There wasn’t a way to soften the blow. I called it like I saw it. “She might be. She was on the streets, Jett. She was doing smack as well. But she’d checked into a clinic to clean herself up. Like I say, I’ll know more tomorrow. I’ll fax you a full update in the morning.” He didn’t look like he was in the mood for details now.

He nodded. “Thanks,” he mumbled. I felt like the last of the great party poopers as I trudged across the room. I found Tamar halfway up the stairs, just where they split into two. Tears had done serious damage to her make-up. She looked like an aerial shot of a war zone. “Don’t bring her back,” she pleaded with me. “You’ll spoil everything.”

I sat down beside her. “What makes you think that?”

“You wouldn’t understand,” she said, pushing herself upright. She ran a hand through her hair like a tragedy queen. “Your kind never do. You just create havoc and walk away. Well, I’m telling you nobody wants Moira back. Not even Jett, not deep down. He doesn’t want her back out of love, or out of his desperation to make a good album. He wants her back so he can play the lead in the parable of the prodigal son,” she complained cynically. “The thing he needs most of all right now is to feel good about himself, and she’s the perfect vehicle. I mean, where’s the kick in getting it on with me? I don’t need saving, I don’t need putting on track in my karmic journey. Moira’s a fucking godsend, literally.”

She looked as if she was going to say more, but Kevin appeared at the head of the stairs. “For God’s sake, Tamar, pull yourself together. I don’t bloody want it any more than you do. But at least if you keep him happy, maybe he won’t fall for her shit again. OK?”

He glared at me as he came downstairs. “Thanks for your contribution to the celebrations,” he said sarcastically. “Have you found her yet?”

I shook my head.

“Good,” he commented bitterly. “Take as long as you like. I’d rather pay your exorbitant fees for six months than have her back here.” That made me realize just how serious Kevin was about Moira.

Tamar sighed and headed upstairs. I followed Kevin down to the hall, in time to see Gloria lock her office behind her and head towards the ballroom. Good old Gloria. Nothing could make everyone’s life a misery like her literal interpretation of the boss’s instructions. Now she’d be able to toddle off and offer the hero a shoulder to cry on. He sure as hell wouldn’t be getting any offers of comfort from Tamar tonight.

Chapter   10