‘I …’ she stumbled. She hadn’t thought that far ahead, only wanting to make the most of this conversation before it was over. ‘I can’t remember, maybe something Chuck said to me in one of our chats?’ She was lying, and he knew it.
Neither of them moved, and then the forgotten cigarette burned down into her fingers.
‘Ouch!’ She flung the butt into the sand.
‘You should be careful not to make a habit of getting your fingers burned.’ If ever Ore had heard a threat … Claude smiled, and, perhaps for the first time, Ore realised, deep in her bones, that she was messing with dangerous people. She needed to be more careful.
‘Shall we head back?’ Her voice trembled slightly, and it only made him smile wider.
‘I think that would be wise.’
Ore clambered to her feet as Claude rose slowly. The walk back to the others was excruciatingly silent. The whole way Ore racked her brain for things to say, but nothing materialised. It felt like her body was too concerned with survival mode to be able to think of anything else.
When they reached the table, which by now had been set up with a stunning array of barbecued meats, fish and vegetables, she let out the deep breath she’d been holding in.
