‘Somebody tell a joke!’ Stelios greeted them, ‘We have some news at last.’

‘What’s the matter?’ Even Moira, not the most attuned to human emotion, could tell something was wrong.

‘Have you seen Penny?’

‘No, why? She went off for a walk earlier.’

‘Takis says there is someone upstairs, waiting for her. In her room.’

Moira considered this for a moment – and then it dawned on her. ‘Oh my God! It must be Colin, the horrible husband!’

Eighteen

‘I suppose one of us had better go and look for her,’ Nell said glumly. ‘It would be awful if she walked in not knowing.’

‘I will,’ offered Moira.

They looked at her in surprise.

‘I mean, it was Penny who invited me on this reunion when I wasn’t really your close friend; I was just the swot who lived on the same floor.’

‘Maybe we should all go up to her room with her,’ Nell suggested. ‘To show this creep where to get off.’

‘Good idea. Or give her the option of not coming back at all,’ suggested Dora. ‘And we’ll deal with him for her.’

Moira picked up her key and started to leave.

‘Moira . . .’ Dora began, looking uncharacteristically hesitant. ‘You know you’re our friend now!’

Moira found she couldn’t stop smiling as headed off to hunt for Penny.

‘And when you find her, tell her we’re all behind her!’ Nell shouted.

Ten minutes later Moira found Penny emerging from a back street, clutching a guidebook to the architectural museum, looking surprisingly happy.

Penny held up the guidebook. ‘I’ve been round the museum. Karl would be impressed with me,’ she grinned. ‘What’s the matter? You look like you’ve eaten a cup of cold sick!’

‘I came to look for you. You’ve got a visitor waiting for you in your room.’

Colin.

A combination of dread and sickness, mixed in with a kind of relief that it had finally happened, swept over Penny. What on earth was she going to say to him?

‘Do you want some moral support? I’m happy to come up with you,’ Moira offered. ‘In fact, we all are. Or Dora’s offered to tackle him for you, if you prefer.’

Penny’s fear began to evaporate. She wasn’t alone.

When they got back to the harbour, Dora, Karl, Nell and Stelios were still outside waiting for her.

Stelios jumped to his feet. ‘Stelios Stavropolous, at your service,’ he announced with a bow. ‘People always tell me I’d make an excellent bodyguard.’ Penny considered his bear-like appearance and could quite see why, although the permanent twinkle in his eye rather undercut any capacity to intimidate. ‘I could wait outside in the corridor, if you prefer.’

‘Thank you, but I’m sure it’ll be all right,’ Penny assured him. ‘Just knowing you’re all here is enough.’