The car pulls away while I’m still processing this. Then I run up the stairs.

‘Roman, what the fuck—’

Shandy and Roman already have the files spread out on O’s desk.

‘Calm down, Horse. They’re dead boring. Come and see.’

They are boring. It’s mostly financial stuff. Some of the papers go back to the 1970s, some are faded 1990s faxes on thin, shiny paper that can barely be read. I feel like a history student.

‘I can’t believe you just broke in like this. It’s unethical, not to mention illegal.’

He shrugs. ‘Do you want to find her or not?’

I can’t stand the smell of fish fingers. I throw open the doors to the roof and suck in the damp air.

‘You know, it’s not the murders, it’s not the uninvited tech growing in my brain, none of these things seem to matter. What matters is that I trusted her and she used me.’

I prop the doors so they’ll stay open and sit down on the lintel. After a minute, Roman lowers himself onto the step beside me. He offers me a hand-rolled cigarette that looks like it’s been sat on. I just stare at it for about five seconds.

‘I don’t smoke,’ I say. Then I take it. He produces a lighter from his jacket pocket.

I desperately want there to be some other explanation that doesn’t involve O being a complete bastard and me being a complete tool. Maybe she decided to go and see Daphne without me and something happened before she got there. Maybe she’s fallen or fainted and hit her head and can’t remember who she is. Maybe Martin Elstree tricked her and used her—

Ah, fuck. Nobody tricks or uses O. Least of all a prat like him.

I take a drag on the RYO.

‘What’s in this?’ Coughing, choking. Roman slaps me heartily on the back. ‘I thought you were on the side of the law.’

‘I’m a scientist first. Smoke up. You’ve had a shock.’

‘No, I can’t, I might fall asleep.’ I hand it to him but he doesn’t take a hit.

‘Looks like you could use a good night under your ear.’

‘Don’t be a fuckwit, Roman. I go to sleep in my bed and wake up under a bus. Sounds like a great plan.’

‘I’ve got your earring.’

‘Right.’ I doubt the earring matters any more if my whole head is a fucking receiver but whatever.

‘I’ll watch out for you. I told you. I won’t let anything happen to you.’

I cough again, and my face goes hot.

‘I’ll sleep on the floor where you’ll have to step on me if you want to get out of the room. I’m being serious.’