When she returned to the laptop, Liv adjusted the knot in her tie and sat upright. Somehow, dressing like Georgia made her feel more attuned to the heroine. As she started to write again, her words tumbled out more easily. She intermittently stood up, acting out hunching against falling rocks and swimming for her life. Pulling her face, she mimicked surprise, anger and fear, observing her expressions in a hand mirror before adding them to the story.

By the time the afternoon arrived, Liv had managed to redraft the first chapter. The main sticking point was the identity of Georgia’s great love.

With a shot of renewed confidence, she decided to reach out to Anthony again. Almost seven weeks had passed since Essie died, so it felt appropriate to ask him how he really knew the author. He might even provide a touch of inspiration for Georgia’s hero.

The ringtone sounded for a while before a voice mail message kicked in. “This is Anthony Pentecost of Pentecost and Wilde Solicitors. I am now out of the office for an extended period of time and may be unable to reply to your message. If your query is urgent, please contact my associate...”

Liv huffed and frowned at her phone. Why hadn’t he told her he was going away? Was he on holiday, or working away? His message sounded a little ominous and she spoke after the beep. “Hi, it’s Liv Green. Can we talk when you get back? I’d like to know how you met Essie,” she said.

Her mood slipped a little at not reaching him, but she stroked her striped tie. What would Georgia do now? she thought.

Her eyes settled on the small green box, and she pushed the bee cuff links into her pocket. Liv saved her work, closed the laptop and exited the apartment.

Several years ago, she’d visited the Longley Jones jewelry shop to buy a birthday present for her mum. As she perused the store she felt the shop assistants’ eyes following her around. Liv’s mouth dried at the prices of necklaces in the display counters. She meandered around a little more to save face, before dipping her head and scurrying out of the shop.

Today, she strode inside and headed straight toward a man with greased back blond hair and an aquiline nose.

His eyes ran quickly over her blazer, dress and tie. “How may I help you?” he said, as if she was looking for directions to somewhere else.

Liv placed the cuff link box on the counter and flipped open the lid. “I wonder if you can tell me more about these?”

The man hitched an eyebrow. “Oh, how interesting. May I?” When Liv nodded, he found his eyeglass and peered more closely at the bees. “Are you looking to sell them?”

She shook her head. “I’d just like to know more about them. Are they new?”