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‘She was Izzy’s… Isabelle’s mentor, back in the day,’ Erin explained.

‘You got an address for her?’ Leigh asked.

‘She has a security guy. You won’t get in,’ Erin told her.

‘I’ve got to try. I need that photo.’

***

Leigh was so focused on the drive out to Helen Archer’s place that when her phone rang on the motorway, she didn’t even check who it was before she answered. She just hit answer on the car’s Bluetooth and said, ‘Leigh Calloway.’

There was a pause before anyone said anything, during which Leigh’s stomach had enough time to develop a small ache. Her brain didn’t know why yet, but apparently, her body had been waiting for this and was way ahead.

Eventually, the caller spoke. ‘Hi, Leigh. It’s Alex Walker. Not sure if you remember me, but we met a while back. At uni.’

‘I remember you,’ Leigh said, wishing to god she wasn’t driving. She felt like she might crash the car. She needed to pull over. She saw motorways services coming up and began to turn in. ‘Give me a sec. I’m on the road.’

‘Sure,’ Alex said.

It was so ordinary that it made Leigh feel crazy. Alex Walker was a creature of myth. Leigh had half convinced herself she’d made Alex up. But here she was, calling and saying normal shit like, ‘Sure.’

Leigh found a space in the car park and filled it badly. She unclipped her belt and turned to the phone. She needed to be calm and casual right now.

‘So. Been a while. How’s tricks?’

‘Good, thank you,’ Alex said jauntily. ‘I thought I should give you a call. Now that we’re opposites on this Isabelle Kane thing.’

‘Right, of course,’ Leigh said.

After that, no one said anything for several terrible seconds.

Alex was the first to get her groove back. ‘So, you just got promoted, I saw.’

‘Yeah. My boss’s heart exploded, and it made some space for a step up,’ Leigh said glibly.

Alex laughed, delighted, but Leigh didn’t give herself the chance to enjoy it. ‘Butyoudidn’t wait for permission. Started your own place, right?’

‘Yes, that’s right. Been going about six years now.’

‘Seems like you’re doing well.’

‘I do OK,’ Alex said.

‘Better than OK. Didn’t Holly Winter call you a feminist icon?’

‘That was a while ago. You’ve been doing your research,’ Alex observed.

Damn. Now Alex knew Leigh had been cyberstalking her off and on for the last few years. ‘I asked my PA for press clippings. I needed to know who I was dealing with,’ she lied.

‘Ah, yes.’

‘Though, obviously, I had some idea,’ Leigh said, the sentiment loaded.

‘Well. Quite.’

Another one of those heavy pauses befell the conversation. Leigh told herself she would not rush to fill it. But her mouth made a different decision.

‘Of course, no personal stuff in the clippings. So, how’s that area? You married now?’ God, no, why had she asked that?! It sounded like she was interested. And by god, she was not.