“You have the ability to open anything, and you’re using it to open pistachios?”

The shell in my hand split and I tossed the contents into my mouth. “Yup.”

The policeman looked baffled. “But you can open anything! The most secure safe, any door in the world, jewellery boxes, complex locks -“

“People, too. I ‘opened’ my father when I was seven. So I stick to the little things now.”

That shut the policeman up and he went pale. “That explains the bandages.”

I nodded as I chewed my way through a new pistachio. “Yup. Gloves can be opened too. What do you want, officer?”

“Ahem. Right. Well, there’s a safe in India that we believe might have evidence inside it, so we need you to go and open it. We’ve tried everything.”

I re-wrapped my hands and scooped up the shells. “Fifty thousand.”

“What?” The policeman breathed. “That’s a lot for a safe!”

“I have to pay my staff to feed and clothe me, not to mention my private jet. If I go on a normal plane a bandage might come loose - have you read anything about me?”

The shells are put into the bin and I ring a bell.

A member of staff appears and holds a glass to my lips. I take a cool sip. “Curses require upkeep. Even these bandages are specially made so they cannot be ‘opened’ by my touch. Do we have a deal? I could have a contract made for tonight.”

The policeman picks up his phone and gives me a long look. “I have to make some calls.”

I have another drink and stretch out on my seat. I may be saddled with a horrific power, but at least I get a few benefits from it.