Jamie and Bella Porthcawl’s home lies close to Nathan Kernow’s, just three doors along the terrace, but it’s far tidier. It boasts a few well-tended flower beds and a square of neatly cut grass. The window frames look newly painted, the brass doorknocker gleaming.
Jamie opens the door before I have time to knock. If he feels guilty about his actions at the murder site, there’s no sign of it today. I’ve employed him several times since I came back to Bryher; he fitted a new kitchen for us only a few months ago. Tradesmen stand or fall by their craft in Scilly, where word of mouth is all-important, and Jamie prides himself on the quality of his work. I’ve never seen him in his Sunday best until today, his jacket worn with black jeans and brogues, his bald head shiny in the sunlight. He seems more relaxed since his visit to church, his manner easier when he invites me inside.
The house smells of air freshener and floor polish; a grandfather clock gleams in the hallway. The place seems full of heirlooms and traditional furniture, a mirror on the wall in an ornate frame. When I’m led down the hallway, I catch sight of Bella in their living room through the open doorway. She’s busy tucking packets of cards into envelopes, even though they only got back from church a short while ago. She’s wearing a green dress, her strawberry-blonde hair pinned back from her face when she smiles at me.
‘Fancy stuffing some envelopes for me, Ben? I’ve got a rush on. Would you believe some people actually buy Christmas cards in May?’
‘Crazy,’ I reply. ‘My answer is never to send any.’
‘You’ll put me out of work.’
Her smile pulses more brightly, and it dawns on me that I’ve never seen her sad. I’m about to ask after her business, but I can hear Jamie in the kitchen making coffee. The couple’s Labrador is lying in a basket when I join him there. She’s so deeply asleep, she doesn’t stir when Jamie leans down to stroke her fur. His gaze is still fixed on her when we sit down at his table.
‘Kidney failure the vet says. She sleeps most of the day now, so it’s only a matter of time. It feels wrong to put her down, after fifteen years.’
‘I know what you mean. Shadow annoys the hell out of me, but I’d hate to lose him.’
Jamie goes on stroking his dog, even though she barely responds.
‘Tell me about your work on the activities centre,’ I say.
‘It was going well till I found that skull. It’s lucky I saw it from the digger, or it would have been smashed apart.’
‘That doesn’t explain why you went back.’
My question makes him flinch. ‘Sorry, I should have got your permission. Losing Dad’s compass preyed on my mind. I couldn’t believe I’d dropped it; I always carry it with me.’
‘Like a talisman?’
‘To feel close to him, I suppose.’ He shifts awkwardly in his chair. ‘It’s still missing.’
‘I’m surprised you took on work from the Trenwiths. You’ve got a great reputation here, and Bella’s business is going well, isn’t it?’
‘She needs to expand; we want to rent an industrial unit on St Mary’s and employ some packers. The activities centre will help us move forwards – if it ever happens.’
‘You trespassed on a crime scene, Jamie. You know that’s illegal, don’t you?’
‘Sorry, I wasn’t thinking straight. It was a stupid thing to do.’
‘I’m not trying to shame you. I just need to understand.’
‘Dad and I worked together, sailed together, hung out in the pub. He gave me that compass on my eighteenth birthday. It means the world to me.’ His voice is measured, but he still won’t meet my eye.
‘You’ve made it harder for my team to find out who it was lying in the ground. You’ve made yourself a person of interest too.’
He looks shocked. ‘Come on, Ben, I’ve never hurt anyone in my life.’
‘It’s odd behaviour, that’s all.’
‘I feel responsible, after finding the skull. I’m stuck here twiddling my thumbs, and that build may never get completed. Let me know if I can help.’
‘Thanks for the offer.’ I pause before speaking again. ‘Are you and Bella close to Nathan Kernow?’
‘Not really, to be honest. He went all New Age last year. Nathan’s got a kind heart, but shamans and warlocks aren’t my bag. It seems like mumbo-jumbo to me.’
‘Is paganism a new thing for him?’
‘He’s tried Buddhism, and Scientology too. He prefers researching belief systems to practising them, I think.’
There’s disappointment in Jamie’s voice. When I look up, I see a small brass crucifix on the wall, beside a cluster of photos. The couple’s faith seems to be a distinct strand in their lives, alongside work, family and friendships. I know they miss their kids, who both work on the mainland, but it’s the wrong time to ask how they’re doing.
Bella is still hard at work when I leave, with packages heaped on the table ready to post. I walk back towards Ray’s boatyard, unable to explain why Jamie’s story failed to clear away my doubts.