The Leiston Riddle

‘Oh my GOD — why us!!!’ Shirley looked back towards the caff — only ten minutes ago they had been purchasing a take away drink as if they were care free holiday makers who had left the stresses and strains of working life well behind them. It was unmistakable though, the girl was staring straight back at her, standing at the plate windows which promised a delightful view of the unspoilt nature about from the cosy comfort of a well-run hostelry.

Shirley forced herself to hold her gaze — was this really an attempt to intimidate her? Get back on your bikes — there was a small voice — not her own — she realised. She suddenly and instinctively reached to embrace Mike. 

‘Come on love, we need to get a little bit closer, maybe we are just imagining this — you know old age is starting to to play havoc with my eye sight too!’

Mike said nothing — but she felt him grip her hand tighter. ‘In for a penny in for a pound eh?!’

‘Something like that. You know what, that girl in the caff is staring at us. Did we forget to pay or something?’

‘I gave her a twenty pound note. I needed change. I felt bad doing it and that they mightn’t have the money in the till. There was no fuss, almost surprisingly so.’

‘I am still waiting for the cashless society.’ Muttered Shirley.

He felt in his pockets which jangled reassuringly. ‘She had change alright.’

‘Maybe they are just organised for the day trippers? We are their livelihood after all.’

‘There is something about it.’ He admitted, as they strode towards the beach. ‘Sinister basically, we don’t need to go further, I have got the binoculars and it is what we suppose. There’s no reception here though.’

‘At the caff?’ She interjected.

‘We can’t go back in there. She’s practically a suspect.’ He added, thoughtfully. ‘And we shouldn’t go nearer either — we don’t want to incriminate ourselves.’

‘I hadn’t thought of that.’ She admitted.

‘Didn’t we say we’d catch up with Terry for lunch? At the sailing club? We can call en route.’

‘He has always been a great pal.’ Agreed Shirley. ‘He can handle this — thank goodness we don’t have to be wedded to our phones as we were when you were working. You were available 24/7 and even that wasn’t enough — it was’t surprising you developed an ulcer.’

‘And the rest.’ Muttered Doggett. ‘Just logging it should be enough. ‘Can we put something here — a marker — to show what we have seen and where we were, what with the shifting sands the body might even move and not be there when we get back.’

‘It does seem as though someone was trying to make a statement of sorts though doesn’t it? She reflected. ‘I wouldn’t be surprised if it stays there for a very long time.’

‘A warning?’ Doggett heard himself thinking out loud.

‘Definitely not hidden is it…’ She reflected. ‘Did she say anything? That girl.’

‘Just about the tides — a weak joke about not swimming — as if we would when it is barely spring.’

‘People do do strange things.’

‘There is not much stranger than buying a body with an arm sticking out on Sizewell beach.’ Sighed Doggett.