question.”
“Yes, they’re practising safe sex.” Vina squeezed into the office and chuckled when Motts wrinkled her nose. “We don’t all find it repulsive.”
“I’m uninterested. Not repulsed,” Motts corrected. She believed people shouldn’t play around with words and labels that meant something. “I’m serious. I have a question.”
“We’re all ears.” Vina sat on the edge of the desk and stole Cactus from her brother. “Not literally, figuratively, if you were wondering.”
Motts ignored the teasing. “Do we think Rose is capable of murder? Or is she protecting Innis, who definitely seems like the type?”
“Agree completely with your assessment of Innis.” Vina stroked Cactus’s head like a supervillain from a movie. “Rose might be capable. She certainly killed your window.”
“Hilarious.” Nish retrieved Cactus and stepped over to the other side of the office. He stared out the window. “Maybe she thinks Innis did something?”
“Or maybe they were both involved?” Vina joined her brother by the window. “I’d say Rose was released by the police. She’s rushing down the street now as if she’s being chased by the detective.”
Stepping up between the twins, Motts watched the drama unfolding down the street. Rose and Innis were definitely having an argument in full view of anyone who could see through the windows of their fish and chip shop. She’d love to be a fly on the wall.
Nish reached out to crack the office window. “I can’t hear what they’re saying.”
They all went quiet when Rose stormed out of the Salty Seaman. Innis locked the door behind her. They stood on either side, continuing to yell at each other.
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