"Ever since I came here. Time doesn't really bother me now, I'm too happy. Adrian tried, of course, tried so hard, but it never came with him, not properly. I'm so lucky they took me away from him, I might never have known otherwise."

"When did they take you away?"

She looked out vacantly across the marina, her mind nearly losing the thread of thought. "At the party, Uncle Horace's party, Bil Yi was there, that's what Julie promised. So I went. Only they were there too. He was funny and kind, it was exciting." She turned back to look at Greg. An angel's face vandalised by tears. "He's so strong. And I'm afraid."

Kendric di Girolamo slid open the cabin-lounge door and stepped on to the aft-deck. Hermione followed a pace behind.

"Mr. Mandel," he took Greg's hand in a limp grip. "So nice of you to call. I trust Katerina has been entertaining you satisfactorily." He was wearing a navy-blue blazer with bright brass buttons and a spotted silk handkerchief peeping out of his breast pocket, a dark green cravat filling the top of his open white shirt. White flannel trousers and dark blue sneakers completed the nautical image.

Hermione bestowed a gracious smile. A musky breath of orchid perfume stole around Greg, caressing, starting off that certain tingle. The weeks hadn't dimmed the memory of her beauty. Skin-deep, he warned himself, camouflage. She was dressed in a cerise off-the-shoulder gypsy top and blue knee-length skirt. He was reminded of a bird of prey waiting to pounce, mesmerically deadly.

Katerina rose from the padded bench, bare feet slapping on the wooden deck as she came to stand close beside Kendric. "I've done my routine," she said, looking up adoringly at his face. "All of it, everything you said."

Greg turned away from her desperate search for Kendric's approval. Studying the New Eastfield skyline.

Kendric gently wiped her tears with his forefinger, an act which resulted in an almost electric jolt firing through Katerina's mind. His touch was awakening her. An incredibly warped version of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming.

"Well done, my dear. I shall attend you in a little while. I have to have a few words with this gentleman first."

The desolation on her face was heart-wrenching.

"Come along, darling," Hermione said. "It's just silly man's talk. We'll go and get you ready. You're all smelly after that exercise. A nice shower is just what you need." She took Katerina's hand and led her back into the cabin.

Katerina looked back at Kendric, eyes round, imploring. "Hurry."

Kendric blew her a kiss.

The door closed. Through the blackened glass Greg could just make out Katerina pulling off her mauve T-shirt. Hermione's arm slipped possessively round the girl's narrow waist, leading her deeper into the Mirriam.