The more they talked, the more evident it became that the insurance claim was key. Pearly cottoned on to that early enough. ‘What it comes down to,’ said Jack, leaning forward over his desk and rolling a black biro rhythmically between his hands, ‘what it comes down to is that if there’s no insurance payout then that’s almost certainly the end of the business unless there’s a significant capital injection. There just won’t be enough equity left.’

‘Can we take the insurance people on, do you think?’ asked Pearly.

‘I don’t know what the chances are. It’s not my field.’

‘Do you think you took all reasonable care?’ Pearly asked Kevin.

‘I reckon we did,’ he said. ‘It’s not our fault if some wandering bozo breaks in and sets fire to everything. They just don’t want to pay up. The premiums were damn steep too.’

‘Can you suggest a competent lawyer to look into it; to put pressure on if there’s a reasonable chance?’ Pearly was looking across the desk.

‘As it happens I can,’ said Jack. ‘Ian Moorehead at Moorehead and Steyn.’

‘He’s good with insurance?’ asked Pearly.

‘I believe so. He’s represented clients of mine.’

‘I’ll guarantee any fees up to $15,000 provided I’m kept in the loop,’ said Pearly.

‘Then I think we can move ahead,’ said Jack. They talked a little more, but all of significance was done.

Jack accompanied them to the door and remained there courteously as they made their way through reception. Pearly looked back as he reached the blue tubs and saw that the accountant had his hands together low to his side and was nudging them forward as if he held a putter. A shaft of sunlight caught his glasses as he moved and also caught the bone-white hair of the woman seated at the desk. They had learnt detachment from the problems that shook the lives of those for whom they provided service.

Pearly had eaten nothing since breakfast, had drunk just a coffee at Christchurch airport and water on the flight. It was after three-thirty, and he was hungry. He asked Lim if he wished to join them at a café, but Lim said they would have family things to talk about. When they shook hands in farewell, Lim maintained his grip for a time and said, ‘Thank you, Mr Gates. And I want to tell you that Kevin’s really good with boats. It’s not his fault what happened. We were doing okay until the fire. Maybe a little slack on the bookkeeping, but we were doing okay. Marine tourism is a real goer here, and we were really coming right.’

‘We’ll see what happens,’ Pearly said. ‘I’m glad I was able to meet you.’ He couldn’t add that Kevin had often talked about him.