Page 87 of A Murder is Going Down

I text myself a copy of the cleaned-up audio file, then hand Lilia’s phone back.

‘You didn’t tell me they spotted you,’ I say.

‘There wasn’t any time on the street. They ran straight into us.’ Lilia takes a big breath. ‘Also, I thought if I told you, maybe you wouldn’t let me come over.’

‘Because Elena is obviously suspicious,’ I point out. ‘She’s probably listening outside my door this minute.’ We both look at the door before Lilia jumps up to yank it open. The hallway outside is empty.

‘Why did you evenwantto come for dinner? It can’t be for Aunty Sam’s ice-cream cake, not when she still insists on putting in those weird Scandinavian licorice bits,’ I say.

‘I think I’m learning to like them.’

It’s so unexpected it coaxes a laugh out from me. ‘You arenot.’

‘They’re an acquired taste,’ Lilia insists.

‘That’s sick. You’re sick,’ I say, but I’m still laughing and so is Lilia and it’s, you know, not terrible.

‘I miss you,’ Lilia says, ruining it.

I don’t say anything.

‘You never really gave me a chance to apologise.’

‘I don’t want to talk about this now.’

‘It might be my only chance.’

‘You say that like I’m the one who threw away our friendship,’ I say, annoyed that I feel tears forming on the inside corners of my eyes. ‘It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m over it now. But it was a shitty thing to do.’

‘I know.’

‘And forBen.’ I make a face.

‘I think he might be cheating on me,’ Lilia says.

I’m so shocked I just stare at her. Even a couple ofdays ago, I would have been laughing. Now? I feel sad. Is this personal growth? Or have Lilia and Ben also taken away my ability to feel joy at karmic justice?

‘When I was going through his phone to see if I could find those messages with Felix, I found some messages from some girl I don’t know,’ Lilia says. She’s waiting for my response, but I’m silently begging to be Leftovered out of here.

There’s a knock at the door, which is the next best thing. It’s Elena. ‘Hey,’ I say, scanning her face for any sign of suspicion.

‘Just checking if you wanted a tea or hot chocolate,’ Elena says. ‘Sam sent me.’

‘We’re good,’ I say. ‘Lilia is going home now.’

Now

‘What’s the plan?’ Marianne asks. ‘You’re like a Bond villain right now, giving me this long story before – what? Strapping me to a desk with lasers? Throwing me into a shark-filled swimming pool?’ She’s recovered her confidence, and I can see what she must be like at work. Terrifying, basically.

‘I’m getting to my point.’

‘Are you?’ Marianne says. ‘Because I edit books for a living and I’d say you’re meandering. Clearly, you’re killing time before you get to the big reveal.’

‘Rude.’

‘Are you going to tell me who killed Felix, or not?’

‘You haven’t guessed?’