Nadia’s expression froze in place. Selwyn folded one arm across his chest, and used his other hand to cover his mouth.

‘What?’ I demanded.

‘Nothing,’ said Nadia, suddenly smiling broadly. A look clearly passed between her and Selwyn. ‘Of course. I remember now. Chloe was leaving just when you got here. Did she say anything to you?’

‘Not really. Look, what am I missing here?’

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Nadia. She turned to Selwyn. ‘Casey’s putting on some kind of show tonight, isn’t he? You’ll be along?’

Selwyn looked pained. ‘You know I find the man morally repugnant at the best of times. Why on Earth give him yet another opportunity to be the centre of attention?’

‘Fi-i-ine,’ said Nadia, giving me a look. ‘Just asking.’

‘What kind of show?’ I asked.

‘I have no idea,’ said Selwyn, airily, ‘but given my previous experience of such affairs, I expect it to be of highly dubious morals.’ He stood and bowed in the manner of a Renaissance gentleman. ‘And with that, sir and good lady, I bid you a bloody good morning.’

I turned to Nadia once he was gone. ‘I’ve been here a month, Nadia. But I still keep feeling like people are keeping something from me. Including you.’

‘You’re the new kid on the block,’ she said, picking up her empty beer bottle and pretending to be engrossed in it. ‘The rest of them are still just sounding you out, is all.’ Her eyes flicked up to meet mine. ‘You’ll be here tonight, of course.’

‘I don’t know. It’s been a hell of a day.’

She gave me a hard stare. ‘You know I’m not going to let you get out of this, don’t you?’ She put the bottle back down. ‘C’mon. You can walk me home. We’re practically neighbours as it is.’

SEVEN

I woke later that evening with the smell of Alice’s shampoo lingering in my memory, so familiar and evocative in that first moment of consciousness that I reached out to touch her hair. She wasn’t there, of course. I had dug her grave myself, many years before. I touched the half-coin around my neck, then got the hell up before I had a chance to become any more morose.

I checked the time and saw it was about half six. I’d slept the entire afternoon away.

I’d just finished showering when I heard someone hammering at my front door. I went down and found Nadia standing there.

‘Get some clothes on, will you?’ she said, when I let her in. I still had a towel wrapped around my waist.

I gave her a disparaging look. ‘I wasn’t exactly expecting company at home.’