‘It’s okay,’ he assured her. ‘And I do understand why she was upset. It’s human nature not to want to feel that you’ve been used or made a fool of. Which was not my intention.’

‘No, of course not.’ Tilly led him inside. ‘Take a seat, I’ll be right back when I’ve washed.’

Seated across the table with the tea things between them, Tilly told him Matt’s version of the previous day and his low-key but persistent opposition to her earlier desire to visit the caves. ‘Of course, he doesn’t know that I did. I had to tell Sophie about that and it’s made her even more determined to have Sandstone Springs made accessible for tourism. Having the public there will protect the caves too – even just the workmen being there would be enough. So,’ she finished, belatedly realising that she hadn’t made plain her reasons for telling Sophie about him, ‘I had to warn her about Matt. Because she was going to let him show Graeme – he’s the company’s money man – around the place. And of course Matt would have done his best to talk him out of it.’

‘But would this Graeme have listened? Sophie’s in charge, isn’t she?’

Tilly gave him a pitying look. ‘And Matt’s a man, and understands machinery and the costs and difficulties of keeping roads open in monsoon country. What do you think?’

‘Ah. Well, she chewed me out pretty well this morning but has agreed to keep quiet about who I am. I have to admit I’ve had my eye on Matt all along. Because if Binboona’s strip of coastline was being used, then somebody here had to be in league with the bad guys, and on the surface he’s the most likely candidate. And now we know I was right. Of course, Sophie’s simplest course would just be to sack him – not that we want her to do so.’

‘She can’t do that,’ Tilly protested. ‘I mean, not without proof. She’s only got our word for it after all.’

He raised his brows. ‘And she wouldn’t believe us – you?’

‘Yes, but she has a boss too, and he’d be harder to satisfy. He’d probably fear a backlash for unlawful dismissal. And think how Matt could twist it if he chose to. I don’t expect he would, because he wouldn’t want to draw official attention, but he might claim it was a put-up job, that I orchestrated it to get rid of his attentions to me. Because I do think,’ she said hesitantly, ‘that he’s attracted to me a little, so there are grounds there if he wanted to use them.’

‘I’m a bit at sea here.’ Connor’s eyes narrowed. ‘Is it that you actually care for him?’