Cass nodded. ‘He’s such a nosy parker. I have work to do for – er, Baz, without Austin knowing about it.’
‘You want to borrow a cabin?’
‘Rent one,’ said Cass, aware that the cabins were how the family earned their money.
Delphine shook her head. ‘There are no cabins to rent,’ she said firmly. ‘But you can certainly borrow one.’ She threw up her hands. ‘Don’t even think about arguin’ with me!’
Cass laughed. ‘OK!’
A young man emerged from a building. He was wearing a boiler suit up to his waist, the top tied with the sleeves. ‘This is me brother Errol,’ said Delphine.
Errol nodded at Cass and then said, ‘Hey, Baz. Pick-up need something? I’ve got another one waiting to be repaired.’
‘Who does that belong to?’ asked Bastian, looking interested suddenly.
‘Me,’ said the young man. ‘I’ll do it up and sell it on.’
Something suddenly struck Cass. ‘How long will it take you to do up?’
‘I won’t be getting round to it for a while, till this place is fixed up.’ He indicated the buildings around him.
‘But when you start? How long then?’ asked Cass.
Errol shrugged. ‘About a week.’
‘That could be perfect!’ said Cass.
Bastian looked at Cass. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’
‘You’re both thinking that Austin will buy Errol’s car to get to Roseau, aren’t you?’ said Delphine. ‘But you don’t want him going immediately?’
Cass nodded. ‘That’s right.’ Bastian then explained about the drawings.
‘How much will you want for the pick-up, Errol?’ asked Delphine.
Errol named a sum. ‘I know it’s a lot but it’ll be a good vehicle and pick-ups are scarce as hen’s teeth now.’
‘I’m sure Austin could afford to pay that much,’ said Bastian.
‘But will he have that much cash?’ asked Cass.
‘Well, if he doesn’t we’ll just rent it to him. He doesn’t want to take it off the island,’ said Delphine. ‘We can pick it up from Roseau later.’
‘Genius, Sis!’ said Errol with a broad grin. ‘Let’s get him round here and convince him he wants to buy it.’
‘But not when I’m here somewhere drawing!’ said Cass, wondering if her good idea was already a bust.
‘The cabin I have in mind is a little way away from here,’ said Delphine.
‘Where is this Austin now?’ asked Errol.
‘He was with Becca and Ranulph at the site on the beach. I think he wants to add details about Dutchpirates and the Kalinago people to his book,’ said Cass. Bastian grimaced.
‘Aren’t you tempted to add that in yourself, Bastian?’ she asked.
He shook his head. ‘My paper is pretty much written. My focus is on the Kalinago who came earlier than the ones who left traces on the beach. I just need to do the last section, where I left off before the hurricane hit.’
As they walked back to Bastian’s house Cass said, ‘Austin seems very keen that I should leave when he does.’
