The voice makes her jump and whip around. Placated by the fact that Leo Friis is carrying a pint in each hand and puts one of them down in front of her, she chooses not to protest when he sits down across from her without asking.

‘I was talking to Smeed,’ she says. ‘Not you.’

‘What did he do now? Or say?’

‘That I have twenty-four hours to find your little angel on my own with no resources or anything to go on.’

Leo wipes the foam from his top lip.

‘Twenty-four hours,’ he says. ‘And then you’ll file an official report, or so Kore tells me. You realise what that means, right?’

‘I do, but what do you people want from me? Are we supposed to do everything we can to find her or keep things on the down-low? Make your damn minds up, will you?’

‘Look, we’re obviously worried about her just up and vanishing, but I think we should hold off a few more days. She might be in hiding, like her ex said. And the media’s going t—’

‘Maybe that’s exactly what she wants,’ Karen breaks in. ‘To give the papers a reason to write about her again. Maybe she’s starting to realise her ten-year absence means a new album might not set the world on fire after all. But a bit of police involvement, on the other hand, that would boost sales, right?’

Leo stares at her mutely, an expression of surprise and repulsion on his face.

‘Maybe you’re all in on it,’ Karen continues. ‘A brilliant PR plan you’re using me to put into action.’

Leo Friis turns his eyes skyward with a groan, as though asking the heavens to give him strength.

‘You’re being fucking paranoid,’ he says. ‘What’s going on with you, Karen? You’re hissing like a cat at everyone. At me, Sigrid, your boss . . . And this hatred of Luna. Is it because everyone else likes her that you can’t stand her?’

‘Of course not. She just annoyed me when we met. I don’t like people who think they’re above everyone else. Pretending to be so goddamn . . . good.’

‘Are you sure she’s pretending? Maybe she’s actually pretty decent. A good person, simply put.’

‘Thanks, I googled her. I know all about her charity work. I’ve just been reading about her donations to build schools and hospitals and wells in Africa. I’ve learnt everything there is to know about her five adopted children, who all have disabilities, and her advocacy for LGBTQI+ issues. I know she’s still a gay icon. And a vegan,’ she adds.

‘Those hardly sound like indefensible crimes to me. More like—’

‘Fine, yes, I understand that she might have done some nice things.’

‘But . . . ?’

She gives up. Leo’s right.