Alison Webb took off her glasses.

“Mr Kerr,” she said. “Would you like to change any of your earlier answers?”

Martin stood up. His face was red.

“That recording is out of context. And Ms Pascoe still has no evidence that we used her recipe. A Cornish pasty is a Cornish pasty.”

“Actually,” said Alison Webb, “we have two more witnesses this afternoon.”

The door at the side of the room opened.

Natalie Brooks walked in. Then Simon Ford.

Martin Kerr turned and saw them. I watched every bit of colour leave his face.

Natalie spoke first. She told the committee about “squeeze and copy.” About the four suppliers. About the notes she'd kept.

Then Simon sat down at the table. He unfolded his piece of paper. His hands were shaking even more than mine had.

“This is an email I received from Mr Kerr,” he said. “The day after Ms Pascoe handed over her recipe.”

He read it out, slowly and clearly.

“Attached is the Pascoe's recipe from the technical audit. Match it exactly. Same 21 crimps. Same white pepper. Same diced swede. Don't mention to the supplier. We'll delist them once ours is ready.”

Nobody moved.

Then Alison Webb said, very quietly, “Thank you, Mr Ford.”

She looked at Martin Kerr for a long moment.

“Mr Kerr. You can sit down now.”