‘Rodney, leave the nice constable alone,’ Shandy says to her AR unicorn.

I can no longer see Rodney, but Roman is looking more relaxed so I can only assume that Shandy’s AR has ceased menacing him. Rodney’s job is to keep Shandy safe: you know, prevent her from getting mugged/falling in the Thames/stepping in front of a bus. Since Shandy literally has her head in the Cloud all day and doesn’t see the so-called real world very well, Rodney is even deductible as a business expense.

‘What publicity is this?’ Roman asks lightly.

Shandy suddenly finds she has nothing to say and rummages in her bag as if searching for a response.

‘Apparently my dreamhacking business got leaked on social media in connection with Mel’s death,’ I tell him.

His eyes roll up as he quickly Googles.

‘Melodie’s death is trending, no less.’

‘I didn’t leak it,’ Shandy blurts. ‘And Charlie couldn’t have. It’s not like we’re trying to capitalize on Mel’s death, not for one second. It’s just Charlie’s luck. She always lands on her feet. Although I do say, love, you look as if you landed on your head.’

I wince, thinking of Melodie. Also: I can’t look that bad. Can I?

‘What about O, your so-called business associate?’

I shrug. ‘She does whatever she wants, you’d have to know her to understand.’

Wish I hadn’t said that, because an instant later he cheerily asks, ‘Can I meet her?’ with his hands in his pockets, rocking back and forth on his heels, looking really happy with himself.

In unison, Shandy and I say, ‘No.’

‘But she lives right here with you, doesn’t she, Charlie? So couldn’t I just—’

‘Roman,’ says Shandy, ‘why don’t you come with us? We’ll get coffee and you can tell us about life as a copper in the Big Smoke.’

Roman looks at Shandy like she’s barmy but doesn’t resist as we each take one of his arms and between us escort him away from O’s building, for all the world as if we are the police and he the civilian. I’m not even sure why we both react that way. Some deep instinct tells me to keep Roman away from O, and I don’t question it. At least, not right now, I don’t.

Oneric Crime

Oneric Crime

‘First off,’ Roman says, ‘Melodie’s parents have flown over. Her mum has asked to meet you, if you’re available.’

‘Me?’ My voice comes out as a squeak.

‘It’s nothing formal, she just feels, since you were the last person to see her alive— No, I don’t mean that she blames you, Charlotte. I think she’s simply trying to wrap her head around the fact that her daughter was having psychological problems. Apparently Melodie didn’t confide such things in her family.’

‘I guess . . . I—’