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can’t stay here.” Jose gasped harshly. His face was contorted with pain and the soaking bandages were dark with blood. He began to feel his way along the rocks and I clambered after him, each yard an agony of suspense. The distant figures on the beach were fanning out now, combing the beach, approaching the cliffs.
    â€œWe’ll walk straight into them!” I whispered urgently.
    He shook his head, saying savagely: “We can’t stay here, one sweep of their lights and we’re done for. We have to reach the headland where there is some cover.”
    â€œWhat cover?” I whispered back, but he didn’t bother to answer me. I slithered down a slope of shingle and he whipped round, hissing: “ For God’s sake, be quiet! ”
    The shouts of the police were nearer now, their bobbing torches sweeping in smooth arcs, there were only minutes left before they reached the rocks.…
    â€œIt’s no use,” Jose panted. “Into the water.”
    He gripped my wrist, pulling me downwards, slipping into the water without a splash. The rocks loomed above us as we cowered against them, the waves creaming around our heads and shoulders as we clung to the slippery surface. Jose scooped up a handful of wet shingle rubbing it over his face and neck so that only his eyes showed white in the darkness. I followed suit, the menacing footsteps drawing nearer.
    The stab of the torchlight shone down yards away from us and I gulped air, thrusting myself below water, sinking down beneath the waves, holding myself under as long as I could, forcing myself to stay beneath the surface of the sea. With bursting lungs I had to turn upwards, up through the deep water to the foam flecked surface and whatever awaited me there.…
    He had his back to me, the dazzling light scoring the jagged cliffs. I took a strangled gasp of air and dived deeply, pushing myself away.…
    The sea above me was transformed into a myriad of sparkling bubbles as the torchlight pierced down on the water, and I knew he was waiting for me. My ears drummed and my chest was bursting and then it was too late. I felt my flailing hand grasped and a massive shadow above pulled me relentlessly towards the surface. The splashing foam stung my eyes as I struggled, gasping and sobbing for air, trying to find a handhold for my free hand, to wrench myself away from him. The rock slipped beneath my grasp, grazing my hand, searing my arm as I was dragged like a twisting fish from the depths of the ocean. The light burst about me, the air filling my lungs and a voice said harshly: “ I’ve got you. Now I’ve got you! ”

Chapter Five
    I lay slackly on the wet rocks, gulping great lungfuls of air as Jose cursed steadily under his breath. The night was dark again, the pinpricks of light receding.
    â€œI… thought… you were the police.” I gasped at last.
    â€œGod help us,” he panted exasperatedly. “They’ve gone. Look.”
    I looked and saw men wading out to the rocking speedboat.
    â€œMiss Daventry and Luis?” I asked, starting to tremble as the cold wind bit into my damp flesh and the horror of the situation became increasingly clearer.
    â€œI don’t know,” he said flatly. “I didn’t see them after that first rifle shot.”
    â€œWhat do we do now?” I asked, teeth chattering.
    â€œWe get back to the cottage and then we find out what has happened to Luis. As he spoke he grasped my wrist, and surprisingly gentle, hauled me to my feet. I stumbled against him and the warm, sticky blood clung to my chest.
    â€œYour shoulder! It’s bleeding!”
    â€œYes,” he said, already picking his way over the pitted rocks. “ It is. Now follow me.” Silently we climbed over the slippery rocks towards the curve of the beach. The moon floated opaquely out from behind its curtain of cloud as we reached the firm sand and from there to the turf and the point