‘Now come on, everyone, what I want to know,’ Moira said doggedly, ‘is what we’re going to do about this statue? Takis has been letting us live here cheaply on the grounds we are helping Kyri, but are we? I was thinking, Dora, you’re in PR. Should we try and get some publicity for the story? You know, “Hunt for New Venus de Milo” type of thing?’

‘The trouble with that is, all we have is the hand and your drawing of the statue. I’m not sure it’s enough to dangle in front of the press.’

‘I wish to God we’d had time to remove the tarpaulin in Santorini,’ Moira said. ‘I think the guy may have been suspicious as it was. What do you think, Karl?’

‘To be honest, Dora’s right. We need more evidence,’ Karl replied.

‘We haven’t been as much use to the island as we hoped,’ mused Nell.

‘Are you secretly pining for Sevenoaks?’ Moira asked. ‘And what about Treasure Island? Now a major tourist attraction!’

Nell laughed and looked around her. The sun had just sunk behind the horizon and the waves lapped peacefully only feet away from them, as shimmering and opalescent as the shell Moira had given her. ‘It’s probably pouring with rain in Sevenoaks. Kyri is magical. I just wish we could do more, that’s all.’

The next day at breakfast Moira, always the most direct of them, approached Takis, who seemed for once not to be dashing around but looking unusually anxious. Moira hoped it wasn’t because he had business worries exacerbated by them staying in his hotel so cheaply. ‘We were all talking last night and concluded we’ve been as much help to Kyri as four spare pricks at a Greek wedding.’

‘No, no,’ Takis’s long mournful face attempted a smile. ‘You have raised our spirits and given us a goal. That is very important.’ He noticed the bowl of breakfast she was carrying. ‘Of course, you could eat less yogurt!’

‘I’m such a pig!’ Moira looked instantly mortified. ‘It’s just that it’s the food of the gods!’

‘Don’t worry. It comes from my mother’s goats. Speaking of goats, have any of you ladies seen Ariadne?’

Moira shook her head.

‘She has not been seen all morning.’ The deep lines of his face seemed deeper than usual.

‘Maybe she’s gone to the grove of the goddess. She loves it there,’ suggested Dora.

Takis looked momentarily relieved. ‘Maybe you are right.’

‘I’m getting ready for the feast at the beach bar so I’ll look on the way,’ Moira offered.

‘Thank you.’

‘I’ll come,’ Dora instantly seconded. ‘And so will Karl.’

‘I will as well,’ Penny added. She’d never seen Takis look so worried.

‘Couldn’t she be off with the goats somewhere?’ Dora suggested. ‘Or looking for some wonderful herb or other?’