Liv pictured the lilac acrylic fingernail lying on Essie’s hallway carpet and Chloe prowling around the apartment. “Everything’s fine,” she said, not meeting his eyes. “Nothing to worry about.”

“Good. Well done for sorting it out,” he said.

Liv’s face felt hot, as if sunburnt. “Do you remember I mentioned Dubfest to you, the book festival in Croatia?” she said.

“Ah, yes. That.”

When he didn’t admit to attending, Liv took the phone from her bag. “I found a photo on the website of you and Essie.” She acted breezily, showing it to him.

Anthony took the phone. He stared at it for a long time until his jaw cricked.

“How did you really know her?” she said. “This was taken a long time ago. You both look very friendly. I also found these...” She took the green leather cuff link box from her pocket and opened the lid.

Anthony’s face glowered when he saw the gold bees. Liv thought steam might puff from his nose.

“Are they yours?” she said.

“No. They are definitely not mine,” he said brusquely. “You’re as persistent as Georgia Rory.”

“Thank you. But how would you know?” Liv raised an eyebrow and pushed the cuff links back in her pocket. “You said you’d only read one of Essie’s books. You didn’t seem to remember it very well.”

Anthony blinked up at the sky. Eventually he rattled a laugh. “You’re right,” he said. “I did say that.”

“You’re still not sure why Essie chose me, are you?”

“I’m getting to see why. You have a very good eye for detail.”

“Shark blood senses.” She nodded. “When Essie left the task for me, I could tell you were suspicious. Perhaps I wanted to know why she trusted you, too.”

“I understand that now.”

“So, how did you really know her?”

Anthony wiped his brow and took a few moments to gather his thoughts. “I can still remember the precise moment I first saw Elsbeth,” he said, glancing at Liv. “We met at university. I hadn’t been studying law long when I walked past a group of girls. They sat on the grass eating sandwiches. Elsbeth’s hair was black, cut into a sharp bob. It was rather old-fashioned and somehow modern at the same time. She had bright orange lips, and there was just something very different about her. She...sparkled.