‘Safe? Why suddenly? You never worried before.’

‘I never had cause before. But now I worry. He’s a very powerful man.’

‘Who?’

From her pocket she took a newspaper cutting with a photograph and passed it to Walter.

‘“Darius Falcon,”’ he read. ‘“Giant of commerce, skilled manipulator, the financial world is agog to know if he will avert disaster-”’ He lowered the paper. ‘How does a big shot come to know Phantom?’

‘Because he’s bought the island,’ she said. ‘Rancing had money troubles and he solved them by selling this place.’

Simon swore. ‘And not a word to the people who live here, of course.’

‘Of course. What do we matter to men like that, up there on their lofty perch? If you could have seen him as I did, arrogant and sure of himself-’

‘You’ve met him?’ Simon demanded.

‘He came here a couple of days ago and I saw him on the beach. Phantom made a mess of his suit and he got mad, said he’d make me pay for a new one, and Phantom shouldn’t be allowed out. So tonight, I asked my neighbour to watch over him while I was away, in case…well, just in case.’

‘Hell!’ Walter said. ‘But is he really as bad as you say? If you two had a dust-up he probably just got a bit peeved-’

‘You didn’t see his face. He was more than a bit peeved. Now, I must get home.’

She hurried away, leaving the two men gazing after her, frowning with concern.

‘Surely she’s overreacting?’ Simon mused. ‘A bodyguard for a dog? A bit melodramatic, surely?’

‘She’s been that way for the last year,’ Walter sighed. ‘Ever since her husband died. Remember how good she and Brad were together? The perfect marriage. Now all she has left is his dog.’

‘Hmm,’ Simon grunted. ‘Personally, I never liked Brad.’

‘You say that because you fancied her rotten.’

‘Sure, me and every other man on the island. Let’s go for a drink.’