‘He plans to get back into business.’

‘Lucky wants to start over in life? That doesn’t surprise me. Reality is too small for him. But it would be a complete disaster. He’s Don Quixote.’

‘He said you called him recently. Are you friends?’

‘Not friends. But he sounded happy to talk. I called Sophia, too, but she didn’t say much.’

‘Why would you call them?’

‘You develop interests in the job. It’s harmless. It’s not obsessive. It would be a shame if people mistook kindness for being a creep,’ said Popescu.

‘No, Lucky vouched for you.’

‘You know, I’ve thought of writing about the Third of April shooting myself, but I’d have to take time off work. Writing a book is the kind of work that costs you money to pursue. I have two houses to pay off. And I’ve never written anything. Maybe when I get long service leave.’

3.

Emily worked at the hotel. She made phone calls, she wrote notes, she scripted logical sequences of questions. Going through the motions took on a new significance when going through heartbreak. Everything work-related was a relief—not happiness but, for a few moments, a break from unhappiness.