Victoria’s truck rumbled into the entrance of the hotel after a twenty-minute journey that had been fraught with the fear that they might be pursued. They hadn’t been; Victoria’s suggestion that the local station would have only a skeleton staff, and that they would have been distracted by the premans’ diversion, appeared to have been accurate.

Milton and Sakura crouched down, out of sight of the solitary security guard on duty. It was a precaution, Victoria had said. Better that no one knew they were there. Milton looked up to see Victoria raising a hand in greeting to the guard before the truck made its way into the estate and followed the road to the villas near the beach.

Victoria pulled the truck around to the back of the buildings and turned the engine off. The three of them sat for a moment, listening to the ticking of the engine as it cooled down. There was a flash of lightning over the bay, followed by thunder. The rain had stopped as they had driven away from the police station, and now it seemed as if the storm was being blown away from them.

“Well, that was an interesting evening,” Victoria said. She turned to Sakura. “Sorry—we haven’t met.”

Sakura didn’t reply.

“This is Victoria,” Milton said to her. “She’s a friend.”

“I’m Sakura.”

Victoria reached back and shook her hand.

They got out of the truck and followed Victoria to the villa that had been reserved for Milton. She stopped at the door, allowing Sakura to go inside so that she and Milton could talk.

“Thanks,” Milton said.

“Forget it,” she said. “I’d better go. Jean-Michel will be wondering where I am, and I still haven’t worked out what I’m going to tell him.”

“Perhaps not the truth?”

“I might massage it a little,” she said with a smile. “Although we’ve got up to worse than that before. He probably wouldn’t be all that shocked. More annoyed that he was at home while I was out having fun.” She half turned, then paused. “Shit—I forgot. You haven’t eaten.”

“It’s okay.”

She nodded into the villa. “She might be hungry. The restaurant’s closed, but you can get room service. Tell them I sent you—they’ll do you something nice.” She clapped Milton on the shoulder. “And behave yourself—she’s pretty.”

Milton was about to protest, but Victoria turned and jogged back to the Toyota. She opened the door and pulled herself inside. The truck rumbled into life and she drove away.

Milton pushed the door open and went into the villa. Sakura was sitting on the bed with her head in her hands.

“Are you okay?” he asked her.

She looked up at him. She looked tired and close to tears. “Not really.”

“You’ve had a day and a half,” Milton said. “You need to get some sleep.”