‘He works here,’ she says contemptuously. ‘Tori, you really are naïve if you think the resort staff are your friends. He’s probably only being nice to you in the hope of getting a big tip, or as part of a romance scam. You need to wake up and get a bit more worldly wise, otherwise you’re going to land yourself in seriously hot water.’
She’s incredible. ‘A romance scam?’ I ask her.
‘Yes. My mum getsTake a Break, and barely a week goes by without there being a sob story from some ignorant woman who went on holiday and got chatted up by an oily creep at the resort. They believe all the bullshit, not realising that their lover is only interested in a free ticket to the UK and, before they know it, said lover has disappeared off into the sunset with their life savings.’
‘So you’re saying that Gabriel is only being friendly towards me because he wants to move to the UK and run off with my savings?’
‘The articles are mainly about Turkey, but I don’t see why Jamaica would be any different. Like I said before, it may look like paradise, but you should still be careful. If the state of that bar is anything to go by, they’re not good people.’ She gives another one of her theatrical shudders, and I can feel myself itching to take her down.
‘Let me put your mind at rest, Amy,’ I say, still just about managing to keep my voice level. ‘I don’t think Gabriel needs my help to move to the UK, because he already lives there. And I suspect he’s probably richer than me, so my measly savings aren’t going to be of much interest to him either.’
‘Oh, come on,’ Amy scoffs. ‘He’s a hotel pianist, and I don’t remember seeing that on the list of best-paid jobs anywhere. He’ll be on whatever the minimum wage here is, and relying on tips to supplement it. Whatever he’s told you is a lie, Tori. Can’t you see that? That’s what scammers do, they lie. How on earth did you get this far in life being so gullible?’
‘She has got a point,’ Stuart chips in.
‘Shut up, Stuart,’ I snap at him before turning back to Amy. I’ve had enough of this, but I’m going to spring a little trap to hopefully teach her a lesson. ‘Actually, he told me that he doesn’t get paid for working here at all.’ I try to arrange my face into an expression of pity, but I’m not sure it’s coming off.
‘Which just reinforces my point,’ Amy says triumphantly. ‘He’s already spinning you the sob story to soften you up. Can’t you see what’s going on here?’
‘I haven’t finished,’ I tell her blandly. ‘Tell me something. When you were doing your Miss Marple act this morning, did you happen to take any photos?’ This has just occurred to me, and it would really sweeten the reveal if she had.
‘As a matter of fact, I did,’ she says. ‘It was for your own protection. If you hadn’t come back, I wanted a picture of the man who’d abducted you to show the police.’
‘That was very public-spirited of you. Thank you. Would you be able to bring up one of your pictures, so we can all see this guy who is so determined to scam me?’
‘Absolutely.’ She can barely get her phone out quickly enough and nearly drops it but, after a moment or two, she brings up a picture of Gabriel sitting behind the wheel of the Jeep. To give credit where it’s due, it’s a good clear picture of his face, taken when he’d turned to greet me. If he had been going to abduct me, it would have been a useful picture.
‘OK.’ I pull out my phone and repeat my earlier Google search. I scroll through the images of Gabriel at various pianosuntil I find one that shows his face as clearly as Amy’s photo. ‘Is this the same person, do you think?’ I place my phone next to Amy’s, so the two photos are side by side.
‘It does look like it,’ Lily observes.
‘Yup, same guy for sure,’ Robert agrees.
‘There is a resemblance, yes,’ is all Amy will give me.
‘So this guy here is called Gabriel Campbell. Have any of you heard of him? No? I admit I hadn’t either, but he’s an internationally renowned concert pianist who’s opened the Last Night of the Proms. Twice.’
‘That doesn’t make sense,’ Amy blusters, but I can tell she’s starting to feel uncertain now. ‘What would someone like that be doing playing in a bar here?’
‘That’s a good question, Amy,’ I tell her. ‘He plays here because this hotel is owned by his sister, Grace, and the piano here is a lot better than the one in his mum’s house. And, in case you’re interested, I’ve been to Raphael’s bar and, far from being the dilapidated shack you described, it’s a vibrant and rather lovely place. So, thank you for your concern, but I assure you that I am, despite your assertions to the contrary, quite capable of looking after myself, and was not in danger at any point today.’
‘But… but…’ Her mouth is working furiously as she frantically searches for a comeback, but it quickly becomes clear that there isn’t one, and she resorts to glaring at me.
‘On the plus side,’ I continue, ‘we mostly visited places that wouldn’t be on the tourist trail, so I won’t be bored if I decide to come on the tour you booked. But that will be my decision, Amy, OK?’
Her expression is mutinous, but I’m not moved. I’ve asked several times for her to stop trying to micromanage me and maybe, just maybe, I’ve got through to her this time.
‘That was brutal,’ Robert observes later as we’re getting ready for bed.
‘I’m sorry,’ I say. ‘I know she’s a good friend of yours, but she just winds me up and brings out the worst in me.’
‘She was more Fliss’s friend than mine. If I’m totally honest, I’ve always found her kind of annoying, but I put up with her for Stuart’s sake. I don’t think she’s going to cross swords with you again though.’
I sigh. ‘I really hope not. All I’m trying to do is have a nice holiday on my terms. That’s not too much to ask, is it?’
He grins. ‘You should have heard her at lunch. She was in her element, telling us all in hushed whispers that we’d probably never see you again. I think she was almost disappointed when you turned up unharmed. Can I ask you a question?’
‘Of course.’
