Theresa froze too.

‘Oh,’ she said, embarrassed. ‘Hi.’

Norah gave her a nod.

‘You’re moving out,’ she said.

‘Not exactly,’ Theresa replied.

‘True,’ Norah said. ‘I guess you never really lived here.’

Theresa nodded, avoiding Norah’s eyes.

‘Have you…’ Norah began.

‘Heard from Balder? No. No one has. But I spoke to Bela. You know, Kim 5. He went to Balder’s studio the morning after to pick up some stuff he’d left there and it was so loud, he didn’t dare knock. He said it was terrifying—shouting and crashing, as if someone was on the rampage.’

Norah said nothing.

‘I’ve asked around a bit,’ Theresa went on. ‘He’ll lose his professorship. And the video went viral. The whole net’s laughing at him. Wolfgang Balder, King of the Memes.’

She grinned.

‘And that comedian, you know the one I mean, the ginger guy who does that late-night show? I don’t actually like him—too malicious for me. But Balder loves him. Never misses him. Anyway, he did a sketch about Balder last night. Something about geriatric nappies. I’d love to have seen his face.’

Norah didn’t comment.

‘Was it you posted the video?’ she asked.

Theresa shook her head. Norah smiled in spite of herself. Coco.

‘Okay then…’

She pushed past Theresa.

‘Norah?’

Norah turned to face her again.

‘I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say.’

Norah looked her in the eyes.

‘It’s all right,’ she said.

They nodded at each other and Theresa turned to go, clearly uneasy.

‘One more thing,’ said Norah. ‘No, two.’

Theresa looked at her almost fearfully.

‘My colleague. How did you get her to mention Arthur Grimm?’

‘I don’t remember involving a colleague. There was Balder, me, Kim 5, Cassandra, the woman who played Grimm’s ex, a passer-by we hired to speak to you on the street, a few video technicians, some research assistants and Balder’s theatre-director mate who agreed to give you an interview to get you to the Prater. I think that was all.’

Norah nodded slowly.

‘Maybe it was a coincidence?’ Theresa suggested.

Yes, Norah thought.

‘And the second thing?’ Theresa asked.

‘How did you lead me to Grimm’s office? I chose the dentist myself—completely by chance. No one recommended it to me and no one knew I was going. Nobody.’

Theresa’s face brightened.

‘Your emails,’ she said. ‘You were sent an email to remind you of your appointment.’

‘And?’

‘That wasn’t Grimm’s office.’

‘I don’t understand.’

‘We knew you had an appointment in that building. So we went round a few hours before you were due and put up the plaque. Arthur Grimm actually works somewhere else.’

She grinned.

‘It was risky. But it worked.’

‘Your idea?’ Norah asked.

Theresa nodded reluctantly, half contrite, half proud.

‘Goodbye Theresa. You’re damned clever. Don’t waste it.’

Again Norah turned to go.

‘Why aren’t you angrier?’ Theresa asked.

‘Oh, believe me, I’m angry with you. Angrier than you can know.’

‘So why don’t you show it?’

‘Maybe I think you’ve earned a second chance,’ Norah said. ‘Or maybe I’m just too tired.’