‘I mean, thank God for Hogan,’ Robert is saying. ‘If he hadn’t been so bullish, I wouldn’t be here right now, and how would you have handled this mess then? I mean his instincts turned out to be completely right, you’ve got to give him that.’

‘Robert, please . . .’

‘I’m just saying we should hear him out, okay:’

I stiffen. ‘What do you mean, hear him out?’

‘He’s coming over.’

‘He’s doing what!’ I stare at him aghast.

‘Look, I rang him as soon as the police left. I thought he might know what to do about this Duval character and he does. He’s bringing his investors and a bunch of local people he wants me to meet.’

‘Robert, do you understand who these people are? They’re vigilantes!’

‘Vigilantes?’ He laughs. ‘Now who’s being melodramatic? Besides, he’s bringing a hired car. I’m not driving in that truck of yours again.’

‘Robert, listen to me.’ I lay a hand on his arm. ‘You don’t understand what it’s like round here, who people are, it’s . . . complicated.’

‘Well, actually, I don’t think it is. This is private property. We have every right to defend it. At least the law in this country is on our side.’

‘The law is the job of the Border Patrol.’

‘Then where are they?’ He pushes open the big window and waves his hand at the mountains. ‘I don’t see them out there looking for this murderous builder of yours, do you? Christ alive, Alice, you’ve put so much time and money into this project already. Do you really want to see it all lost?’

But I can’t answer him.

‘It’s all very well putting your head in the sand, but what are you going to do when this place is up and running and a group of these wetback people barge in on your guests?’

‘Wetbacks, Robert? Wetbacks?’ I hold my temper in check. ‘Well, how about we offer them a prize – you know, for the lucky few who don’t die on the crossing – a massage on arrival and the chollo spikes picked out of their toes?’

‘Don’t be flip. Besides, if this man is guilty of murder, if he really has been using our property for smuggling, then don’t you want him caught?’ He looks at me strangely. ‘You seem so . . . not bothered by any of this.’

‘I want you to ring Hogan and tell him not to come.’

‘No, Alice, I won’t.’ He sets his jaw. We stare at each other and it’s as if the Atlantic and its windy waters still stand between us for all the chill in our silence.