‘Let’s circle back to that later, Cormac,’ I say, glancing at the clock, changing tack. ‘Maybe for now you could tell me about any other changes in your life lately. How is work?’

‘Work?’ he says. ‘Well, it’s good. It’s great actually. My personal life is fine, other than I’ve had a dodgy bastard hanging out in the alley behind our flat.’

‘That’s not good,’ I say. I want to know about the girl, his relationship. I want to know why he hasn’t mentioned her. ‘So are you making friends through your new job?’ I give a small smile.

‘Don’t,’ he says, with a rueful grin.

‘Don’t what?’

‘Don’t you do that smile, don’t you dare.’

I find my smile growing now. I try to swallow it, push it away, but I can’t. ‘What smile? I just want to know if you’re making friends, that’s all.’

‘Oh, you have a way about you, don’t you? One look and you can suck the thoughts right out of my head. One look and you could do anything to— ’

I raise my palm. ‘That’s not appropriate, Cormac,’ I say, ripping that line of conversation up by the roots.

‘Alright, alright,’ he says. ‘I’m sorry, I can’t help myself. Well, to answer your question, I did meet a girl, actually. The barista and me are in the middle of a fling, I guess you would call it.’

‘A fling?’

‘A fling, yes. She’s falling pretty hard for your boy.’

‘And you? How do you feel about her?’

‘It’s not her I want,’ he says. His eyes are boring into mine. That smile, all lips, dimples, shining eyes. I think about Peter, about how close I let him get and how it ended. Then I think about Gabe and my family and my career and that sinking feeling I had when I called Simms comes back. I don’t want to lose control of the situation with any of my clients, not Joe, not Cormac.

‘So,’ I continue, ignoring the implication of his words, ‘you’re leading her on?’

‘Am I like your other clients, Margot?’ He asks, ignoring my question.

I take a sip of my water, swallow hard, shift in my seat to pull my dress a little lower. ‘We’re not here to talk about my other clients, Cormac, we are here to talk about you.’ I place my pen on the page, then meet his eyes again. ‘Let’s go back a bit here. Tell me more about this man in the alleyway. Are you concerned it’s the same man you told me about last time, the man that followed you home?’

‘I’m not sure. I doubt he’s the same person. I just figured the guy who followed me was a pervert or something. I wasn’t worried. I can handle myself.’