‘God, Ali,’ she said, leaning forward and peering down into her glass again. Thinking. She’d recently watched an episode of an American spy drama where someone had used a directional mic to pick up a conversation hundreds of yards away. And another episode of the same series where two operatives held a conversation in a hotel washroom, where they ran a tap to muffle the sound and prevent any eavesdropping. ‘Want to go and paddle in the surf?’ she said.

Alison looked surprised. ‘OK, sure.’

‘We can take our glasses!’

Alison topped them both up. They walked across to the edge of the pebbles, kicked off their shoes and headed out towards the water, Meg enjoying the cooling sensation of the moist muddy sand. Making the pace, she led them knee-high into the icy surf then stopped and clinked glasses with her friend again. ‘Thanks for coming, Ali.’

They stood in silence for some moments. Meg watched the tall structures of the wind farm some way out to sea, then turned back, looking at the shore.

‘So, Megs, what is it, what’s going on?’

‘This may sound crazy, but I’m scared to tell you.’

Alison frowned. ‘What do you mean? Scared to tell me what?’

Meg desperately wanted to check across the beach and beyond, to see if she could spot the glint of binocular lenses. But that would be a giveaway, she thought. ‘I don’t want to put you in danger,’ she said, quietly, barely above a whisper.

‘Danger?’

‘Oh God, Ali, I’m living a nightmare. I went to hell and back after Nick and Will died and now I’m back in hell again.’

‘What do you mean? What is it, what on earth has happened?’

‘I’m scared to tell you. They – he – said they would kill anyone I told.’

‘I can look after myself, and anyhow, I’ve got Archie to protect me too, Megs. He’s been a bouncer and a bodyguard and in his teens he was once a bare-knuckle cage fighter – if you need someone sorting out, he’ll do it!’

Meg smiled and shook her head. ‘Thanks, but these people – I just have a feeling they are seriously dangerous. I don’t think their threats are idle.’

‘What people? Who are you talking about? Please tell me.’

‘Alison, listen to me carefully.’ Meg made and held eye contact with her, speaking quietly. ‘I’m being watched.’

‘What?’

‘Ssshhhh, I’m serious, don’t react. Mine and Laura’s lives depend on this. When I tell you what I’m about to, act as if we are just chatting normally, try not to give anything away with your body language, and don’t look around. It’s really, really important, OK?’

‘Yes, OK,’ she replied, dubiously.