Millie cuts the cake, places a slice on each plate and hands them round. ‘Hugo, Simon, I understand from head office that you were both keen to meet Cameron, the owner of this chalet and some of the others in the resort. He’s planning to come for dinner this evening – assuming it suits you, that is. Would that work for you all?’

Simon nods, stuffing his face full of cake. ‘Fine,’ he mumbles, crumbs unpleasantly falling out of his mouth as he does so. He swallows the huge mouthful with a large gulp and belches. ‘’S’cuse me. Looking forward to meeting him.’

‘Great!’ Millie says. ‘I’ll let him know. Now, if you have everything you need, I’ll go and get on with preparing dinner.’

‘Better be a good one if the boss is coming, eh?’ Simon quips.

‘Absolutely. Although I hope all the meals I prepare are equally as good?’

‘You’ve got no worries there. We’re only going to say nice things about you,’ Simon adds, staring at Millie’s ample boobs. He may as well have smacked her on the bum. I don’t know how she puts up with it.

‘Thank you. I’ll be in the kitchen if you need anything else, otherwise I’ll see you for canapés at about eight?’

‘That sounds lovely, Millie, thank you,’ I say, to avoid giving Simon the chance to say anything suggestive.

Hugo turns to look out of the enormous window. ‘It’s really coming down now,’ he says.

Simon claps him on the back. ‘Great!’ he roars. ‘Imagine the powder tomorrow!’

16

December 1998, La Madière, France

‘The most important thing is that we get our stories straight,’ I tell Andy as soon as I put the phone down.

‘What do you mean? I haven’t done anything wrong. I’m not getting involved.’

‘You’re already involved. You were with me when we lost them. You helped me search.’

‘And that’s bad because …’

‘It’s not!’ I hiss. ‘But not only have we lost two men, in retrospect, we probably should have alerted the authorities earlier. Given the conditions.’ I wipe my hand over my face. ‘This is serious stuff, Andy.’

‘But you’re the boss, as you never tire of telling me.’