‘Am I?’ I said, stabbing at the sand with a pointy rock. One of the fishermen began cooking on a griddle on the water’s edge and a small crowd, mostly locals, ate them on paper plates and chatted easily. ‘Pescado zarandeado,’ Tenoch informed me. That’s what they’re eating. Grilled snapper marinated in spices and Guajillo chillies, with warm tortillas. They pay what they think it is worth.’

‘Nice.’

‘Aren’t you happy about being here anymore?’

‘Are you kidding?’ I said. ‘I love it here.’ I kept looking towards the art district and thinking about Rafael. Even though I had seen him with the girl, I still wanted him. I wanted him to appear again and ruin my life completely.

‘You have a heavy mind. What is on it?’

‘David came to the Hacienda this morning. To warn me about Paco.’

‘What did he say?’

‘He was covered in bruises. He said Paco had been threatening his mother, forcing her to search for your money. She refused.’

Tenoch nodded, but carried on nibbling his ice cream cone and watching the fishermen.

‘He beat the crap out of him, Tenoch. He’s only 11.’

Tenoch continued to stare out to sea, but still didn’t say anything.

‘They’re not safe.’

‘They will be,’ he replied, finishing his cone and wiping his hands on his jeans. He got to his feet and helped me to mine. ‘Thank you for telling me this.’

‘So you believe me?’

‘Yes, I believe he came to the Hacienda and told you that.’

‘What about David?’

His mouth twitched. ‘David’s mother was raped by Paco, this you know. Celestina has been waiting for three years to strike back at him. A serial killer who hates rapists and loves children comes to live with Paco’s boss – she thinks she has found the perfect solution. David appears with bruises – tells you it was Paco and then, like magic, no more Paco.’

‘No, that’s not it. It can’t be. The boy was black and blue, Tenoch.’

‘I do not doubt that. But are you telling me it’s not even a little convenient that he came to you this morning to “warn you”?’

‘No. I believe him.’

Tenoch laughed. ‘I pay Paco well. Why would he steal from me?’

‘Because he’s greedy. Because he wants to be you. Take over your home, your business.’

He shook his head. ‘Paco has never let me down.’

‘You can go through a lot with someone and they can still let you down.’

‘This is true.’ He took my pointy rock and lobbed it across the sand towards the sea where it skimmed the water. ‘You should come down here on your own sometimes. It is a safe area. It’s good for you to mix with people.’

‘Don’t change the subject—’