‘What was the set up between you and Ray, Jess? Any plans?’

She had dark eyes, slightly slanted, a straight nose and a firm, well-shaped mouth. When she smiled the slant of the eyes was accentuated and her face became lively and optimistic. She smiled now.

‘People don’t make plans anymore. They just live day to day or look, say, a few months ahead. Don’t you know that?’

‘I hadn’t thought about it. Sorry for the personal question, then. This might be another-did Ray have any unusual visitors, or mention meeting anyone out of the ordinary?’

The smile went and with it the optimism. She was getting a little out of practice at optimism. She concentrated. ‘I think there was someone like that’, she said slowly. ‘Two men went out with Ray on the boat one day.’

‘What for? Fishing, or what?’

‘He didn’t say. They were out a fair while-all afternoon. They didn’t look like fisherman or scuba divers. They wore suits.’

‘When was this, Jess?’

I’d finished my wine; she had forgotten her drink in the effort of remembering life. She stared past me, past the stunted beer-garden trees, straight out and up the channel.

‘Hard to fix on it… Ray was…’ she snapped her fingers; the sound was like a gunshot-all that water-skiing. ‘Got it! It was a week before I competed in the state titles. I hadn’t seen Ray for a few days. I did lousy. That makes it the first week of September.’

‘Would there be a record of the boat hire for that afternoon?’

‘Should be. A whole afternoon’d be pricey. Should be a receipt and everything. You think it’s important?’

I nodded. ‘Could be.’

‘Let’s go and see. I have to get back anyhow.’ She abandoned the drink and we went quickly back to the marina.