She scanned the room, her eyes skipping over the blackjack, roulette, baccarat, poker tables . . . Johnny wasn’t allowed to film inside for obvious reasons – even Julian hadn’t been able to swing that – but he planned on joining them later ‘for a flutter’ once all the guests had arrived. Clover was keen that they shouldn’t miss any big names who might arrive and be prepared to be interviewed . . . though her hopes weren’t high. She certainly didn’t recognize anyone so far.

Matty swung them each a glass of champagne from a passing waitress. ‘So . . . are you feeling lucky?’ she asked, clinking her glass against Clover’s.

Luck . . . The wise words of an American president drifted through her head. ‘Mats, I think we can both agree luck has not been on my side recently.’

‘Au contraire, it would have been unlucky if Kit Foley hadn’t happened to see you skiing down the wrong side of a mountain.’

Clover frowned. ‘Have you been talking to my brother?’

‘Huh?’ Matty pressed her glass to her lips, watching something intently. ‘. . . You’ve got to admit he looks good in that DJ.’

‘No comment,’ Clover muttered, trying to sound bored as she nonetheless followed Matty’s line of sight and saw Kit and Julian standing beside the blackjack table. She remembered how Kit had paused before zipping her dress. Why had he paused? ‘Tell me about Amy,’ she said, turning away and changing the subject.

Matty’s eyes widened excitedly. ‘Right? Did Johnny tell you?’

‘He told me she threatened to set her lawyers on us. Why?’

‘No idea. I didn’t get beyond saying your name and that we were making a film on Kit and she went off.’

Clover frowned. ‘How did you get hold of her in the end?’

‘My cousin came good. He got me her email too, but I decided to call first – I thought it would be better to catch her off guard.’ She sipped the champagne. ‘That backfired somewhat, but I’ve sent her an email explaining what we’re doing, along with a link to the trailer for Pipe Dreams. That’ll show her which team we’re batting for and should bring her onside . . . I feel good about it. She was just shocked, that’s all, but she’ll calm down, and when she does . . . A woman that angry has got to want to talk!’

‘Well I hope so, because she’s our last bona fide chance for getting any kind of insight into what happened with Kit and Cory.’

‘You still don’t think Kit will talk? Even though he saved your life?’

Clover laughed. ‘He won’t talk now because he saved my life! He’ll see that as the ultimate Get Out of Jail Free card. How can I go after him and get him to incriminate himself, when he did the ultimate good deed? That’s what I meant by my bad luck. Am I now somehow beholden?’