"No, we're done with that, actually. I'll just have a few days in the cottage with it, work on the background, that type of thing. I don't need you. Oh! There he is." I'd spotted Ted in the distance, heading up towards the dunes. Possibly in the direction of the parking lot.

“Scientist chappie?" Roger followed my eyes. "Nice man. Got integrity. Spoke to him earlier. Need more like that on the board. Marine biologist, that sort of thing. Frightfully knowledgeable, could talk to him for hours. Hey!" His eyes came back to me and lit up. “Might be just the ticket for you!"

"Oh, er – I must go, I—"

"Got to find you a man, Flora. Too pretty a filly to be on your own. Hey – wassisname – Ed? Hey, Fleming oh, look out, she's off anyway! At a trot! Chase him! Run!"

I was legging it, followed by a roar of laughter and a bellow of "Run! Run – you'll catch him!" from the naughty boys.

Ted turned at their voices, which wasn't ideal – I was bright red with embarrassment – but it did at least stop him. As they continued to dissolve with glee into their drinks, he waited for me, grinning.

"Hi."

"Ignore them," I told him, panting. The sand was deep here and hard to run on. “They're drunk.”

"You don't say." He grinned. "By the way, I've just got your text." He produced his phone. "Only works when you're off the beach."

"I know. Ted, I need to ask you something."

He glanced at his watch. "Can it wait? Aren't we having supper tonight? I've stayed for longer than I should have done, had no idea it was such a jamboree. I'll shoot back for supper later, though."

"No, no, it — it can't wait."

He blinked. Saw the seriousness in my face. "OK." He shrugged. "Fire away."

I walked on a few steps towards the dunes. Sat down in front of one. He looked surprised then followed suit and sat beside me. I'd thought about this in the car. No recriminations. No how dare you go behind my back to my friend Shona. I felt it, but I wouldn't say it. I was growing up, you see. And I wanted something from him. Making him my enemy was not going to help.

I gave myself a moment. “Ted, I know everything you know about Bellingdon Water. About the infrastructure. How badly maintained it is."

He instantly looked defensive. “Shona."

"Yes."

"Who was not supposed to tell you that."

"But she did."

“Do you mind?"

“That you spoke to Shona?" Yes. Hell, yes. "No, of course not."

He relaxed. "I had to, Flora. It's too big not to. I know I went behind your back but — you know."

“Sure." No. I don't know. I don't behave like that. “The thing is, Ted, I know they've got a lot wrong."

"Oh, you have no idea," he said bitterly.

"Yes, I have."

"We're talking a criminal investigation here."