The breakfast room was deserted, apart from a zombie-like waiter. The buffet was well stocked, however. And seeing all the food on display reminded her just how hungry she was. She retreated to a table with a plate of fruit, a bowl of muesli and a mug of black coffee.

She’d eaten the fruit and most of the muesli – and been joined by two other guests, a quietly spoken Swedish couple dressed for hiking – when another man entered the room. Wada glanced in his direction. And her heart sank.

‘Hi there,’ said George Guptill, waving cheerily to her as he approached her table. ‘Mind if I join you?’

‘What are you doing here?’

‘Found myself passing your hotel and thought I’d look in. I had you down as an early bird, Miss Wada, and it seems I was right. The guy on reception said I’d find you in here, so I signed myself on for breakfast as well.’ George sat down opposite her and looked around, grinning at the Swedish couple, who failed to reciprocate.

‘Is breakfast not served at the Hilton?’ Wada asked.

‘Oh, sure. Quite a spread. But I needed to get out of there. I needed some … fresh air. So I drove out to the headland west of here. My hire car was dropped off at the Hilton yesterday and I reckoned I should give it a run. They’ve got a golf course out there, would you believe? Kinda windy, you’d think. And you’d be right. You wouldn’t want to loft your tee-shots on that course, let me tell you. Anyhow, I decided to drive back a different way and then I saw the sign for this hotel and … well, I thought of you.’

‘That was … nice of you.’

‘Glad you think so. I’ll just go grab a bite to eat. Can I get you a refill?’ He nodded at Wada’s empty coffee mug.

‘Er, thank you. Yes.’

With a parting grin and the mug clasped in his large hand, George bounced up and headed for the buffet.

He returned with a heavily loaded plate and two mugs of coffee. Wada tried to tune out his good-humoured ramblings and concentrate on the problem of what she should do for the best, but it proved impossible.

‘Truth is, Miss Wada, I needed to see a friendly face this morning, I truly did, which is why I came here in hopes of catching you. Bad news caught up with me yesterday. Some boardroom head-to-head went the wrong way for my boss. He’s out. And so, it seems, am I.’

‘I am sorry to hear that, George.’

‘Thank you.’

‘But a man like you will surely be able to find another job quite easily.’

‘Dunno about that. I’m not getting any younger. But I’ll give it my best shot.’

‘When are you returning to New York?’