He scowled. “There should be plenty, just not in my pots. I have my suspicions that someone is helping himself. I’ve tried to catch him at it but no luck so far. That’s what I was doing when I surprised you and Belinda at the cottage. I’d spent most of the night out at sea, watching my lobster pots. Between us, my money is on that bugger Tony Summers, or someone who works for him. That’s the sort of thing he would do. He’s not a local man. He doesn’t know our traditions. Not really popular around here.”

“Oh,” I said.

He saw my face. “What’s wrong? And where’s Belinda?”

“You haven’t heard. Tony Summers is dead.”

“Dead?” He looked astonished. “Heart attack or accident?”

“Murdered. And Belinda has been arrested for his murder.”

“Belinda? How could Belinda have killed Tony Summers? And why?”

“She didn’t, I’m sure, but he was found in her bedroom, lying naked on her bed. . . .”

“Was he?” Jago gave another cheeky grin.

“It wasn’t like that at all,” I said huffily. “She was off having a bath and she has no idea how he got there. Anyway, by the time she found him he had been stabbed with a large knife.”

“Crikey,” he said. “And what’s happening now?”

“They’ve taken her off to the county courthouse in Truro,” I said, and to my mortification I heard my voice quiver. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. She wants me to telephone her father.”

“I’m really sorry. That’s awful.” He put a hand on my shoulder. “Is there anything I can do?”

“Not unless you can find the real murderer for me.”

“I wish I could give you more time but my boss arrived out of the blue yesterday, so I’ve been racing around, getting household help, arranging for food to be delivered. He’s a bugger with a terrible temper if everything doesn’t go exactly as he likes it.”

“Do you like working for him?” I asked.

He made a face. “He pays well. It’s good experience. And I’ve been able to see parts of the world I’d never have seen otherwise.” He let his hand fall. “Sorry. I have to get going. Look, come and find me if you need help. Once I’ve got them settled I should have a moment to breathe.”

“How do I find you? I don’t think that your boss wants me to trespass onto the grounds.”

“There are people coming and going with deliveries right now. And my cottage is off to the left, next to the kitchen garden. But what about Belinda? Can we go and see her?”

“I’m going to try, but it sounds as if she’s in jail. Do they let people in jail have visitors?”