‘She hates it, naturally. But Didion is still her subject – he’s not supposed to bargain away her property without permission, and Anne Naylor is her property.’ He sighed and kept walking. ‘Jaxon wanted to avoid this. Here’s hoping she’s not too angry.’

Didion was first to spot us. When Ognena Maria turned to see what he was glaring at, she smiled.

‘Well, if it isn’t the Red Vision.’ Her voice was husky, with an accent I couldn’t quite place. ‘Haven’t seen your face at the market in a few weeks, sunshine. We’ve missed you.’

‘Morning, Maria. It’s been too long.’ Nick shook her hand with real warmth. ‘Hello, Didion.’

‘Red Vision.’ Didion dealt me a withering look. ‘And who is this … person?’

Nick laid a hand on my shoulder. ‘This is the Pale Dreamer. Jaxon’s newest employee.’

I lifted my chin. Here, I was no longer Paige Mahoney. I was a mystery.

‘Ah, finally – Binder found a new addition to the Seven Seals,’ Ognena Maria said, chuckling. ‘Maybe one day, you’ll actually make it to seven.’ She tipped down her sunglasses, revealing dark, kohl-rimmed eyes. I held her gaze as she scrutinised me. ‘You know, I’m sure I recognise your aura. Do you ever visit Postman’s Park?’

I looked her up and down, trying to place her.

‘You smoke there,’ I finally said.

‘I always meant to talk to you. Funny old life.’ She cocked an eyebrow at Nick. ‘If she’s a resident of my section, she ought to be reporting to me, not Binder.’

Nick mirrored her smile. ‘Where’s that written?’

‘Don’t test me, Vision. What do you think Binder would say if I sauntered into I-4 and employed a voyant? A rare one, at that.’

‘You had every opportunity to ask Dreamer to work for you, if you’ve seen her. Jaxon got there first.’

‘Ah, so it’s about timing now.’

Maybe I shouldn’t have spoken.

‘We’ll talk about this later,’ Nick said. She grunted. ‘We have a rogue poltergeist to deal with first.’

‘Yes, thanks to someone’s attempt to fill his pockets without my knowledge. Yet again,’ Ognena Maria said dryly, giving Didion a sidelong glance. He bristled. ‘And I understand Binder has decided that you’re just the people to capture the aforementioned poltergeist.’

Nick went on calmly: ‘We think it might be after someone it killed in life – Anne Naylor.’

‘That’s why I’m here. Anne resides in this section – my section.’ The wind knocked a strand of hair into her eyes. ‘Anne is … unusual. She’s a poltergeist, but she seems harmless. Trust me, I’ve tested the theory, or I wouldn’t have let her stay where she is.’

‘What else do you know about her?’