She could almost taste her escape. Her to-do list was getting shorter: Kit’s debut at St Moritz was the week after next and he was coming into his final preparations, so they needed to capture those; they would also have to record some pre- and post-competition interviews. Beau’s sit-down was still outstanding but would have to wait till he returned from Saas-Fee. She needed to get hold of Amy too – of course – and, as bruising and deeply unappetizing as it was, she knew she would have to somehow get another interview with Kit. But could she? He had fulfilled his obligation to the letter, if clearly not the spirit, of the contract: he had let her interview him, as Julian had insisted. Was it his fault she hadn’t got what she needed?

The gondola rocked as it swung into the top station and the doors slid back. She waited for everyone else to disembark first. Johnny was holding her skis for her by the time she stepped out. ‘All okay?’ he asked, handing them over and sensing her pensive mood.

‘Yeah.’

‘Still pissed off?’ he asked, patting her shoulder.

‘Wouldn’t you be? I feel like I got mugged.’

‘You’ll get the last laugh. He’s the one with something to hide, remember.’

They walked out together onto the snow and threw down their board and skis. The brightness dazzled them both as the clouds parted temporarily and the glacier shone like a crystal bowl. Skiers and boarders speckled the white canvas in multi-coloured dots, like a Slim Aarons print. The Alpine Centre, a 1960s Bond-esque circular building with a medical centre, restaurants and shops, sat off to their left. Clover felt tempted to get herself a coffee and spend the afternoon just enjoying the view; the thought of watching Kit Foley laying down tricks, flexing his latest expertise, stuck in her craw.

They poled over to the chairlift that would take them to the runs above the park and then shuffled over to allow others to sit in the empty seats beside them. Johnny winked at her as they heard people speaking in German, French, Italian, English . . . The difference a week could make! Before they’d left for Saas-Fee, this place had felt almost like their own private playground, just them and a small group of pros.