‘I’m not sure it’s worth it,’ she said to Johnny with a defeated groan, after an hour of pointless probing. ‘They’re impressed by anyone who can do a Cab. They don’t give a stuff about something he did in the water four years ago.’

‘Yeah, I know what you mean,’ Johnny sighed, straightening up and rubbing his face. He looked worn down too. They’d been doing this for weeks. This wasn’t what the film needed. They both watched as Kit himself dropped in again and flew up their side of the pipe, flying high above them and twisting into a Haakon Flip.

‘He’s on form today,’ Johnny murmured, watching the technicalities with an eye she would never master. All she could see was Kit flaunting his extraordinary athleticism, showing off to an adoring crowd . . .

‘Well, he’s in a good mood, isn’t he?’ she said, turning away. ‘His morning went well.’

‘Clo, stop beating yourself up. You’ll get what you need. Amy’s the missing link.’

‘And she doesn’t want to know.’

‘She doesn’t know what she wants yet. She probably thinks we’re out here to blow smoke up Kit Foley’s backside! But if things finished badly between them – and let’s face it, they would have done – then if we can get her to see that we’re not necessarily Team Kit . . .’ He raised his eyebrows.

‘Yeah. Maybe,’ she sighed. ‘I just want it to be tonight already so we can get on and ring Sydney.’

‘Mats is fully on it.’

A huge cheer went up as Kit finished his run, punching the air delightedly. ‘Wouldn’t it be great if he just caught an edge and went flying right now, in front of all these people?’ she murmured.

Johnny laughed. ‘You need sugar. I’m going to get coffee and chocolate. It’s getting cold up here.’

He was right. The clouds had pulled over the sky already, losing light and making everything feel colder. The light was flat and the wind was getting up too. She had seen the temperature as they’d got off the chairlift earlier – minus twelve then, and it had to be lower than that now. It was after three and the sun was already beginning its rapid descent. Days were short in the mountains at this time of year. It would be dark by four.

‘Look after the cameras, okay?’

‘Alternatively I could go,’ she suggested as he clipped in. Anything to get away from watching Foley show off.

‘I need the little boys’ room anyway,’ he shrugged, swerving away.

Clover sighed and looked back at the pipe. The queue feeding into it was short, but a large crowd had steadily gathered. With the weather closing in, people were taking their last runs for the day, stopping to enjoy a quick show before heading back to the lift stations.

Her phone rang.