It was hours later by the time he and Beth emerged from the meeting. Having been proven innocent of any wrongdoing, they were in the clear – not that you would have known that from Beth’s face, which was still wet with tears.

‘Beth!’ Ralph jogged after her. ‘Hold up.’

Beth turned to face him. ‘I’m sorry, Ralph, and I know it’s not your fault, but I’d rather you didn’t speak to me.’

He fished around in his pocket then handed her a fresh handkerchief. ‘Here, use this.’

Taking the hanky, Beth dabbed her eyes. ‘Thanks.’

He chucked her under the chin with his forefinger. ‘Cheer up! We won, we should be celebrating, not crying.’

She gave a short giggle. ‘I know, I think it was all the pressure. I felt sure they were going to take her side.’

He nodded. ‘But they didn’t, so dry your eyes and I’ll arrange for someone to take you back to Shirehampton.’

Beth looked up sharply. ‘Couldn’t you take me? I don’t fancy making small talk with someone I don’t know, especially when they’ll most likely be fishing for information.’

Ralph smiled, revealing a dazzling set of perfect white teeth. ‘They all love a bit of gossip when it’s not about them.’ He looked in the direction of the ops room. ‘If you hang on here I’ll go and ask Flight if it’s all right for me to drive you.’

Beth stood outside the ops room as she waited for Ralph. The sun was blazing down and she wished she could take off her hat and jacket, even if just for a minute or so to cool down. The room in which they had held the investigation had been hot and stuffy, with no means of ventilation, and with the accusations weighing heavily on her mind, she had got hotter and hotter, made worse by the fear that her sweaty face made her appear guilty.

Ralph reappeared, jiggling a set of keys, and smiled broadly at her. ‘Done.’ He walked towards one of the cars and opened the passenger door for Beth. ‘M’lady!’

‘Thanks, Jeeves,’ Beth chuckled as she slid into the passenger seat. She blanched as her tights connected with the hot leather. ‘It’s worse in here than it is out there!’ she moaned.

Ralph rolled down the window and placed his arm across the back of Beth’s seat as he looked over his shoulder to reverse.

As they left the base, Beth tried to roll her window down but it was stuck fast. ‘Damn and blast. It’s like a sodding oven in here.’ She looked at Ralph, her hand on her cap. ‘Do you mind?’

He shook his head. ‘Not a bit. You’ll melt with that on.’

Beth thankfully removed her cap. ‘I wouldn’t mind taking my jacket off as well.’

Ralph shrugged. ‘Go for your life, I won’t tell if you don’t.’