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Lili stared at her. If that wasn’t a euphemism for something shady, she didn’t know what was.
‘So, how about it, Lili? I’ll get your stuff, you stay here, watch TV. There’s our lounge through there. Grab a bite to eat. There are plenty of leftovers from the party.’
Lili thought about it. It beat going to the station and trying to catch a train and then a bus at the other end. Lili knew she’d also have to book in somewhere and stay the night, only to have to do the return journey the following day. With a car, Hannah would be there and back in no time.
‘Okay, but as long as you’re sure.’
Hannah grinned. ‘I’m sure. It’s an excuse to get out of the house for a couple of hours.’
Although Lili had posted the flat latchkeys in the letter box of Ray’s shop, she’d found a spare key that she’d taken off her the keyring and put in her purse just in case. She’d forgotten all about it. ‘Here,’ she said, handing over the key. ‘If you walk through the shop, there’s a door at the end on the right with stairs that lead up to the flat above. I left the box in the cupboard over the stairs.’
Hannah took the key. ‘Was there anything else?’
Lili thought of the amber necklaces hanging in the window to sell. Although Maisie had created them, the fact that they were in the shop made her feel uneasy about asking Hannah to take them. Lili shook her head. ‘No, nothing else.’
‘What about a little keepsake?’ Hannah asked.
‘What do you mean?’
‘You worked there and weren’t paid a bean. From what Masie told me, it sounds as though you kept the place going successfully in the owner’s absence.’
Lili looked at her blankly. She still didn’t know what Hannah was getting at.
‘Oh, don’t worry. Look, the sooner I get going, the sooner you’ll have your file.’
‘You’re a good friend, Hannah.’
‘Don’t thank me. You’ve given me an excuse to get out of the house.’ Hannah leaned in and gave Lili a hug. ‘See you later.’
‘You don’t mind if I make myself a cup of tea – do you?’
‘Don’t be silly. Of course not. Remember to help yourself to the leftover party food.’
Lili smiled at Hannah, then made her way to the kitchen and closed the door just as Kyle emerged from another room. He spotted Hannah reaching for her coat and looked at her in surprise. ‘Are you going out?’
‘Shh, let’s not start arguing again, please.’ Hannah glanced down the hall. She heard Lili in the kitchen putting the kettle on. ‘I’ve got company.’
‘What?’
‘Remember, I told you my best friend is staying for a few days.’
‘So, where are you off to?’
‘I’m just going for a drive. Don’t worry, Lili will keep an eye on Maisie.’
‘Where are you going – exactly?’
Hannah rolled her eyes. ‘I said, just for a drive.’
‘Where?’
Hannah sighed. She could feel this was quickly building into another argument. She grabbed a jacket off the coat rack and stepped outside, beckoning him to step out of the house with her, out of earshot of Lili. ‘Look, my friend has left something behind at the place she was staying in Aldeburgh, so I’m doing her a favour and returning to pick it up.’
‘What place?’
‘It was a holiday rental above some shop.’
‘A shop? What sort of shop?’
