‘. . . I’m sorry, what?’ Clover asked. ‘He wants us to cover his comeback?’

Matty nodded.

‘Us?’

Matty nodded again.

‘Are you actually telling me he hasn’t seen the bloody film? Has it somehow passed him by that there are ninety-eight minutes of film footage, winning trophies around the globe, spelling out the devastating consequences of his dangerous and reckless actions?’ Clover picked up the BAFTA and shook it. ‘The world hates him! In what universe would we ever feature Kit Foley – except to assassinate his reputation further?’

‘Quite.’ Matty looked across at Johnny, bemused by Clover’s strong reaction. ‘Which is why I didn’t mention it to you. There was no point.’

Clover looked at Johnny too, as if he could explain the absurdity of Foley’s team getting in touch. Johnny just gave one of his famously lackadaisical shrugs.

‘I can’t believe he’s coming out of retirement,’ she mumbled, not quite able to let it go. Kit Foley had been Cory Allbright’s nemesis and that meant, at some point during the past couple of years, he had become hers too. ‘Well, that lasted long!’ she scoffed.

‘Well—’ Matty began.

‘What’s it been?’ Clover interrupted, looking at Johnny. He was their resident sport nut. ‘Three years?’

‘About that.’

They all knew Foley had retired the year after Cory’s accident, although the jury was out on whether he jumped or was pushed. All his sponsors had dropped him, crowds booed him from the beach and, although he’d gone on to win the world title again, his brand had remained toxic. He was persona non grata everywhere he went, and had dropped off the elite sporting radar altogether.

‘I’m amazed anyone’s taking him on again,’ Johnny shrugged.

‘Well, that’s the thing,’ Matty said in a pointed tone, waiting for them both to look at her again. ‘In surfing, they’re not. But he’s not a surfer anymore. He’s moving into snowboarding now.’

‘What?’ It was Johnny’s turn to look stunned.

‘Kit Foley – nine-time world surfing champ – is now a snowboarder?’ Clover echoed.

‘Yep. Specializing in Halfpipe. I guess maybe there’s . . . transferable skills from one to the other? According to this email, he’s going pro next season.’

‘I don’t believe I’m hearing this.’ Clover was confounded. ‘He’s going to just . . . switch sport?’

‘It’s all right here. From his new sponsor. A . . . Julian Orsini-Rosenberg, whoever he is. He thinks Kit’s going to go all the way. He’s invited him to design his own range of clothing and boards . . . Looks like a big-money deal. He’ll debut it next winter.’

Clover stared at Johnny as though he had all the answers. ‘Does that man’s ego know no bounds?’

‘I think we already know the answer to that question,’ he muttered.

Matty looked troubled. ‘Do you think Cory knows?’