‘Not unless he was selling something. You’d be amazed the amount of marketing bots I get. They home in on people who have money, and let me tell you, some of us who live here are loaded.’

‘Only I can’t find your sister,’ I tell Daphne. ‘I’m getting worried about her. Will you tell me if she contacts you?’

‘Of course, if you like. If I remember.’

I help her stay in tree pose. She’s wiry and strong, but her balance could be better and the mat doesn’t help; it’s too soft. She grips my arm with warm, strong fingers.

‘OK, then. You haven’t received any . . . pigeon messages, from her? Lately?’

‘Come to think of it, two birds returned today. They had some sort of device in their pouches, I don’t know what they are. I put the devices on my nightstand if you want to see them.’

Damn. Those are the birds that Roman and I released.

‘But any others? Besides those?’

She shakes her head. ‘Oh, my dear. You look upset.’

‘I’m not upset with you, Daphne. I’m just worried for O’s safety.’

Leaning on me and still standing on one leg, she grabs her big toe and tries to straighten her leg into extended hand-to-toe pose. The effort makes her pant a little and her tongue protrudes. I don’t want to upset her, but this hinting around is getting me nowhere.

‘Daphne, do you remember that I’m called Charlie and I work on people’s dreams?’

She gives no indication she’s heard me at all at first. Then in a voice straining with effort she says, ‘I know what you saw must have shocked you, but it’s my job to remove targets, dear. I’m a professional and I follow my instructions. I told you that before.’

I jerk away from her and she falls over in a pile of purple Lycra.

‘Oh god,’ I gasp. ‘I’m so sorry, let me help you up.’

She isn’t even rattled.

‘Not to worry, it’s a soft mat. Let’s just sit on the floor for a moment, shall we?’ She folds herself into half-lotus and waits for me to sit opposite. Then she takes my hands. ‘I’ve been struggling to come to terms with the Agency’s brain implant. The device grows right into my skull. It’s like a parasite, I’m told, but it’s to help me remember.’

I stare at her. ‘What? You have a brain implant? I thought you took meds.’