‘Line things?’
‘Yeah, you know, like on this end when someone looks at me you enjoy it and think it’s funny, but on this end they end up dead somewhere or other or just missing, and I was trying to work out where this very tempting offer was on that scale.’
‘Ah. And did you—work it out?’
‘Nah, cus you keep changing where the markers are.’
‘I like to keep things fluid, yes.’
‘Yup. Nicely fluid. So, no, I didn’t take up the offer of his extendable telescope.’
‘Did this man have…I do not know the word for it in English—short hair on top with long bits down the back.’
‘A mullet, yeah, he did. How did you know?’
He smirked. ‘He was there when we went to get the things we needed for Molly’s flag. Well, there briefly, I should say. I noticed him staring at you. He noticed me noticing him. He appeared to do a quick risk calculation and then…poof. He was gone. Through your portal possibly.’
Ben began to laugh as well and pushed his cold hand into the small ofhisback, easing it down into the warmth of his waistband, his old familiar trick. ‘The mulletwastempting though.’
He turned a little to one side, so he could watch Ben’s profile as they bounced over the waves, but not before he swung out and booted the moron, and not in the friendly way he’d kicked Ben earlier.
* * *
Chapter ELEVEN
Once they docked, they decided to split up. Harry and Tim headed to the shops to buy food for a few days, and the three of them went to buy the dive equipment, all agreeing to meet in their usual restaurant in a couple of hours. Intent on these concerns, they were just passing the bookshop when Aleksey roused and peered in, realising he still wanted to pursue his questioning of Morwenna Eames. He was a few steps past when he clocked the owner of the extremely alarmed eyes he’d made brief contact with.Spanner. Telling the other two he’d catch them up, he swung back and pushed open the door. Morwenna was standing with an armful of books in front of the door to the little tearoom. She tried to stop him, but he blocked her arm and pushed past. The room was empty, but there was a toilet at the back. It was locked, so he kicked the door hard, and it flew back, crashing into the tile behind it. That room was also empty, but the window to the alleyway at the back was open. He could have followed, could possibly have fit through the gap as well but realised the young man knew the town and he did not. He would be unlikely to find him now.
Morwenna had put the books down on the little picnic table behind him. She was rubbing her arm where he’d pushed past her, her head hung down.
‘I will find him.’
She straightened. ‘I’ve told you, he didn’t do anything. He would never—
‘You do not know what people are—’
‘I know him, and I’m telling—’
‘People can deceiv—’
‘Deceive you? Yes, they can. I think I know that better than most. I haven’t told you what Ben did—the night I came to stay.’
Aleksey jerked his head back. ‘What do you mean?’
‘You were in the main room. I went to find the loo. And Ben was coming back along the top corridor. He—came-on to me.’
Aleksey stared at her, feeling once more the sudden swell and bounce of the boat as they’d joked about mullet man in the chandlers. ‘You’re lying.’
‘He tried to—’
‘It does not matter what you say, I know you are lying.’
‘You can’t possibly know—’
‘Yes, I can. I know Ben.’
‘Well, there you go. I know Spanner. And I’m telling you he didnottry to hurt you. And obviously I made that up about Ben. I’m not sure whether I should be impressed or offended. You didn’t even hesitate.’
Seeing her rubbing her arm once more, feeling guilty and outmanoeuvred, he murmured, ‘He calls you my girlfriend, and I think you can tell that I have extremely high standards.’
