She measured out a serve of chips and dipped the fish in batter before lowering it into the fryer. ‘You were here last night, weren’t you?’ she said, turning back to him.

‘Yes, the burger was good. Oh, hey, and thanks for the Freddo.’

‘Did the chocolate melt?’ She seemed concerned about this.

‘No. It was fine.’

‘Oh, good.’

‘Do you do give frogs to everyone?’ he asked.

She shrugged. ‘Some of the time.’

‘Well, if we’re on a chocolate-frog basis, I’d better introduce myself. I’m Leon. I’ve just moved into town.’

‘I’m Mikaela,’ she said. ‘But you can just call me Miki.’

‘Hey, Miki. Nice to meet you.’

She gave a small smile and swivelled to check the fish and chips.

‘What’s it like living around here?’ he asked.

She glanced to the rear of the shop as if she was expecting someone. ‘I like it,’ she said quietly. ‘The forest is nice. And the sky walk is supposed to be amazing.’

‘You haven’t been? Isn’t that the main attraction around here?’

‘My brother hasn’t taken me yet. Maybe one day.’ She turned back to the fryer and gave his order a shake.

‘That guy yesterday was your brother?’

‘Yes. Kurt.’

‘What do you do when you’re not working? Are you still at school?’

‘No.’

‘Wow, you look young to have finished.’

‘I didn’t.’

‘But you went to school around here?’

‘No. I was home-schooled.’

Leon couldn’t get his head around this. ‘All the way through?’

‘I stopped when I was sixteen, when we came here.’

She turned pink, and Leon wondered if he’d overstepped the mark. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.’

She drained the oil from the frying basket and turned his fish and chips onto paper. ‘Salt?’

‘Yes, please.’

She flicked it on, added a few slices of lemon, then wrapped the order with deft hands. There was a noise out the back, and she cast an anxious glance towards the rear door as it opened and her brother came in. Leon hadn’t realised yesterday what a big guy he was, intimidatingly tall with hair cut short and eyes wide apart. He was muscular—maybe he worked out—and right now he was clearly unhappy. He glared at Miki, who dropped her eyes and picked up a cloth to wipe down the bench. Leon felt himself being inspected too, and knew he’d been judged and found lacking. But he met the big man’s eyes and would not look away.

‘Hurry up, will you?’ Kurt grunted at Miki. ‘You’re taking forever.’