About an hour later, the police chief arrives. It is her day off and she is not in uniform. She decides that no arrests will be made today, and we are all to be released “pending further investigations.”

Turns out Jasper Hooke was known to the local police, although I do not know what for. Known enough, though, for Officer MacAllan to at least be inclined to believe us.

By seven p.m., we are on our way back.

Apparently cellular telephones are not very water-resistant, which I think is odd given that you all use them so much. Anyhow, mine was in my shorts when I dived off the Jolly Roger and it is now ruined.

I turn to Sangeeta, who is driving and who has been very quiet.

“May I borrow your telephone, Sangeeta? I should like to send a text message.”

“Who are you texting?”

“Oh, just Roxy.”

Sangeeta presses a button to unlock her telephone and hands it to me. It is different from mine, but eventually I manage to compose a text:

Dear Roxy,

Please come to Dr. Heinz’s house at 8 p.m. tonight with Aidan.

Yours sincerely,

Alfie

When I have pressed the button marked “Send,” I put my hand back into my pocket to check for the reassuring presence of the small, smooth life-pearl.