Geoffreys shrugged. ‘In the mood he’s in now,’ he said, ‘I think of four-letter words.’ Geoffreys glanced at Pin and added, ‘He’s a real “See you next Tuesday.”’

‘What’s that?’ Pin asked.

‘Darling,’ Cavalier said, ‘it’s Kiwi code for not a nice person.’

‘Oh.’

Geoffreys went on, ‘Farquar changes personality somewhat when he’s with those other five. They’re a nefarious bunch. Don’t know what they get up to, but I doubt it would be any good. He swoops in, gives orders and pisses off. Washes his hands of whatever they do.’

‘What do you mean by nefarious?’ Pin asked, unwittingly doing Cavalier’s work. ‘They’re crims or something?’

‘I don’t know,’ Geoffreys said again. ‘But I don’t like or trust any of them.’

‘Why work with them?’

‘I’m paid very well, and only have to deal with them for a few weeks every year. It’s worth it for me. Besides, I love the work on the Mekong. You’ll see why.’

12 PINPRICKS

12

PINPRICKS

The small cavalcade drove on another two hours to the border town between Thailand, Laos and Burma: the Golden Triangle.

‘Why are we going there?’ Pin demanded.

‘The tourists want to see it,’ Geoffreys said.

‘Don’t you remember,’ Cavalier said, a touch feebly, ‘it was the first trip we made together …’

Pin gave him a withering look.

‘I’ve spoken to some of them,’ she said. ‘No one wants to go. The trip is supposed to be on the Mekong, is it not?’

‘It’s an option for the tour.’

‘But it adds four hours to the road trip!’

‘I’m afraid my boss wants the detour,’ Geoffreys said with an apologetic hand gesture.

‘I’ll speak to him,’ Pin said.

Cavalier became nervous.

‘It’s his tour company, darling,’ he said, touching her hand.

‘All that time on the road, pfff !’

Pin became obstreperous and abused Cavalier for asking her on the trip. He knew these sudden mood swings far too well. Her depression, self-diagnosed about the time they met, meant she became irrational and threatening. He had to stand between her and their children from a young age to shield them from their mother’s tirades.

Now, Cavalier’s memories of Pin’s outbursts, buried for more than eight years, resurfaced.