With her parents gone, Motts had taken time to lower her stress. She spent almost the entire day working on the bicycle project. Cutting paper, scrolling it, then glueing it in an arranged pattern had a meditative quality to it.
She went late into the afternoon, only remembering to take breaks when Cactus meowed plaintively at her. Wrapping up her work for the moment, she felt so much better. Her shoulders had relaxed, releasing so much of the tension from the past few days.
Her friends had given her space. Vina had stopped by after the café closed to drop off a few treats for her supper, but she hadn’t hung around. Motts was almost teary-eyed at their understanding and respect for her needs.
Deciding to finish her day with a cosy evening, Motts made her favourite supper—a fresh herb-spiced omelette with a cheddar toastie. She curled up with Cactus in bed to eat and watch through a playlist of one of her favourite YouTube channels, Robert Welsh. She loved watching both him and his twin brother, James; their voices were so soothing.
Meow.
“No, I don’t think either of us needs to know how to create a cut crease on my eyelid. He has a lovely voice, though.” Motts settled into her pillow. “Tomorrow we’ll see if we can track Ashby down.”
Meow.
“Maybe I’ll bring River with me again.” She thought about calling Teo, but he’d want to speak with Ashby on his own. “We can share our information after. What does Vina always say? Better to ask for forgiveness than permission? Not sure it’s true.”
Then again, Vina had a fantastic ability to talk her way out of trouble. She’d done so at university loads of times. Motts had no such luck.
Reaching over to grab her phone from the nightstand, Motts messaged her cousin. He suggested going with Nish or Vina instead since he had a business meeting in the morning. The brewery was expanding outside of Cornwall for the first time, and negotiations were resting on his shoulders.
Even via text, River sounded terrified. Motts had no doubts he’d be successful. He promised to text her after the meeting.
Her second message went to Vina. The twins were both taking the day off. Their parents had decided to close the café for a day.
Drifting off to sleep, Motts kept thinking about the O’Connells. If Nadine had been such a dreadful person, maybe her daughter killed her. One cruel word too many had caused people to snap before.
Or had Mikey wanted her out of the way to gain control of the company? It still seemed odd that it hadn’t gone to Amy. Or Jasper, since he was the one to work at the warehouse.
Why let Jasper run the warehouse?
Despite Motts wanting to cycle to Fowey, Nish insisted on driving. He arrived bright and early with Vina. They brought coffee and traybake.
Leena had made her steamed rice, coconut, and banana traditional dish into a traybake. It was delicious. Motts had several slices on the short trip to Fowey.
“Why doesn’t she sell these in the café?” Motts tried to resist the urge for a fourth slice. “You’d never keep them in stock.”
“Mums. Who knows their minds?” Vina offered the container to her. “Want another one?”
“No.” Motts nodded with a grin. “Wish she’d sell this. I’d have one every morning.”
They made good time to Fowey, arriving in time to grab the ferry. Over the twenty-minute ride, Motts practised her questions for Callie. Vina wasn’t the most helpful assistant. She laughed. Even when she didn’t, it seemed like she was. Motts gave up and decided to hope for the best.
“Hello, you three.”
“Where’s your friend Ashby?” Motts ignored the sigh from Nish on her left and Vina’s snickering on her right. “Sorry. I meant, hello, and how are you doing? Also, where’s your friend Ashby?”
“Welcome to Motts’s guide to small talk. Lesson one, always greet someone before interrogating them,” Vina teased. She leant against the counter to smile at Callie. “Have you seen Ash around lately?”
“Not since yesterday. Came by in the evening, really upset.” She scratched her head for a moment. “Lilith’s out on another tour this morning. She spoke to him. I’ll text her.”
While Vina and Callie chatted about kayak tours, Motts stepped outside for some air. She knew Vina hadn’t meant anything with her joke. Her brain didn’t always get the message.
“She wasn’t laughing at you.” Nish joined her, watching tourists walking across the street. “Just teasing.”
“I know.”
And she did.
“I imagine the trouble is that knowing intellectually and emotionally are two different things.” Nish once again proved why she often went to him for help understanding the non-autistics in her life. “Want me to chat with her?”
“No,” Motts responded immediately. “It’ll make everything awkward and weird.”
“If you two are done gossiping out here, Lillith suggested we try the Fowey Hall Walk. He planned to hike it today.” Vina closed the shop door behind her. “Seems an easy trek for an experienced climber. How are we going to find him?”
“Walk the trail?” Motts had gone around the circular path around Fowey a number of times. It was a moderate walk that usually took her around three hours. “Did she know when he set out?”
“Why don’t you two walk the path? And I can stay here, since he’ll probably swing by at some point to see Callie.” Vina smiled winningly. “We don’t all need to walk for hours.”
Motts exchanged a look with Nish when Vina vanished into the kayak shop. “That was obvious even to me.”
