I could hear my phone, but I couldn’t see it. It was getting louder; if I didn’t find it soon it was going to wake Hannah up. It had escaped from under my pillow and was now lost somewhere amidst all the clothes and magazines on Hannah’s floor. I leaned over from the fold-out bed and searched through the clutter, eventually locating the phone and pushing the silence button as quickly as I could. I was so annoyed that it had dragged me out of the dream. But I was happy to be waking up in Dublin. I’d missed the city and my friends there ever since I’d moved to Avarna.

‘Why… so… early?’ groaned Hannah from underneath her duvet. She emerged a few moments later, remnants of last night’s make-up under her eyes, her dark brown hair in messy waves. She’s one of those people who looks impossibly pretty, even when they’ve just woken up.

‘Sorry for waking you,’ I said. ‘I’ve to meet somebody in town. You get some sleep, I’ll be back soon.’

Last night, after I’d finished my set in Whelan’s, Hannah and I had come straight back here and spent the rest of the night chatting and eating chocolate with some really bad horror movie on in the background. I usually sleep at Gran’s when I’m up in Dublin because I have my own room there, but I also like crashing at Hannah’s and staying up insanely late. I’d only had a few hours’ sleep, but I wasn’t tired. Anticipation was keeping me awake. Sergeant Lawlor had asked to see me this morning. He knew I was up in Dublin this weekend to play a gig, and we’d arranged to meet in the city centre. It was a little unnerving, how he always seemed to know my whereabouts. And also that he wanted me to get started so soon. Unnerving – but exciting nonetheless.

‘Who are you meeting?’ asked Hannah.