‘I need a blast in the shower,’ Brad said. ‘Might be an idea to hop back to your room, before too many people are up and about.’

‘Makes sense,’ Charlie said weakly.

Brad moved towards Charlie as she swung her feet out of bed. She let covers drop around her feet as Brad pulled her into a hug and followed with a toothpastey kiss.

‘Hope you’re still around when I get home from school.’

‘So do I,’ Charlie replied, managing a slight smile.

• • •

Charlie panicked when she saw five messages on the phone plugged in beside her bed. Harry calling was no surprise, but there were have you seen this video messages from two girls she’d known at White Boulder, and her old schoolmate Trish, who’d moved to San Diego when they were in sixth grade and who barely looked recognisable in her avi picture.

The final message was from OIL’s reception desk, reminding Charlie that she wasn’t allowed off premises until she’d seen Ken Kleinberg at noon.

The WiFi at OIL wasn’t great and the video buffered for ages before Charlie got to see JJ’s horror leg break and Fawn making an ass of herself. Fawn looked older, but her snarling muddy face gave Charlie chills.

It was the expression Charlie had seen when her sister screamed and kicked and threw stuff around the trailer. It was hard to enjoy slapstick from the person who’d steamrollered her life to enable her boyfriend to play college ball, and now had her paws in their disabled brother’s trust fund …

Harry and the others had sent the clip to cheer Charlie up, but seeing Fawn filled her with dread. Why does she hate me so much? Why have I messed my life up so fast? Does Brad care about me? Where will I be sleeping tonight? The meeting with Ken isn’t for four hours and time’s gonna drag so bad …

Charlie had showered by the time Juno came into her room, giving her a hug and wishing her luck. She only managed fruit for breakfast, and when everyone had left for school Charlie went up to the mezzanine floor and guilted herself about all the positive things she could be doing, instead of guzzling Pepsi and aimlessly blasting balls around the pool table.

‘Apologies for being late,’ Ken Kleinberg said, settling in front of his desk when he finally arrived.

Charlie felt like her insides had shrunk to a tangerine as she settled in a metal-framed chair, gripping both arms.

If Brad was a god in human form, Ken was his opposite. Crooked posture, shaving rash, snub nose and grey teeth. He had a shabby briefcase open on the desktop. Besides several files, it contained a model-railway magazine, a boxed lunch and a compartmented pill case.