‘Do you enjoy surfing?’ she asked. What a daft question! Of course he enjoyed surfing, otherwise why on earth would he be down here on a Sunday evening?
‘I sure do. I’m a California boy, you know. Grew up on a surfboard but, hey, the water’s a whole lot warmer over there than it is here! Do you surf, Mrs Palmer?’
‘Kate.’
‘OK, do you surf, Kate?’
‘No,’ Kate admitted, ‘I’ve never tried it but then I’m not much of a swimmer.’
‘Shame. It’s the most exhilarating thing on earth. Well, almost.’ She could see he was smiling at her and was relieved her blushes weren’t visible beneath the darkening skies.
She couldn’t resist asking, ‘How’s the murder inquiry coming along?’
He pulled a face. ‘Slowly.’
Kate hesitated for a moment. Should she tell him about Maureen and Kevin rowing in the churchyard? It probably had nothing to do with Fenella’s murder so she decided against mentioning it.
Woody Forrest stood up. ‘Unfortunately, I can’t discuss anything much about the case outside of the police station. But if you ever have any information at all that may be relevant, however trivial, then please come along and tell us.’
‘I will,’ she said.
‘Good. And perhaps the next time I see you in The Gull you’ll allow me to buy you a drink?’
‘That would be lovely,’ Kate said truthfully.
She sat on the rock for a good fifteen minutes after he left, watching the water coming closer and closer, and the sky becoming purple, deep in thought. She was becoming more and more fascinated by this murder case. Like everyone else she’d thought it must be this Kevin Barry who’d inexplicably returned after years in prison. But how could it be when he had an alibi? Obviously, the police weren’t convinced, otherwise why would they have released him?
She walked along the shoreline slowly, deep in thought, when Barney’s hysterical barking took her attention. The dog, tail wagging furiously, was about fifty yards ahead of her, standing in amongst the rocks at the foot of the cliff, over what appeared to be a heap of clothes or something washed up on the beach.
‘Leave it alone, Barney, whatever it is!’ she ordered as she walked towards the dog. It was awful the stuff people chucked into the sea, too lazy to go to the tip. She nearly walked past but something compelled her to take a closer look.
As she drew nearer she felt her heartbeat increasing; this wasn’t just a bundle of clothes… she could see a shoe protruding from the pile. And there was obviously a foot inside it. She paused and took a breath, and then took a deeper breath, summoning up her courage. She walked towards what she was almost certain must be a body.
Another dozen steps confirmed her fear. It was the body of a man lying face down. Kate pushed away the hysterical dog and turned the body over as well as she could. He appeared to have drowned but there was a massive cut above his right ear. In spite of the awfulness of the situation, her training kicked in. As she automatically tried to resuscitate him she realised who he was. There was a long scar running all the way down his cheek.
The man was Kevin Barry.
Eight
Woody Forrest must have changed out of his wetsuit mighty quickly, Kate thought as she stood further back on the beach and watched him organise the spotlights being set up. Now he was ordering the men to tape off the area round the body. Fortunately, the tide was on the turn. She felt cold, shivery and a little sick. Thank God she’d had her mobile phone with her. The police had arrived very quickly; she guessed they must all be on high alert. Woody Forrest had asked her to wait, and now he was walking back towards her.
‘How long after I left the beach would you say it was when you came across the body?’ he asked her. ‘I know you’ve had a dreadful shock but it helps if I can get your immediate reaction.’
‘Probably about fifteen or twenty minutes,’ she replied, her teeth chattering.
‘And was there anyone else on the beach at that time?’
‘No,’ Kate said. ‘It was deserted – it was almost dark. I was just about to go home when the dog started barking and that’s what drew it – him – to my attention. He looked like he’d been in the water for a little while.’
‘He must have been floating around while I was still surfing,’ Woody said, pulling a face. ‘Not a comfortable thought.’
‘Could he have jumped off the cliff?’ Kate asked. ‘I noticed a nasty wound above his ear.’
‘Yes,’ Woody said. ‘You’re right to be concerned about the gash above the ear. My guess is that our friend was killed by a blow to the head before being dumped in the water. Look, I think you should go home; this has been an awful shock for you. Can I ask you to come to the police station first thing in the morning? Or no – perhaps it’s better that I come to interview you at your home?’
‘Whatever’s easiest for you,’ Kate said.
‘Are you OK to walk home? Unfortunately, I’ve got to be here but I could send one of my constables with you.’
Kate took a deep breath. ‘I’m fine, thanks. I’ll be on my way in a minute.’
Kate collapsed gratefully onto the sofa at the far end of the kitchen,
Angie glanced at her. ‘Don’t tell me walking the dog is that strenuous!’
Kate took a deep breath. ‘I’ve just found a body. A dead body. On the beach. Forgive me for feeling shell-shocked!’
Angie stopped pouring her drink, gin bottle in mid-air. ‘What?’
‘You heard. I found a body – Kevin Barry’s body. Just make me a strong coffee, will you, and laced with brandy?’
‘You found Kevin Barry’s body?