“Walking isn’t really her thing.” Nish grabbed his phone and pulled up a map. “If he left from Fowey, I’d wager he’s walking the circuit clockwise. Why don’t we head the opposite direction? Take the ferry over to Polruan, heading up the path counter-clockwise.”
“Meet him somewhere along the way?” Motts wanted to question him away from Callie. He might be more open. “Chase him down the trail?”
“Let’s hope chasing won’t be required. It’ll be difficult to explain if someone calls the police.” Nish made sure his vehicle was securely parked. “Ready?”
They grabbed water and went to catch the ferry back across to Polruan. Motts always appreciated Nish’s ability to enjoy silence; small talk wasn’t required. It helped her relax.
“Motts.”
She glanced up when he gestured toward a familiar figure hanging out on the quay in Polruan, waiting for the ferry to dock. “Short walk.”
“Let’s hope he doesn’t bolt before we can get off the ferry.” Nish led the way, allowing her to hide behind him. “Here’s hoping he doesn’t recognise me from coming into the café.”
They managed to get off the ferry and over to Ashby without him disappearing. He frowned in confusion at Nish, and his scowl only deepened when he noticed Motts. So, someone’s not ecstatic to see me again. I wish River was here.
“Fancy running into you again.” Ashby surprisingly broke the silence first. “Sorry I couldn’t stay the other day.”
“Shame.” Motts had forgotten all of the questions she’d practised. Typical. “Why were you arguing with Amy O’Connell?”
“She accused me of stealing.”
“Three years ago. So why go by her cottage now? I’d stay far away from someone who accused me of theft.” Motts glanced up at Nish. “It’s weird, right? Not just me being me.”
“Definitely on the odd side,” Nish agreed readily. He pointed down the street toward one of the shops. “Why don’t we head over to the tea shop? We can have tea and a snack while Ashby tells us what’s going on.”
“Mini quiche.” Motts loved the small quiches they served. River had brought a box of them to her a few weeks ago. “Food makes everyone feel better.”
“Randomly accurate statement.” Nish moved to the other side of Ashby. They walked the short trip down the street to the tea shop. “Why don’t we sit outside? Not too many people out at the moment.”
They found an empty table, got their teas and a variety of quiches. Ashby didn’t seem overly anxious to talk with them. He studiously ignored the questions Motts asked, keeping his mouth full to avoid responding.
When the next ferry arrived, Vina joined them. She’d be unable to suppress her curiosity. It didn’t make Ashby any more talkative, unfortunately.
He managed to converse for twenty minutes, responding to questions, yet never quite giving them answers. Motts ripped her napkin into tiny pieces. She’d hoped to get some clarification.
“I have a feeling our day is about to become far more complicated than you thought.” Nish brushed crumbs off his shirt.
Vina added, “I spy with my little eye someone whose name starts with a P.”
“P?”
“Detective Inspector Ash. You’re a long way from Polperro.” Vina waved at the man while he crossed the road from where he’d parked his vehicle. “Hello, Hughie. Fancy seeing you as well.”
“Why do I suddenly feel guilty?” Motts whispered to Nish. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”
“We’re putting our noses into police business. I imagine that’s a lecture we’re about to receive.” Nish watched Hughie lead Ashby away to the vehicle. Detective Inspector Ash stayed by their table. “Is he under arrest?”
“What are you three doing here?” Inspector Ash appeared more exasperated than genuinely annoyed, though Motts wasn’t entirely sure. “And why are you chatting with our suspect?”
“Friendly people chat.” Vina snagged the last bite of quiche from her brother’s plate. “We’re welcoming him to the area.”
“The area? You’re in Fowey.” He turned away from the twins to focus on Motts. “Aren’t you too close to this investigation already? Both myself and DI Herceg hoped you’d steer clear until we’ve made an arrest. We want you to stay safe.”
“I’m having tea and quiche.” Motts didn’t understand why Vina started snickering. “What? I am? Perfectly safe occupation. What’s dangerous about a mid-morning snack?”
“Elevenses,” Nish interjected.
“More like second breakfast.” Vina offered her own two cents.
“You’re not hobbits.” Inspector Ash peered over his shoulder at Hughie, who’d returned from securing their suspect. “I suppose he’s at least part troll.”
“I’m a friendly giant.” Hughie made a point of standing as tall as possible to emphasise his height. “Did you three discover anything useful?”
“Constable.” Inspector Ash sighed when the constable simply shrugged.
“Ashby had a heated conversation with Amy O’Connell the other day,” Motts blurted. She blocked Vina’s attempt to pinch her on the arm. “What? We’re not actually detectives. They’re the ones who can catch the killer.”
Even if we have to help them along just a little.
Hughie crouched down next to Motts. “Teo’s waiting for us at the station. He did want me to say he’ll stop by to see you later.”
Bugger.
“Somebody’s in trouble,” Vina teased.