Chapter 3

THREE

‘Come on, Lynne – get a move on,’ Penn called from the kitchen.

Miraculously she appeared in the doorway.

‘Shush, you’ll wake Jasper,’ she said, heading towards the kettle.

The novelty of seeing Lynne moving around his home as if it was her own hadn’t yet worn off. She hadn’t officially moved in, but the natural progression of their relationship meant that her current landlord was getting an easy ride.

He took pity on her beseeching look and pushed a coffee flask towards her. ‘I made you one to go.’

She groaned and reached down for her boots. ‘Explain again why we’re going in the middle of the night?’

It was a slight exaggeration, but she was right that it was still dark outside.

‘It’s the first one of the season. It’s gonna be packed, and it’s an hour to get there. Queuing to get in will be a nightmare.’

‘So, all this effort to go buy other people’s old shit?’

He took mock offence. ‘Studley car boot is much more than a collection of other people’s shit. And they have hot pork rolls.’

‘Bleurgh. Who wants food right now? And what exactly are you hoping to find?’

It was hard to explain the buzz he got from walking around the stalls looking at all the bric-a-brac, the old belongings that had a history, never knowing what you might see on the next stall.

‘People find real treasures at car boot sales. One guy found a Lalique vase and paid one pound for it. Turns out it was worth over thirty thousand quid.’

Lynne crossed her arms. ‘So you’re hoping to make your fortune today?’

‘Nah, I just love rummaging about in people’s old shit.’

‘Good to know,’ Lynne said with one eyebrow raised. ‘I just hope you appreciate this as a declaration of my love, that I’m willing to spend my day off traipsing around a muddy field looking at other people’s old shit with you.’

‘Yeah, that and the twenty-minute back scratch you got last night.’

She smiled at the memory of it. ‘Okay, partner, in the words of the shepherd, let’s get the flock out of here.’

Pleased that she was finally entering into the spirit of the trip, Penn grabbed his car keys.

‘Jasper knows where we’re?—’

He stopped speaking as his phone sounded.

Lynne paused too, knowing full well what could happen in their line of work.

‘Damn,’ he said, clicking into WhatsApp.

He let out a long breath when he saw the two-word message.

His eyes met Lynne’s and he saw the disappointment there. Not for the car boot sale but for the loss of their first full day off together in three weeks.

‘I’m sorry.’

Her gaze softened. She reached for the flask of coffee and kissed him on the cheek.

‘Get to it, Sergeant, cos I’m going back to bed.’