Forty Thieves was packed, but as usual Johnny had an island table to himself. Andy and Rosie were there as well as two people Grace didn’t know.

Seeing Rosie, Steve did a double-take. ‘Woah, Rosie has let her hair down. Literally!’

The beautiful Chinese woman, who usually wore her dark hair in a French knot, had let it spill down her back and over one shoulder, almost to her waist. She was wearing a clinging bright-red silk jumpsuit with strappy gold stilettos. Dramatic gold earrings swung almost to her shoulders, and from a long gold chain hung a large piece of carved jade.

She was sitting right up close to Andy, whose arm was resting behind her along the banquette. Johnny was in a casual white linen suit with loafers and no socks, his turquoise silk shirt was half unbuttoned, displaying a heavy gold chain. Andy was in what Grace considered to be his uniform of Hawaiian shirt and cargo pants.

Johnny waved at them as they approached. The other men were deep in conversation. Grace noticed that Johnny was smoking Dji Sam Soe Black, the expensive brand of kretek cigarettes. This was a sign he was uptight, she’d been told. Smoking was banned indoors, but rules never seemed to apply to Johnny Pangisar.

‘Thought this was a serious meeting, not cocktails,’ muttered Steve. ‘I’d rather be in bed.’

‘Me too. No choice, though,’ murmured Grace.

Steve and Grace greeted Rosie and Andy before Johnny introduced the other two men by first names only.

‘They’re Balinese lawyers, fixers, “cleaners”,’ Andy whispered to Grace as she and Steve sat down. ‘They know what the law is and how to break it “legally”. The justice system in Bali is complicated. These types of guys simplify it.’

Grace ordered an espresso martini. Steve had a Corona beer with a wedge of lime in the neck. Then Johnny leaned forward and the group around him huddled closer as he spoke in a low voice.

‘Our two friends here are part of my legal team, to help with details regarding Chef Emile. This event is tragic, if not entirely unexpected.’

One of the legal men cocked his head. ‘Indeed, we thought something like this might happen. The chef’s habits were well known among the staff, and to us. He was a difficult boss and we were aware of the degree to which he was involved in other activities outside meeting his Kamasan requirements. He was exceptionally good at his job, very creative, a great talent.’ The man stopped and took a sip of his drink. ‘Stephano, the executive chef, had asked us to overlook some bad issues with him so long as it didn’t affect his work,’ he added.

‘His work was brilliant, but he was tough on his staff,’ said Andy. ‘A few people are talking about that now, as the threat of retaliation has . . . disappeared.’