He’d always liked the Ryans’ store; the general air of disarray made it feel like a shop out of the 1880s, where anything could be found if only you had the patience to look for it. There were newer pieces towards the front, beautiful dressers and mirrors, vases, urns, coat racks, jewel-green goblets. At the back, older random pieces from different eras were coated in a fine layer of dust. Rob ran his hand across a writing bureau to reveal the fine dark wood beneath.

‘I don’t need you doing my housework for me, mate,’ said Wally, appearing magically from nowhere, like the wizard he resembled, with his overgrown beard, long grey hair and large bulbous nose. Though like Rob, Wally was only in his mid-thirties, his hair had greyed prematurely, and he had long grown into the look.

‘Looks like you need someone to do it,’ Rob laughed. ‘As usual, I don’t have a clue where to start looking for what I want.’

‘It’s all up here,’ said Wally, tapping a long, bony finger to his temple. ‘That’s the trick you see, you have to talk to me in order to get what you want.’

‘Your dad trained you well all right.’ Rob told him what he was after, and they spent a pleasant half hour going through the shop’s treasures. Despite Wally’s insistence, his mental map of the shop was a little less clear than he made out.

Finally he found something. ‘Is this along the lines of what you’re looking for?’

‘Maybe,’ said Rob. ‘This couple have got particular tastes. I’ll take it and show it to them and see how it goes.’

He and Wally had an easy-going arrangement whereby Rob took what he needed and paid for it later if it was to the client’s liking. It was one of the benefits of working in a small town; everyone knew and trusted everyone else. Except Doug Grant of course, he reflected wryly.

‘How’s the work at Bay Hotel coming?’ Wally asked.

‘All over before it began, I’m afraid,’ Rob told him. ‘Times have been hard and the bank won’t extend any more finance. Looks like they might have to sell.’

‘If it comes to that, it’ll be a bloody shame,’ said Wally. ‘Apart from the likelihood of some fancy developers erecting an eyesore on the beach front, that place has been the beating heart of this town since I can remember. I’ve been to the best knees-ups of my life at that place.’

‘Don’t I know it. But it looks like bad news all around. Only a miracle could save it now.’

Rob left his friend shaking his head and grumbling in the cool, shadowy confines of the shop, and stepped back out into the modern age. He had a few errands to tick off the list this morning.