‘I was wondering if you would like to take Mr Kemp and Miss Tomsson to El Cerco.’

Without waiting for an answer, Hanna opened a file on the desk in front of him. With his head bent he said, ‘And watch out for the harbour police.’

III

Negrini’s boat looked fast. Standing still in his boathouse it seemed to be doing twenty knots. He slapped its side affectionately. ‘Designed by Renato Levi and Italian-built. I have to support my old homeland. Jump aboard.’

Leotta dropped lightly into the cockpit and I followed. Negrini said, ‘Better go into the cabin until we’re at sea. There are too many eyes in the harbour.’

This was no boat for an extended cruise. The cabin, while being well fitted out, was small, with two bunks, a galley and a folding table. I suspected that a disproportionate amount of boat was taken up by engines. This guess was confirmed when Negrini started them up: the boat shook gently as they ticked over while he went through his cockpit drill. The low rumble spoke of raw power.

‘Okay, folks, off we go,’ he said, and the boat nosed gently out of the boathouse and into the harbour. I looked through a window and found that I seemed to be too close to the water. Negrini bent down so he could see me. ‘Bill.’

‘Yes.’

‘Hanna was right. There’s a police launch to starboard that seems to be taking an interest in us. It’s heading this way on an intercepting course.’

I glanced at Leotta. It seemed that Hanna had called this one wrong. ‘So what do we do?’

Negrini laughed. ‘This,’ he said, and there was a bellowing roar from the engines and the whole boat seemed to lift bodily from the water. He yelled, ‘I’ve got forty-five knots out of this baby in smooth water. If that tub tries to match my speed, her engines will blow up.’

The view from the window had changed. The water level was way down because the boat was now planing and the harbour was zipping past at a dizzying speed. I shut my eyes. This was a bit different from taking a sailing cruiser out of the Dart.

‘We’re leaving her standing,’ shouted Negrini. ‘In a couple of minutes we’ll be out of Pascua Channel and in the open sea. You’d better hang on to something and keep loose. Some of these trade wind rollers might break the dishes.’