Free I'm Virtually Yours by Jennifer Bohnet Page A

Will.
    Angie was in the kitchen when Polly reached the B&B. “I’ll get Lillian and meet you back at the yard,” she said briskly, grabbing a jacket from the hook when Polly explained what was happening. “Solo and Rosie can stay here.”
    Ten minutes later and the three of them were in the boatyard office with a despondent Lillian slumped on her office chair.
    â€œShall I make us some coffee?” Polly asked, desperate to do something. Anything to stop the dreadful thoughts about Will being dead. If she was finding the situation difficult, how much harder it must be for Lillian. Before anyone answered her, the ship-to-shore radio on the shelf crackled unexpectedly into life.
    Lillian jumped up and flicked a switch. “Will? Thank God it’s you.”
    â€œMum, is Dad with you?”
    â€œNo. What the hell is going on, Will? What are you doing out in the channel with the workboat?”
    â€œYou’ll see when I get back to harbour. In the meantime go and find Dad. Both of you need to be out on the quay in about half an hour. You won’t believe what’s happened. I’ll need to talk to the police later. I’ve got some information for them.”
    â€œThe police are keen to talk to you now,” Lillian said. “According to them you’re in all sorts of trouble.”
    â€œMum, don’t worry — I haven’t done anything wrong. You and Dad are in for a big surprise but everything is fine.”
    â€œWill, a body has been found off the slipway,” Lillian said quietly. “You know anything about that?”
    The radio crackled and died. Frustratedly Lillian wriggled the switch up and down. Nothing. “Blast.”
    â€œShall I go and find Ben for you?” Polly asked but before Lillian had a chance to answer, Ben himself walked in.
    â€œThey’ve taken the body off for official identification and to do a postmortem.
    It was Angie who voiced the question they all dreaded asking. “Well, we know it’s not Will but is it anyone we know?”
    â€œBlack Sam,” Ben said.
    â€œPoor man,” Lillian said. “I know he was working for Jack Pettyjohn but it’s still sad when someone dies.”
    There was a couple of seconds’ silence before Ben asked, “Will’s been in touch then?”
    Lillian nodded. “He wants us both out on the quay in about half an hour for when he arrives back in the harbour.”
    â€œWhy?”
    Lillian shrugged. “Maybe he wants to tell us something urgently?”
    â€œFat chance of us talking to him then. The police are waiting down there for him. They’ll nab him the minute he steps ashore.”
    The three women looked at him. “He’s the prime suspect in case Black Sam was killed,” Ben said quietly. “The police are waiting to arrest him. They want to question him about the last time he saw Black Sam.”
    They all turned as the office door opened and a policeman looked in to ask, “Jack Pettyjohn in here? No? Wonder where’s got to.” The door closed.
    â€œSo did you and Will keep watch last night as planned?” Polly asked, trying to piece together the events of the previous evening.
    â€œWill did,” Ben said. “I came ashore and left him settling in on the workboat. He was convinced for some reason that Pettyjohn was planning on using the bad weather to his advantage. Will was determined to try and get enough evidence to stop him once and for all.” Ben shook his head. “I just don’t know what to think. The coastguards say no one contacted them asking for assistance after the storm so…” He shrugged. ‘What the hell he’s doing out in the channel is anyone’s guess.”
    â€œHe said earlier you and I were in for a surprise,” Lillian said.
    â€œSurprise as in him being locked up?” Ben said.
    Polly shook her head. “I’m sure Will doesn’t have anything