Unfortunately, someone else in the bar also liked her. Tripp Warren was in a corner with a group of CIA men, and he looked like he was a good couple of rums down. As Bennett made her way over to the chipboard counter that Doralis permanently sat behind on a stool that was perfectly positioned to let her reach anything her customers might want, Warren detached himself from his drinking buddies and sidled up next to Bennett.

‘How was Gibson?’ he asked.

Warren, like everyone on the mission, had known Bennett was going to be dragged over the coals when they’d got back to Haina.

‘A teddy bear, Tripp,’ Bennett replied. ‘A real teddy bear.’

Warren seemed wounded by Bennett’s sarcasm. The outer edge of his eyebrows drooped, giving him a sad, puppy-dog look. But she didn’t apologise, she just nodded at Doralis, saying hello, ordering a drink and asking for help in a single motion.

‘It was a hell of a night,’ he said. ‘I’m just glad we all got through it okay.’

‘Yeah, everyone except the guy who got shot in the head.’ Bennett hadn’t wanted to get into an argument, she’d just wanted to finish cooling off in peace, but she couldn’t stop herself. ‘Good thing he doesn’t matter, right?’

‘Look,’ Warren said, taking a slow sip of his rum. ‘All you can do now is shake it off and move on.’ He swallowed again, but not because he’d had another swig of his drink. ‘Maybe I could help.’

Bennett had been waiting weeks for Warren to say something like that, ever since they’d got too drunk with each other one night and ended up stumbling from the bar to Bennett’s bed. It had been a mistake, but after months on the island Bennett had certain needs, and after so long spent in close quarters mistakes were bound to happen. She’d figured her subconscious had chosen Warren because he seemed like a fundamentally decent guy, and he was about as far down the pecking order as she was—no one could accuse her of trying to sleep her way to the top with Tripp Warren.

‘Not tonight, Tripp,’ she said.

‘Oh,’ he said, failing to hide the disappointment in his voice. ‘You sure?’

‘The lady’s sure,’ Doralis replied, sliding a rum and ice over the counter to Bennett as she tucked a long, loose strand of wiry grey hair behind her ear.

‘Okay,’ Warren said. ‘Well, you know where to find me if you change your mind.’

‘I’ll let you know if I do,’ Bennett said, throwing him a little smile to take away with him. Then she picked up her drink and turned back to the bar.

‘He means well,’ she said to Doralis.

‘Those are the ones you got to watch out for,’ the old woman replied.

Bennett laughed and drained her rum in a single gulp.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7