Billy Formby finally seems to relax a little. He leans back against the sofa, puts one long, skinny leg over the other, and dangles his foot slightly.

‘Mostly on the ferries, and I waited at a number of restaurants in town. I was planning to apply for a job as a flight attendant with one of the airlines, but then I developed back problems. That’s when Eirik suggested to Kore that I come and work here. They needed someone to keep the place tidy, greet visitors, make coffee, buy beer, order food, and . . . well, keep things rolling smoothly, you know.’

‘So, the job Jenny has now?’

Billy purses his lips briefly and glances over at the reception desk where Jenny is sitting hunched over her phone.

‘I suppose you could say that. Anyway, they needed someone they could trust to look after Luna. Someone who was switched on and understood about service. And who had a driving licence. In other words: moi.’

His wide smile takes the edge off the snarky tone.

‘And how was it? Working for Luna, I mean.’

‘Amazing. She’s not at all like people think. Not a diva, I mean. Or, well, she is, but also, like, completely normal at the same time. More like a regular person.’

Billy’s eyes lose focus as he seems to contemplate what he just said.

‘Do you recall if anything unusual happened on Saturday? Let’s start with the party; do you remember if Luna seemed worried or if she had an argument with anyone. Or . . . maybe she talked to someone more than she usually would?’

‘You’re asking if she had a thing with one of the guys?’

Karen steels herself.

‘Did she?’ she asks casually.

‘Of course not. Why would you ask that?’

‘Well, she was here for several weeks, it would hardly be that surprising.’

Billy smirks.

‘I think I would have noticed. Besides, it’s not like any of the guys here are in her league.’

Maybe Billy isn’t so switched on after all, Karen thinks, recalling the way Luna had rested her cheek against Leo’s arm. Annoyed at the small wave of relief rippling through her, she decides to fast-forward.

‘And what happened next? At the villa.’

She takes minimal notes while Billy Formby gives her an almost identical, if slightly more detailed, account of how he drove Luna, Brynn, Leo, and Kore to the house on Frisel, of how he sat in the garden with his feet in the pool while the others discussed song choices. It hadn’t been a proper fight, but sure, he’d heard some raised voices and cursing from the house.

‘But no worse than usual. This is hardly a quiet workplace on a regular day, either.’

‘How long were they at it?’