Ryan exchanged a glance with Gabe. The knot in Sam’s stomach tightened. ‘We were going to tell you this evening. I will tell you but I have to sort this out first. Don’t blame Gabe. He’s been looking out for me. I’m so fucking sorry I haven’t been in touch. I’ve been too ashamed, but now I’ve finally got my act together, now I’m finally not so much of a disgrace to my family, I want to come home. I can never make it up to you and Zen but I want to start to try.’

‘Better deal with this mess first,’ said Gabe.

‘But you haven’t taken the cash, have you?’ Sam burst out. ‘Tell them you didn’t do it.’

Oh God, where had she heard those words before? They were almost identical to the ones she kept saying at the police station after the arcade robbery. Ryan’s guilty face that night should have told her everything, but she hadn’t wanted to believe the truth. History surely couldn’t repeat itself.

‘Of course I haven’t. This time you can believe me,’ he said firmly.

The fisherman and harbourmaster watched them like hawks, listening to the exchange. They seemed amazed that Ryan had turned up, but no one could have been any more gobsmacked than Sam.

‘I told you it was Ryan.’ Troy approached them and folded his arms.

‘Why would I come back here if I had taken this money?’ Ryan said. ‘I heard people were looking for me and I came to sort it. Does that seem like the act of a guilty person?’

‘I suppose you have a point,’ said Troy grudgingly.

‘That’s all you need to know,’ said Sam.

‘What time did this cash go missing?’ asked Gabe.

‘Between around eight and twenty past,’ said the fisherman, glaring at Ryan.

‘Were you around, then?’ the harbourmaster asked Ryan.

‘Yes. I was plucking up the courage to face Sam later. I don’t deny I passed this way but I went to the gents’, I didn’t take any money.’

‘Troy?’

‘There you are. If he says he didn’t take it, he didn’t,’ declared Gabe. ‘How could he possibly know the money was left in here?’

‘Stop! Stop this,’ Sam said. ‘Ryan has nothing to do with this. You’re clutching at straws.’ Even as she spoke, she was transported back in time. Even now, against the evidence, she was still willing to believe and defend him, no matter what … She might have had suspicions, yet this time, Gabe was on Ryan’s side too. Gabe was adamant Ryan was innocent. There was so much she needed to know but right now, her priority was protecting Ryan. ‘I want to speak to my brother. I’m taking him home.’