‘Curls, please,’ Nat said, self-consciously running his fingers across his newly-cropped hair. You’ve got to admit your ringlets were pretty distinctive.’ I don’t think Blaine’s got any shots of me in Santa Marita, but all it would need is one picture with you in the background, and she’d have figured something was up. You sure it was necessary, or did you just reckon I needed a haircut?’

The hair suits you, by the way,’ I said, and brushed the flat of my hand across the blond stubble. You can think of it as career development. Means I can now add ‘Fraudster’ and ‘International Drug Smuggler’ to my CV, mind you.’ ‘Fuck me, Lilith, I’ve never managed to break so many laws in such a short space of time. ‘Yeah, he has that aura of gorilla, doesn’t he?’ He shook his head. ‘But watch him, please? He’s still dangerous.’ ‘Coyle’s not the brightest spark,’ I said. To be honest, I didn’t even need to hide everything as well as I did – I’m almost disappointed.’ Like you said, they were that happy to find the phone, they missed the good stuff. All safe in my room, out of the way of that Coyle twat. I probably need to give my head a shake, to be honest.’ And with those few words, I was forgiven faster than I truly deserved by the most decent man I had ever known. Should have known it was something pretty massive for you to be so worked up.

‘Even if I am a sad bastard without life or girlfriend?’ Nat Carlin, the recipient of my clandestine phonecall, grinned, and I hugged him harder still. Oh God, you have no idea how good it is to see you.’

‘Bloody hell, Lilith, what kind of a mess are you in here, lovely?’ he whispered. His quiet young PA sat at the dining table, diligently making notes in a small spiral bound notepad, and at the sound of my footfall, he turned to face me. He was making easy work of Rachmaninoff, his fingers skimming over the keys of Blaine’s Steinway. I waited in my room until I could no longer hear the launch engine, then ran to the Hall where Gabriel was already at the grand piano, warming up for that evening’s performance. At two o’ clock in the afternoon, Blaine left the island to visit the salon in the village, taking Coyle with her as boatman and porter.

The Tied Man by Tabitha McGowan