‘Yes?’
‘Erm. This may not be the time, but did Marcus tell you that he’s asked me to be their wedding planner?’
‘He did. And he’d already told me, when I arrived back in Fairlight Bay on Friday, that a female police officer called Erin, would be arriving that day, and staying in Far Cottage for two weeks on holiday. He’d added that your best friend was trying to get you to move down to Fairlight Bay. I’m not sure why he told me all that, because he hadn’t set a wedding date at the time. Anyway. Yes. Why?’
‘Oh! Erm. No reason. Except … well, it means we might be seeing one another again before the wedding because there’re things I need to sort out.’
‘O-k-a-y. And that’s a problem, because…?’
‘It’s not a problem. Not from my perspective. I just wanted you to know.’
‘Thanks. I do. So I suppose I’ll be seeing you around.’
‘I suppose so. Oh wait. I’ve got your ladder.’
‘You’ve got my ladder? Why?’
‘Erm. I didn’t want to leave it on the grass. You never know if a would-be burglar might be passing by.’
‘Ah yes. Of course. Do you mind if I leave it with you for a while? If it’s not in the way. I’m not supposed to lift anything, however light, apparently, for a day or two, or do anything physical.’
‘I don’t mind at all. And it’s not in the way. I closed the window early this morning, you’ll be glad to know.’
‘You did what?’ How?’
‘I climbed up your ladder. I remembered you saying the front door was self-locking. I hope Marcus won’t mind me going into his home.’
‘He won’t. I can’t believe you did that. Thank you. I was going to ask a mate of mine to go and do that today. You’re full of surprises, aren’t you, Erin?’
‘Am I? I just did what seemed right.’
‘Do you always do what you think is right? Do you ever do anything wrong?’
‘Erm. Like spill hot tea over complete strangers, you mean? Or arrest innocent people and nearly kill them in the process? No. Never.’
He laughed at that and then said, ‘Ouch. I keep forgetting laughing hurts.’
‘I’m so sorry, Jasper.’
‘Don’t worry about it, Erin. I’ll live. Bye for now.’
‘Bye, Jasper. Feel better soon.’
‘Bye, Jasper,’ Lucy repeated in a weirdly sexy and awful voice while pulling a stupid face and fluttering her eyelashes. ‘Feel better soon, Jasper. I love you, Jasper.’
I scowled at her and fought back a laugh. ‘Would you like a broken nose? It could be arranged, you know.’
‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Sam said, giving Lucy another kiss, but this time more of a peck. ‘I’d say, keep those streets safe, Erin. But it seems you’re more of a hazard than anyone else in Fairlight Bay.’
He was still laughing when he walked out of the room.
But I didn’t care. At least I now had Jasper’s phone number. All I needed to do, was find a good reason to give him a call. Although, as I had his ladder, I’d see him again when he came for that.
