I looked across at the mainland again. There was only one thing for it: to cross the lagoon and see what I could do over there. If Bette Haslam’s friends were anything like Bette Haslam, that would be like a solitary Christian entering an arena full of lions. She had cooked up this mad scheme of hijacking LH713, and anyone she had persuaded to go along with her would be as crazy as she was. The plan she had developed was pretty elaborate, so it was likely there’d be a whole pack of wild beasts.

I went back into the house to check my lion-taming equipment. There were three pistols: Bette’s, with seven rounds, Negrini’s with four, and Steve’s – or Terry’s – with a full clip of eight. I laid the guns in a line and went over to Leotta. ‘How are you doing?’

‘Better,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry that Jill got caught in the crossfire.’

‘Not your fault,’ I said. ‘You did what you had to do. Jill was just unlucky – collateral damage, as they call it in the army. Are you up to moving?’

‘Where to?’ she asked cautiously.

I didn’t answer that one immediately because I didn’t know how she’d take it. ‘Have some more tea,’ I said. ‘And put a slug of rum in it this time.’

The shrill ringing of the telephone made everyone jump. John immediately made as if to answer it, so I said, ‘Don’t touch that phone.’ He looked quizzically at me. ‘That’s got to be a call coming in from Mrs Haslam’s crowd. They’re in control of the exchange. If you answer it, they’ll want to speak to her and they’ll know something’s up.’

Leotta said, ‘If we don’t answer it, they’ll still know something’s up.’

She was right, damn it, but it was the lesser of two evils. I said, ‘Better that they wonder what the hell’s going on over here than that they know for sure that she’s run into trouble. With a bit of luck they’ll leave it for a while and try phoning again before they think of coming over here to check on her.’

I turned away and took John by the elbow, leading him out of earshot. ‘Are there any weapons in the house?’ I asked in a low voice.

‘No, sir. There’s nothing to shoot on the estate.’ I smiled at the irony. ‘All we have is fishing gear.’

‘Scuba stuff?’

‘Some of that, sir.’

‘Show me.’

I followed him through the house until we entered a room at the other side. I flashed the light around and saw game fishing rods racked up neatly and air bottles in a row against the wall. ‘Are you looking for anything special, sir?’

‘Spear guns.’