Phoenix lights up but, before he can say a word, Fran continues, ‘It’s about Gozo. I was just talking to Renata and when the subject of Jenna came up’ – she hadn’t actually mentioned Jenna but she glosses over the lie – ‘she became visibly upset and—’ She breaks off, suddenly aware of the tears in Phoenix’s eyes. ‘Are you okay?’

He brushes the tears away. ‘Sorry, but Jenna was lovely. I still feel terrible about what happened.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘Guilt, I suppose.’ He shivers then takes the towel from around his neck, unfolds it and wraps it around his shoulders. ‘We knew she had her issues. But no one realised she was suicidal.’

Fran rests her hand on the door frame. ‘So she didn’t appear … upset? Depressed?’

‘Not really. She never mentioned wanting to kill herself. In fact, the only time I saw her upset was the night she found the bird.’

‘Bird?’

‘The one outside her bedroom. I’d just rescued her from Damian. Actually, I didn’t realise she needed rescuing at first. I thought she and Damian were … you know?’ He raises his eyebrows.

‘No.’ Fran shakes her head. ‘I don’t.’

‘Getting it together,’ Phoenix explains. ‘In the bar.’

‘Damian?’ Fran leans a little closer and lowers her voice. ‘The same Damian who’s here?’

‘Yeah. Only I don’t think they were, getting it together. I think Damian was sitting on her. He was drunk. They both were. Anyway, I helped him get up and then took her back to her room. That’s when we found the bird. It was gross.’ He shakes his head at the memory. ‘Decayed, maggots. Really horrible. I think it upset her. I mean, obviously it upset me too, but—’

‘Did Jenna and Damian spend a lot of time together?’

‘No more than she did with anyone else. Well, not that I noticed anyway. It wasn’t like I was keeping track of her every movement.’ He laughs, his eyes no longer shining with tears.

‘I see,’ Fran says, although she really doesn’t. The suggestion that Jenna and Damian were intimate has raised questions in her mind. Was it a lovers’ tiff that led to Jenna losing her life? A tragic accident, hidden from view? Or was the truth darker than that? Had Damian killed Jenna in a violent rage fuelled by jealousy, anger or drink? Fran doesn’t know the first thing about the man. Other than the fact he takes photos without permission. She had planned to speak to him about that after they went white-water rafting but what happened knocked him lower down her list of priorities. If what Phoenix is saying is true she needs to talk to Damian sooner rather than later.

‘Was Jenna involved with anyone else?’ Fran asks.