‘Hi,’ he says, stepping forward to shake my hand. His grip is firm, and his hand is cool and dry. ‘Anton.’

I can’t help a sharp intake of breath at the shock of coming face to face with Anton here, in Leah’s apartment. Her ex-husband is an abusive man and Leah had to take out several restraining orders against him. I fight the urge to flee from the apartment, but I need to see Leah and make sure she’s okay.

‘Hi,’ I say. ‘I’m Kristina Moss.’

‘I know. She talks about you. A lot.’

‘She talks about you a lot, too,’ I say, my voice trembling with anger, but also fear. I have to tread carefully here. Anton slowly raises an eyebrow and scrutinizes me as though committing me to memory. His jaw clenches.

‘Is Leah here?’ I ask.

‘No, she’s not.’

‘Do you know where she is?’

Anton releases a sharp little breath, as if to suggest that my presence here asking questions is completely incredulous. ‘Why should I tell you?’

‘Look, Leah and I have worked together for several years. I have been under the impression that it’s been helpful for her, and I want to make sure that she’s okay. She didn’t turn up for a scheduled session with me this afternoon, and it’s left me concerned for her well-being.’

‘She’s fine.’

‘Have you spoken to her?’

‘I saw her a couple of days ago.’

‘Wait, how?’

‘She’s at her cabin working on her next book and I went there to see her.’

‘I’m sorry, I don’t… I find it hard to believe that she’s at her cabin and working and that she would have invited you there.’

‘She didn’t invite me. I went there to check on her as I felt concerned too. She didn’t respond to my messages or calls and I felt like I had to see her to…’ Anton trails off and I stare at him hard, refusing to break his gaze. I don’t believe him.

‘I’ve been trying to call and email her and I feel that it is out of character for her not to respond.’

‘There is no reception up there. It’s really remote.’

‘What was her state of mind when you saw her?’

‘She was fine. Focused on the book.’

‘Fine?’

‘Yeah.’

‘I find it hard to believe she was fine. She was extremely distressed when I saw her last Friday. She was also hurt. I’m assuming you might have played a part in that?’

Anton drops his gaze to the ground in the way of the guilty. ‘No.’

‘May I ask what you’re doing here?’

‘What I’m doing here?’

‘Yes.’

‘Firstly, I’m not sure how I see that is any of your business. Secondly, I’m in a relationship with Leah.’