‘Buckle up,’ said Sam wickedly, before reversing a few yards more and turning the van into a gravel driveway between two cottages. The driveway was a tight squeeze but not as tight as the lane. It led to a concrete track that ran behind some garages at the back of the cottages.

The man had one hand on the window to brace himself as the truck bumped along. ‘Jesus. Is this a road?’

‘Not strictly speaking. It’s unadopted but if you want to get to Clifftop House it’s your only chance.’

‘I’m not supposed to go off road …’

‘Off road?’ she laughed. ‘This isn’t off road. You’ve obviously never been to Cornwall before.’

Carefully watching out for people coming out of their back gates, Sam drove the truck with inches to spare on either side and turned sharp right again at the end onto a dirt track overhung by trees.

The driver swore. ‘’kin hell. This isn’t a track, it’s a footpath.’

‘This section is a green route technically,’ she said as branches snapped and crackled against the van. ‘But look, there’s Clifftop House.’

She slowed down as they emerged from the hedges into a sandy area on the heathland. The sea suddenly came into view. Sam drove slowly along the rutted track and stopped the vehicle alongside the coastal path outside Clifftop House. She daren’t get too close in case she saw Gabe. Hmm. Maybe she should have considered that before she made the offer to move the van.

‘This is as far as I go. You’ll have to buzz the gates to be let in or call the owner, but be careful how you drive over the coastal path. There might be people or dogs about and it’s illegal anyway.’

‘Bloody hell.’ The man blew out a breath as Sam opened the van door.

‘How will I get out of here?’ the man asked, looking in the wing mirror in horror.

‘Sorry, I can’t help you there. I expect your client can help. Ask him to drive you out.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘If he can still remember his way.’

Sam jumped down from the cab. But as her boots hit the earth, she heard a voice behind the van.

‘Hey there! How have you managed to get that huge thing down here?’

Sam slid to the ground and came face to face with Gabe.

Momentarily stunned, he regarded her as if she was alien, but eventually found his voice. ‘Sam? What the hell are you doing?’

The driver called from the passenger seat. ‘I told her she shouldn’t be driving it! I knew it was illegal, but she wouldn’t listen.’

Gabe’s eyes glittered. ‘I bet she wouldn’t.’