I call Daphne’s residence, but the front desk say that O hasn’t signed in since our last visit. I make them double check but it’s no use.

‘She left last night,’ Muz tells me when I Spacetime him. ‘She said to bring the hog round, which I did. She signed herself out around 11 pm and drove off.’

‘And you let her?’

‘You obviously don’t know her very well.’ There’s a note of warning in Muz’s voice. Like, who the hell am I to tell him?

‘Did you at least follow her or find out where she was going?’

‘I assumed she was going home. It’s not my business where she goes.’

‘But Muz. She’s not home. She’s in danger. I can’t believe this.’

‘If she needs me, she’ll be in touch with me. That’s how it works. I don’t ask questions, and whatever happens I don’t answer to you. Goodbye, Charlie.’

I go back into the sitting room. I tell Roman what Muz told me.

‘Shit,’ he says. ‘What do you think happened?’

‘I have no fucking idea, but I’ve got to find her.’

‘Absolutely.’ He’s on his feet.

Words are still tumbling out of my mouth anyway: ‘I can’t sit around here theorizing with you about who did what or why or how. She’s in danger, I’m sure of it, and she’s so convinced she’s untouchable but she’s like eighty years old and frail.’

‘I agree, so—’

‘I’ll never forgive myself if something bad happens to her because of me.’

‘Fine. I’ll go with you.’

‘That’s a bad idea.’ But I take the jacket he hands me.

He says, ‘Do you think she’s been dreamhacked?’

‘I don’t know. But she should be home. She took the hog. She only ever takes the hog if she’s going to see Daphne, and I’ve already checked with the residence. O hasn’t been there.’

‘If she’s on her vehicle, we can find her,’ Roman says. ‘We’ve had her under surveillance for a while. Let me talk to Donato. We’ll track her down.’

‘O, under surveillance? Seriously, why?’

He shrugs. ‘It hasn’t done us much good, actually. We checked her out just to make sure she is what she says she is, and it turns out she’s a security expert with a long history in the tech industry. Because of that, she’s very good at eluding scrutiny. Her digital footprint is totally clean. But we put a tracker on her motorbike. We reckon if she’s up to anything, she’s doing it analogue-style. In person.’