Even though the factory had been vacant for four decades, it had taken them almost a year to convince the Provincial Board to let them take over the ramshackle building; even then, permission was only granted after they promised to undertake extensive restoration work and safety upgrades. The boys at KGB Productions had rubbed their hands with glee when they were given a thirty-year lease and the representatives of the city had heaved a sigh of relief at being rid of a perpetual problem. Dunker was full of buildings that the political powers that be had decided must be renovated and sanitised, while providing a virtually non-existent budget to do so; if a group of idiots wanted to shoulder the responsibility for driving out rats and junkies from the old dye house, then God spare them.

*

Karen parks down by Packhus Square and then trudges across the iron bridge to the other side of Forsete River, where she turns onto the ramp that leads up to the entrance to KGB Productions. There’s no sign on the nondescript door to indicate that, behind it, work is being done that will eventually touch every part of the music world.

She rings the buzzer and waits for the door to open.

‘Most of us are here,’ Kore tells her a few minutes later. ‘But do you really have to talk to everyone? Can’t you be a bit, you know . . . discreet?’

He lowers his voice and glances nervously at the girl at reception.

Karen gives him a weary look as he ushers her further into the building. Kore’s the one who wanted her to come and now he seems to have cold feet. Once they’re out of earshot of the receptionist, she stops abruptly, forcing him to do the same.

‘Calm down,’ she says. ‘I introduced myself as your friend, not a police officer. You’re not the only one who wants to fly below the radar on this. My boss has given me strict orders to be exactly that, discreet.’

‘Thank you!’

Kore seems to relax and Karen feels a flash of irritation.

‘You did ask me to come, remember?’ she says. ‘To talk to people, see if anyone knows anything? But look, don’t worry, I won’t get through everyone who was at the party today. Looked like about a dozen, does that seem right to you?’

‘I’ve got a list of names for you, but I haven’t counted how many are on it.’

‘I’m going to start with the people who were closest to Luna. Then we’ll see. But, hopefully, we’ll hear from her before I get around to talking to everyone. There are other things I’d much rather be doing.’

‘Where would you like to sit?’ Kore asks. ‘In a room where you can close the door or in Teglet?’