Sam’s stomach clenched with unease. Troy was mistaken, he had to be, and Evie too. They weren’t young, no matter what they said. There must be a Ryan doppelganger around – probably the same guy she’d spotted in Marazion that night and earlier at the bar. Thousands of people from miles around had been at the festival.

They reached the harbour office, where the harbourmaster was talking to a man from the fishermen’s charity. Understandably, they looked serious.

‘Hi guys,’ said Sam. ‘Troy says that some money has gone missing.’

‘It’s true. We put the cash box from the barbecue in here and thought it was safely under lock and key, but it turns out that one of the stewards popped in to use the toilet and forgot to re-lock the door. When I came back half an hour ago, the cash box had gone.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. Is there any chance there’s a mistake and someone’s taken it home?’

‘I’ve spoken to the only other person who knew it was in here and they don’t have it.’

‘Dozens of festival goers were around when Trevor brought the box in,’ said Troy. ‘Any of them could have been watching and taken their chance when the steward left.’

‘And yet you think it was Ryan?’ said Sam.

‘I don’t know it’s him,’ said Troy, clearly hurt.

Sam kicked herself. She was fighting a losing battle to stay calm. ‘He’s not even in Cornwall.’

‘Do you know where he is?’ said Troy. ‘Maid, you’ve told me often enough he rarely makes contact.’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Ryan wouldn’t steal a charity cash box,’ said Gabe firmly.

‘He’s taken stuff before,’ said the harbourmaster. ‘As you know better than anyone, Gabe.’ He looked at Sam. ‘I’m sorry, Sam, but you know he’s stolen from local people in the past.’

‘That was years ago. You’re right, I don’t know where he is now, but he did tell me he was trying to mend his ways. He said he’d changed.’ She sounded desperate because she was desperate. ‘And you’re all accusing him just because you think you saw him in the vicinity? You can’t do that.’

‘I can see you want to help, Sam, but how do you know?’ said Troy.

‘You were the one who went to the police in the first place,’ the fisherman said to Gabe.

‘I’m sorry, Sam, but we have to get the police involved.’

‘No!’ Gabe almost shouted. ‘No, don’t do that. Don’t accuse Ryan. I know he wouldn’t do it.’

‘How? Because you know he wasn’t here?’ said the fisherman. ‘If that’s true, it would be easy for him to defend himself and no harm in mentioning it to the police, then.’

‘No. No … he was here.’

Sam gawped. ‘What?’