After Liv had spent a couple of hours cleaning the house then feeding the family, Hannah appeared again. “Oh, sweetie, just before you go, could you hang out the washing for me? And plant Walt’s new shrubs in the garden?”

By the time Liv escaped, she was almost an hour late. Her back ached and the knees of her jeans were grubby with soil. In her rush to leave the Cardinals, she’d left her packed lunch behind. The idea of Walt eating her ham sandwiches by mistake and suffering a gluten rash gave her a tiny thrill.

Above the trees, Essie’s apartment block pointed to the sky. Jake once said it looked like it was giving the middle finger to the rest of the city. Even if she might get fired today, Liv hoped Essie had returned after disappearing and was writing at her desk.

In the building’s lobby, she admired the huge bronze plant pots that looked like cauldrons and the wall of windows overlooking a Japanese-inspired courtyard. Liv said her usual quick “hi” to a giant golden Buddha statue. The ride up in the lift made her ears pop, and she polished the stainless-steel button panel to distract herself.

Liv had her own access card to the apartment and smiled to herself when she saw the writing room door was open. Great, Essie’s back, she thought.

Her initial excitement was soon replaced with a pellet of dread as she mused on her honesty about the book review. Once more, she pushed back her shoulders and tried to channel her inner Georgia Rory.

The writing room was empty, and she found the author in the kitchen sitting on a high stool instead. Liv couldn’t recall ever seeing her eating in here before. Essie usually skipped lunch or ate at her desk.

The marble worktop was covered with tiny paper plates, displaying triangles of sandwiches and pastel-hued cakes. The sweet smell of vanilla made Liv’s stomach growl. There was a china floral teapot and matching cups and saucers. A bottle of champagne sat in a silver wine cooler.

“Ah, Olivia,” Essie said, taking a slow sip of her tea. “You’ve decided to grace me with your presence.”

Liv thought this was a bit rich coming from someone who had vanished without saying goodbye to her last time. “Sorry I’m late,” she said, running a hand through her hair and feeling knots of paint. “I got waylaid at another job. I’ll wash my hands and get to work.”

Essie’s eyes followed her around the kitchen as she ran the tap and lathered up soap.

“I’ll start with the bathrooms, first,” Liv said.

The author wrapped her fingers around her vintage teacup. “Have you lunched already?” she said.

Liv shook her head. “I’ve not had the chance. I forgot my sandwiches.”

Essie pursed her lips together and thought. “You may help yourself to refreshments, if you wish.”