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She bit her lip as she stared at him. ‘Just a box of old stuff that your mother found at the farm. Nothing important.’ She looked down as Kane’s thumb rubbed soothingly along the back of her hand. ‘The scary part is that they went through my underwear.’

Kane frowned as he took her hands and squeezed them. ‘That’s off.’

‘It’s rattled me a bit. I wondered –’ She cut off her words and watched his fingers as he gently wrapped them around hers.

‘You wondered?’

‘Nothing.’ She swallowed. ‘When your mum gave me the box I thought there might have been something in the papers to shed some light on his suicide.’ Ellie bit her lip and shook her head. ‘But there wasn’t. I guess I was clutching at straws. There’s been some crazy stuff happening this week.’

Kane’s eyes were intent as she looked up at him. ‘What do you mean?’

Ellie filled him in on the activity she’d seen at the back of the farm and the information that Emma had conveyed on Skype. ‘Don’t get me wrong. I don’t hold with Mum’s theory but I called Panos, and since then someone’s been snooping around in my room.’

‘And you think there’s a connection?’

Ellie shrugged. ‘I really don’t know what to think.’

‘I passed a guy near the steps of the apartment block this afternoon.’ His eyes narrowed. ‘He was carrying a small box.’

‘Did you recognise him?’

‘No. I just assumed he was someone on the staff I hadn’t met before.’

‘What did he look like?’

‘Tall, well built, short-cropped blond hair. He nodded and I didn’t think anything of it.’

Steve finished serving the guest on the other side of Kane and interrupted them. ‘Drinks?’

‘Just a soda water for Ellie, please, mate.’

Steve picked up the post-mix siphon and made an elaborate show of pouring a drink for her, and Kane inclined his head towards Heather’s table. ‘Want to sit down and chill for a while? I think you need to tell me a bit more about what’s going on.’

‘Not yet. Let’s leave Heather in peace for a while.’ Ellie relaxed a little. He was so much more comfortable around her since they’d cleared the air over lunch. More natural, with no macho posturing to hide behind. And it was a relief to share her worries.

‘One soda water with a twist of lime.’ Steve laughed as he passed her the drink and she rolled her eyes when she saw he’d put a paper umbrella in the lime slice.

‘Have you seen Bill around, Steve?’ She couldn’t see him over at the staff table where he usually sat.

‘He was over there with Heather a little while ago, but I think she put the skids under him. She’s found an unsuspecting tourist already. How long is it going to take you ladies to realise that I’m the best catch around here?’ The Irish accent thickened, and a mournful expression replaced his smile as he looked at Kane. ‘Don’t try and get lucky with the locals here, mate. Waste o’ time.’

‘We just have high standards.’ Ellie fought the heat that was running up her neck into her cheeks and Kane looked across to the window as though there was something interesting out there all of a sudden.

Ellie frowned at him as a knowing smile crossed Steve’s face.

As Kane stared outside, Ellie was struck again by the authority that emanated from him. Even in his casual chinos and collared shirt, he exuded confidence. He turned back suddenly and she realised he’d caught her staring.

‘How was your afternoon?’ Ellie sipped her drink and looked over to the tables. This time she caught Heather’s gaze but her friend looked away again.

‘I sorted out the hangar and ordered a few parts. That last guy had really let things run down.’

‘Mike was a bit casual in the hangar.’

Kane’s face closed and his voice tightened. ‘There’s no excuse for that.’

‘True. But we managed.’ Ellie tilted her head to the side. ‘You know, I do appreciate how thorough you are with the birds. It’s good to know they’re in good hands.’

‘You’ll get used to the way I operate.’