‘What’s up?’ Gabe asked.

Troy’s grim expression made Sam’s skin prickle. The high of the music and atmosphere ebbed away. ‘OK, I’ll come, but can you tell me what’s happened?’

‘Some money’s gone missing. A collection the Fishermen’s Mission made from their seafood barbecue. They’d put it in the harbour office, but someone left the door unlocked. And it’s gone.’

Sam relaxed again. It was a bad thing to happen, but not the serious incident she’d expected. ‘OK, I’ll come, but aren’t the police dealing with it?’

‘The harbourmaster wanted to call them, but I stopped him.’

‘Well, I think we need to do that.’ Sam reached for her phone. Gabe was still by her side.

Troy put his hand on her arm. ‘No, maid.’

‘Why not?’

‘Because … come away from this noise.’

‘I’ll come with you,’ said Gabe.

‘OK …’

With a sense of unease, Sam followed Troy out of the marquee where they could have a proper chat without shouting down each other’s ears.

‘What’s going on, Troy? Why haven’t the police been called?’

‘Harbourmaster wanted to call but I don’t want to get them involved yet. Sam, there’s no easy way of saying this, but just before the money was reported as missing, I saw your Ryan hanging around the office.’

‘Ryan?’ Sam burst out laughing, sure that Troy had been mistaken or had one too many ciders. ‘You can’t have.’

‘Maid, my eyesight might not be what it once was, but it’s not that bad. It was your Ryan and if you don’t believe me, you ask Evie. She saw him too.’

She stopped laughing and fought back a rising tide of annoyance. How could Troy assume that any theft in Porthmellow was down to her brother when he wasn’t even in Cornwall? ‘No. It can’t be,’ she said firmly. She turned to Gabe for support. ‘It’s impossible that Ryan had anything to do with it. Isn’t it, Gabe?’

He hesitated, just long enough to make the hairs on Sam’s neck stand on end. Eventually, he said, ‘We don’t know it was Ryan for sure …’

‘I saw him!’ Troy protested.

Gabe patted Troy’s back. ‘I’m sure you did, mate. No one’s saying you’re wrong.’

‘What? That Ryan stole the money or that he’s here in Porthmellow?’ Sam demanded.

‘Before we jump to any conclusions, let’s go to the office and find out more,’ Gabe said soothingly.

‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you,’ said Troy.

Sam started walking towards the harbour. ‘Come on. Let’s get this sorted out so we can enjoy the rest of the evening.’