Ruby thinks of Joe while she prepares salad at the Rock. She had to think fast to avoid exposure, but it helps that he believes she’s vulnerable. Joe’s kindness can be included in her plan. Her hands fly as she washes a mound of lettuce then moves on to scrubbing new potatoes; it’s important she passes her trial. Billy’s stereo is playing a random selection of music, from rock and roll to jazz. Most of the songs are unfamiliar, but she sings along to ‘That Old Devil Called Love’. When she looks up, Billy’s grinning.
‘You can carry a tune. Ever done karaoke, Chloe?’
‘I could never stand up in front of a crowd.’
‘Why not? You sound like Amy Winehouse.’
‘I prefer peeling spuds with you.’
‘Thank God. The last lad was a proper misery-guts.’
‘I like keeping busy.’
‘We’ll get along famously then, won’t we?’
Billy shunts more vegetables her way, then carries on stirring a vat of pasta sauce, the smells of garlic and oregano filling the air. Ruby lets her gaze stray to the window. Tresco’s outline keeps changing with the shifting light; the island’s hills waver, then turn solid again. She’s never seen anywhere so beautiful. The castle perched high above the beach makes the scene like a fairy-tale illustration, full of mystery. There’s no sign of Joe’s boat now that he’s gone to work. He could be miles away, ferrying birdwatchers out to Gweal or Samson, unaware of what lies ahead.
Ruby’s still working hard when she hears footsteps. There’s no time to catch her breath before the grey dog that barked at her yesterday bounds through the fire doors. The creature approaches her workstation, growling and baring its teeth. She flinches but stands her ground. If she was alone, she’d slit the creature’s throat without hesitation, then leave its body on the beach for birds to pick over.
‘Shadow won’t bite you, love,’ Billy says. ‘No need to be scared.’
Ben Kitto appears on the threshold before she can reply. He’s so tall and broad, his form blocks out the light, but she keeps her chin up, determined not to look away. That would only draw his attention, and she knows how observant he is. He hasn’t changed much since the days when he exploited her father’s trust. He’s still got handsome features, but there are threads of grey in his black hair now, his build like a heavyweight boxer. He’ll be hard to kill unless she catches him unawares. His green-eyed gaze is strong enough to burn through her camouflage.
‘You must be the mysterious Chloe,’ he says. ‘Poor you, working for Billy. That can’t be easy.’
‘It’s just a trial. I may not get the job.’
‘You’re doing fine so far,’ says Billy.
‘Good luck putting up with his moods,’ Kitto says.
‘His music’s the only problem; I prefer rap.’
‘You’ll have to live with it, sweetheart,’ Billy mutters. ‘My kitchen, my tunes.’
Kitto looks at her again. ‘We’ve met before, haven’t we? Your face is familiar.’
Her heart rate quickens. ‘I’d remember being arrested by a giant like you. This is my first time in Scilly, and I love it already. I can imagine settling here for good.’
He finally cracks a smile as two more men appear, the middle-aged cops in plain clothes that she saw last night. The bodyguards will be easy to defeat, but she’s glad when the trio finally go to their base room.
Ruby doesn’t blink when Billy asks her to make coffee and carry it through on a tray. Playing the role of Kitto’s server will keep her close until his guard drops. If she can build his trust, she’ll be invisible when the right moment comes.