Ruby feels uncomfortable when she and Joe arrive at the Rock. Through the pub’s windows she can see a group of islanders laughing at someone’s joke, and wishes she felt that relaxed. The wound on her ribcage hasn’t troubled her for hours, but now it’s smarting again, impossible to ignore, just when she needs to be at the top of her game.
‘The chef’s called Billy. He’s a decent bloke, I promise. His bark’s a lot worse than his bite.’
Ruby can feel butterflies in her stomach when she knocks on the fire door and a gruff voice summons her inside. She’s greeted by a wall of steam and a man with a long grey beard, frowning as he hurls a rib-eye steak into a pan.
‘What are you after, young lady?’
‘A job, if you still need someone.’
He switches off the gas and swings round to face her. ‘Ever done catering before?’
‘Two years in a busy café.’
‘I need proof, not references.’ He places a chopping board in front of her with three onions, laying a knife on the table. ‘Dice those for me, love, nice and fine. Show me what you can do.’
Ruby washes her hands in the sink, relieved to be thrown back onto familiar ground. Her nerves have steadied by the time she’s finished chopping the onions, the test completed in moments.
‘Good knife skills. What’s your name?’
‘Chloe Moore. I’m here on holiday, but I want to stay longer if I can.’
‘I pay the living wage, plus bed and board.’
‘And tips?’
‘You strike a hard bargain.’ He lets out a laugh. ‘Just as well I like people who stand their ground. Staff all get an equal share. How does that sound?’
‘Good. I could start tomorrow.’
‘I’ll pay you for a day’s trial and see how you cope.’
‘Do I need to register with the police first?’
‘That’s right. No one can stay on Bryher without their permission right now. You’re in luck; most of them are here tonight. They’re using our function room as their base.’
Ruby feels a surge of panic. If Kitto’s here, she’s inches away from being exposed. Her camouflage suddenly feels paper-thin. It’s essential to hold her nerve; she no longer resembles Craig Travis’s daughter, and her fragile blonde act has worked perfectly so far. She follows the chef to a back room, which must have been a bar years ago, with faded wallpaper peeling from the walls. Two old-timers are sorting through reports, but it’s a slim fair-haired man who rises to his feet. He looks too young to be a danger until his keen gaze scans her face. She listens while Billy explains the situation. If she takes the position, she’ll stay in the accommodation block behind the pub.
‘Got any ID on you?’ the policeman asks.
She pulls her fake driving licence from her bag, keeping her movements small and gentle, like she wouldn’t hurt a fly. The officer scans the barcode with his phone, then hands it back. ‘You spoke to my colleague Isla Tremayne last night, didn’t you? She mentioned your name.’
‘Are you going to lock me up?’
‘You’ve got three points for speeding, but that’s okay. There are no cars here. I hear you’re an art student?’
‘The debt terrifies me, to be honest. I’d rather find a job.’
‘Looks like you’ve got one. Welcome to Bryher, Chloe.’
Ruby’s answering smile is genuine, for once. She’s found work and a room without trying, even though the island’s locked down. Maybe the rest of her mission will be just as easy to execute. All she needs now is to track down DI Benesek Kitto and his girlfriend. She feels like punching the air when she goes back outside.
‘You got the job, didn’t you?’ Joe grabs her waist and swings her in a circle.
‘Stop it, Joe, you’re making me dizzy.’ Her feet land on solid earth, but it still feels like she’s flying.
‘I could take you back to St Mary’s tonight, or you can stay at mine. The decision’s yours.’ He studies her face as if her choice will determine his future.
She makes the moment last before replying. ‘I’ll stay, but only because I’m doing a trial shift at the pub tomorrow.’
When he lifts her off her feet again, excitement rises in her throat as the stars overhead spin in a wild circle.