‘I’m sorry, Randall. Sorry that I’m not prepared to put my head in the sand. It might suit your modus operandi. It might make for a quieter life for me. But I can’t do that.’ Christopher turned and walked down the steps without looking back. He got into his car and started the engine, but before he could let off the handbrake, the silver Mercedes shot past him and with a squeal of tyres on Tarmac, Randall Cummings sped out between the iron gates with barely an inch to spare. By the time Christopher had turned into the road the car was out of sight.

Tiger tried to avoid working on Saturdays, especially when he had been away for much of the preceding week. But today he had to call in at the helicopter hangar at Southampton airport to check his workload for the following week and to tell the mechanic about a couple of things that needed attending to.

He was sitting in the office going over paperwork when Sam walked in. She looked worried. Not her usual carefree self.

He looked up and saw it was her. Then he saw her expression. ‘Are you OK?’

‘Not really, no.’

‘Why? What’s the matter?’

‘My aircraft. There’s a problem with the engine.’

‘Can’t they fix it?’

‘Not until the end of the week.’

‘But we’re supposed to have an express delivery system so that we’re not out of the sky for any longer than we have to be.’

‘I know. But the particular part they need doesn’t exist in this country, can you believe? They have to get it from the States and that’s going to take three days, and then they have to fit it.’

‘Bugger!’

‘Yes, bugger!’ Sam flopped down in the chair at the desk that butted on to the front of the one Tiger sat at. ‘So I’m sorry. It means you’ll have company next week again.’

‘Oh?’ he tried to sound level. Even in his tone.

‘Yes. The boss says he thinks it would be good if I kept you company, then at least I won’t be completely wasting my time.’ She paused. Then said, ‘If it’s all right with you?’

‘Yes. Yes, of course. No problem at all.’

Sam looked out of the window at the low grey clouds. ‘Let’s just hope we get some better weather, and some decent locations.’

‘Yes,’ said Tiger. And his mind began to wander.

Gary propped himself up on his elbow and looked at Sarah lying on the pillow next to him. She looked more beautiful than ever if that were possible. Her long, dark hair lay on the pillow like some raven wave, her face was calm and relaxed. He thought he could even detect the faintest smile.