‘Come on, Rog. Concentrate now.’ Cynthia stroked his elbow. ‘For God’s sake, man. It must have a tracking device. These days even a mobile phone can be tracked, let alone a million-pound boat.’

‘I have an idea.’ Theresa pulled out her phone.

There was one person of her acquaintance who would certainly know how to track a missing pleasure boat.

Sally was standing at the water’s edge with Eggy’s stand-in. She was so cold she could barely feel her feet. Judy was fussing around with her hair, Sophie was photographing how the jewellery was positioned, getting her ready for a take, when the Second Assistant came bounding down the beach with the news that Eggy had not only been found, but he was a few minutes away, in a cab heading straight for the location.

Mike, the stand-in, was hurried up the beach and divested of Eggy’s costume.

One more time Sally turned away from the crew and took out her phone. She had tried every ruse she could think of to call Marina Martel and apologise, try to explain the nature of the misunderstanding. But at the Grand Hotel Astor, Monte Carlo, as at all hotels when hosting a mega-star, Marina Martel was booked in under a code name and, unless you knew that, no one on the switchboard would even admit that she was a resident, let alone put you through.

Sally moved over to the First Assistant for a further conversation on the subject, but he was adamant. Marina Martel called the set. The set did not call Marina Martel.

‘Sally?’

One of the tech guys called her down to the boat.

‘We’d like you to get in place and get the engine going. Just so we can time things.’

Sally removed her high heels, giving her feet a quick rub in the hope they might regain some feeling, and hopped into the boat. She looked at the motorcycle-style double saddle.

‘I’m in evening dress,’ she said. ‘How on earth can I get astride that?’

‘Daniel would like you to try taking her out while standing up . . . if you could.’

‘But there’s nowhere to stand,’ she replied, pointing to the console. ‘I’ll need Wardrobe to put a slit in the dress. Wouldn’t that be noticed? Where’s the camera boat?’

‘There won’t be one,’ said the cameraman. ‘We’re close in on your getting up and setting off, then we’re doing a long shot. You saw the sparks team installing some lamps to a battery hidden down at the back . . .’

‘Stern,’ said Sally automatically.