And now he couldn’t win. If his surfing career and reputation had become collateral damage in the fallout from Cory’s injuries, Cory’s death was the fatal blow to his hopes of any sort of comeback. In the weeks after Cory’s suicide, the papers had run features on his tragic decline from every possible angle: should helmets become mandatory in big surf events? What were the long-term concussion risks, not just in surfing but all contact sports? Where did legal culpability begin in the professional sporting arena when safety rules were deliberately breached? Only one fact was taken as fixed – Kit Foley had done this. He had brought the sky falling down on Cory’s head. And also his own.

Liam couldn’t understand it. ‘Everyone’s going to expect you to hate him,’ he’d said.

‘I do hate him. But I can still do my job.’

‘But why do it?’

‘Because it’s the very last thing anyone expects,’ she had shrugged.

‘But you’re crossing enemy lines! It will undo everything you set up in Pipe Dreams. You risk dismantling your own work.’

‘That’s assuming I fall for his spin. But I’ve lived and breathed this story for three years. He can’t justify his actions to me. I know exactly what he did – I just don’t know why.’

‘Well if Cory would never tell you, why should Kit?’

‘Because this is his one shot to publicly restore his reputation. His life’s in tatters. Surfing’s done with him, he knows that; but if he wants to start a new chapter – and he does – then he’s going to have to redeem himself first. He can’t just ignore this and hope it’ll blow over. It’s been four years since Peniche and now, with Cory’s suicide blowing up in his face . . . This isn’t going to go away. Until he apologizes and fesses up, it’s his Kryptonite.’

‘So you want him to beg?’

‘I want him to own what he’s done. People want to see that. Cory’s death is on him.’

‘And if he doesn’t?’

‘Then they’ll see him for what he really is.’

Liam had stared at her, seeing her anger. ‘He won’t do it. I don’t know much about the guy, but I do know a tell-all isn’t his style.’

‘His fancy new sponsor with deep pockets is saying otherwise.’

Liam’s eyes had narrowed. He had sighed. ‘Okay, say he does want to give his side of the story. Why would he collaborate with us, the very people who helped trash him in the first place?’

‘Because who better? If he can convince me he’s a good guy, misunderstood, whatever . . .’ She had given an amused, disbelieving laugh. ‘He’ll convince everyone.’

‘Or he could just do Oprah.’