Sam nodded. ‘His so-called best friend. But something just doesn’t stack up. I know it was before my time, but I believe there’s more to my grandfather’s death.’
‘It says here it was an accident.’
‘It could have been, but, as I said, my grandfather was a volunteer coastguard and knew about the rip currents. He wouldn’t have just jumped in without backup.’
‘What does Pete say?’
‘This is where it gets interesting, because for whatever reason he was late for duty that day. The logbook shows he clocked in thirty minutes late. No one was ever late on duty. You were there to save lives and if you couldn’t attend your shift or were going to be late, you’d arrange for another coastguard to cover you.’
‘What was Pete’s excuse for being late?’
‘It was never explained. All I know is that Pete was late and my grandfather died.’
‘And you think he has something to do with it?’
‘I think he knows more than he’s letting on, but he won’t speak to me about it. When I was younger, I tried to talk to him about it, but I admit I was a little hot-headed in my approach.’
‘What happened?’
‘He was up at Cliff Top Cottage and we actually ended up getting into an altercation.’
‘You got into a fight?’
‘I’m not proud about it, but yes. I think more out of frustration than anger. He couldn’t or wouldn’t give me any answers no matter how many times I asked him where he was that night. Why hadn’t he arrived on time? Was he late because they’d had some sort of falling out? After I suggested that, Pete shook his head and went to walk away but I grabbed his shoulder, spun him around and went to land a punch clean on his jaw. But I missed. Lost my balance and fell to the ground. Before I knew it, he was holding out his hand to help me up. I refused, got up, brushed myself down and went in for a second punch. That time he defended himself and grabbed my hand. He pushed me backwards and I fell again. I decided to grab his legs and we were both grappling on the ground until I felt my legs being pulled. I looked around and it was Betty.’ He paused whilst he filled the glasses with a little more wine. ‘Sam Wilson, get up on your feet right this minute,’ said Sam, mimicking her voice, and smiled. ‘You don’t mess with Betty Rose. If she says jump, you bloody jump.’
Verity smiled. ‘My granny was a bit like that,’ she shared. ‘Heart of gold, would do anything for anyone, but if she was mad or you crossed her, you’d know about it.’
‘Betty literally got me by the scruff of the neck and marched me down the cliff top path, along the bay and up Lighthouse Lane. Betty lives in Cobblestone Cottage near the tearoom. She didn’t let go of the scruff of my neck until she sat me down on the chair in her kitchen.’
‘I know I shouldn’t laugh but…’ A giggle escaped Verity. ‘And what’s Betty’s take on it all?’
‘She’s never talked about it in much detail. She did admit that she knew for a fact Pete was nowhere near the pier at the time, but she said she would never divulge how she knew that. I just had to trust her.’
‘And would she lie to you?’
Sam shook his head. ‘What you see is what you get with Betty, but because she’s never told me how she knows for sure, from time to time it still eats away at me. I just want answers and for some reason no one is giving them to me. It’s like she’s protecting something or someone.’
‘I can see how difficult it must be for you, especially each year when the anniversary comes around.’
‘And this year it’s been fifty years. Pete has never had another conversation with me about it but that night, during the fight, I could see in his eyes he knew something. I’ve no evidence to back this up, but I think he’s been living with the guilt of something for all these years.’
‘And what makes you think that?’
‘You yourself mentioned that Cliff Top Cottage was one of the most sought-after cottages on the island, just like mine, and you’re right. I’ve received letters through the door on many occasions asking if I wanted to sell the property, and people have offered me more than the actual value of the cottage, but I’d never part with it. And it would have been the same for Cliff Top Cottage, except that soon after my grandfather’s death, Pete started letting it fall apart. People say it was like he had no love for the cottage anymore. He kept himself to himself, concentrated on his job, and never played music again in public.’
‘Played music?’
‘Pete was in the band with my grandfather.’
‘Wow! So he was offered the record contract and had the chance to go on tour too?’
Sam nodded. ‘My grandfather and Pete were like Lennon and McCartney. Girls flocked at their feet. They wrote songs together, they performed together and, according to Betty and the magazine articles, you barely ever saw one without the other. Which makes me wonder yet again where Pete was that night, and why he wasn’t there to help my grandfather when he needed it.’
Verity unlocked her phone and glanced at the photos of the band. ‘Which one is Pete?’ she asked.
Sam pointed. ‘That’s my grandfather – he was the lead singer and guitarist – and that’s Pete, who was also a singer and guitarist. On the drums was Betty’s late husband Eric, and John, another local resident, was the keyboard player. John is now a retired fisherman and lives in one of the cottages by the harbour.’
‘And what’s his relationship like with Pete?’
