‘Shut up!’ said Mrs Haslam flatly. She raised her voice for Philips to hear. ‘Hurry it up, Les. You don’t have much time.’ She was wearing a shirt, brief shorts and a linen jacket with big patch pockets; a very different creature from the last time I’d seen her. Beyond her, through the window, I saw the body of Negrini lying supine among the flowering bushes, then there was his boat and the waters of the lagoon and, in the far distance, the mainland. I saw it all but I did not perceive it. My mind was a blank.

Philips came back, herding Leotta and John at gunpoint. John’s face was expressionless but Leotta looked flaming mad: her lips were drawn back and her teeth glinted in a snarl of rage, and her eyes darted from side to side but held on to Bette Haslam in a wide stare as soon as she saw her.

Bette indicated the settee. ‘You sit there, bitch. And you, grandad, sit on that chair and be real quiet.’

Leotta sat down on the other side of Jill and then leaned forward to look at me. I shook my head slightly, not taking my eyes off Bette Haslam.

Philips checked his watch. ‘I’ll be going,’ he said. ‘I won’t be able to come and take you off myself. It’ll either be Steve or Terry.’

‘Okay,’ she said. ‘And if you hear me popping off, don’t worry. I’ll just be doing some target practice to impress the folks.’ She looked at me and said ironically, ‘Not that Mr Kemp needs impressing. He’s had a demonstration.’

‘All right,’ said Philips. ‘You’ll be picked up at nightfall.’ He left and, through the window, I saw him walk along the quay and then disappear as he dropped into his boat. There came the putter of a small outboard engine and the boat came into sight and went off towards the mainland.

Bette Haslam stood there, holding the gun in one hand and with the other in a jacket pocket. ‘Well now,’ she said. ‘You’re all comfortable, so I don’t see why I shouldn’t be. Grandad, there’s a nice chair over behind you there. Bring it over here, but do it slow.’

John got up and did as he was instructed. She waved him back to his seat and inspected the chair he had brought. ‘Nice enough chair, but a mite too low. If I sat in that I might not be able to get up in a hurry.’