Sterling gave the group a friendly smile. ‘I can’t help you there, Gus, I’m not a local.’ The group were the only customers left in the bar, and she and Elijah had been hoping they’d push off for the last half hour.

‘I can tell you’re not a local,’ Gus said with a good-natured wink.

‘I’ve been here ten years and I’m still not a local,’ Elijah said to no one in particular as he approached the group. ‘Come on, guys, five minutes to closing.’ The young publican held out his hand. ‘Pass me those glasses will you, Gus?’

Gus began stacking the glasses then looked at the young man who’d doubted his story about the cat named Apollo. ‘Well come on, Spider, look alive.’

Elijah joined Sterling behind the bar after he’d locked the door a few minutes later. ‘Finally. Boy, do I feel for Spider.’

Sterling straightened up from where she’d been stacking the dishwasher. ‘I think he’ll be paying for doubting Gus’s story for a while.’

Elijah chuckled. ‘Are you up for a drink, or would you rather head home?’

Sterling hit the button for wash. ‘I think I might just head home.’

‘Yeah, whatever works. Thanks again for coming in at short notice and covering Heidi’s shift.’

‘I was happy to help out. It’s incredibly sad her losing her brother like that.’

‘I know, it’s awful. Look, I don’t know when she’ll be back, but would you mind working her shifts in the meantime? If it doesn’t suit, I can ask around, see if I can find someone else at short notice.’

‘No, I’m happy to take the extra shifts,’ she said, slipping on her coat. ‘I need the money.’ And the time listening in on the locals’ conversations.

Elijah gave her a grateful smile. ‘You’re a lifesaver, Ida. If today is any indication, we’re going to be busy with all these extra people in town.’

‘That’s good for business,’ she said.

‘Yeah, my mortgage is finally going in the right direction.’

Sterling smiled and went to get her coat and backpack from her cubicle in the small staff room. When she returned Elijah was unlocking the door for her.

‘See you tomorrow,’ he said, letting in an eye-watering blast of freezing air.

‘Yep, goodnight.’

With her backpack slung over her shoulder, Sterling stepped out into the sub-zero temperature, the deadbolt engaging with a clunk behind her. The group of co-workers had taken their friendly argument outside and were standing around one of the picnic tables. Hoping they’d organised a ride home, Sterling turned up her collar, crossed the grassy area covered in frost and began her counter surveillance. She’d already committed their physical appearances to memory as well as the names she’d managed to pick up.