Leo nods. ‘I’m glad you came to talk to me, and I understand. I’ll do what I can to assure your job whenever you’re ready to come back, but I’m afraid it’s now looking increasingly likely that I will no longer be employed by Heracles by the time the boat goes back in service. Nico is, understandably, quite upset about everything that’s gone on and seems to be laying at least most of the blame at my feet.’

‘You’re leaving Immanis? Is it … because of what’s been happening?’ I ask. I feel a stab of guilt. Poor Leo. None of this is his fault.

He sighs. ‘Let’s just say I feel I’ve reached the end of the road with Heracles. I’m not prepared to be treated like a naughty child or to take the blame for things that are clearly—’

He waves his hand in front of his face, interrupting himself. ‘But that is neither here nor there and indeed not something I should be sharing with you anyway. My apologies.’

‘I will put in a good word for you and do what I can,’ he continues. ‘I’m sure HR will understand your reasons for leaving and won’t hold it against you. More immediately, I’ll see what I can do about arranging a transfer – shall we say in a couple of days? Give you time to get your things together, to say your goodbyes and for me to find a replacement for you.’

‘That sounds perfect. I appreciate your help, thank you.’

72

Lola

8 February 2022, 21:00

The Caribbean

‘OK, well done,’ I say to Jesse when he tells me that Leo is arranging to get him off the boat. Finally he’s got something right, thank God. ‘I think we need to get away from here as soon as possible. They’ll probably dig out the DNA results again at some point and I think it’s better that you’re not around to have to answer questions about that, given how it went last time.’ He is still wearing my jumper, the way I told him to, to back up the theory that that is why my hair was found in Rick’s room. The jumper looks totally ridiculous on him but whatever, that only adds to the theory that he’s half mad.

Which, to be honest, I’m starting to think he is. Since we had to get rid of Stuart, Antonio’s looked terrible. I’ve tried to jolly him along as much as I can because I need him to help me get off the boat, quite apart from anything else. It’s not something I can do by myself and no one else knows I am here. I can’t have him having a crisis of confidence and giving himself up, which I get the impression he’s on the verge of doing.