‘How his innovation could help millions of people rediscover their health.’
‘Really?’ Kelly asked. ‘That’s quite a claim. Which product is that? I think I need some.’
Tilda got up and walked to a white flip chart, which faced the wall. She turned it around; there was a large orange and green poster clipped to it. Kelly read aloud from it.
‘Increased muscle mass, bone density, energy, performance, less brain fog.’ Kelly looked back to Tilda, who was beaming like a proud parent. Kelly carried on. ‘Boosts youth… crikey… all-natural product, no dyes or chemicals, proven to invigorate mood to pre-depression levels and holy shit, weight loss too.’
Kelly examined the poster. The colours were formidable and clean but welcoming too. The colours of sunshine and grass were warm and comforting, the scene natural and alluring, the wording placed just right, and the promises seductive. Marketing on steroids. Bold claims. ‘Easy to administer… just stir into your favourite smoothie…’
Kelly kept a straight face.
It couldn’t be a coincidence. She didn’t believe in them. The sachet ofYouthBlastshe’d found by the body at the Faeryland café jumped into her head.
How had it got there? Was it a popular supplement that she simply didn’t know about? Was everyone drinking it? Had somebody left a packet at the café, and it blew on the wind under the same boat as a dead body and a squirrel?
The small hairs on her arms stood up and she felt as though she wanted to shiver. ‘IsYouthBlasttrademarked by Hampton-Dent?’
‘Yes. Jamie was so proud of it.’
‘So why kill himself?’ Kelly asked.
Tilda stared at her for a second, and then looked back to the poster. Hank was the one who answered.
‘We’ll wait for the inquiry, ma’am. I wouldn’t have said Jamie was the type to do that, but I’ve lived a long time and seen people do surprising things.’
‘Does it work?’ Kelly asked.
‘What?’
‘The smoothie powder, does it work?’
‘I have no idea; that’s not the point. He had the perfect product to sell.’
‘But you have no idea if it works?’
‘We sell hope, Detective. That’s what people want, and Jamie understood that. He’s a huge loss to us. It wasn’t yet on the market; there were a few tweaks required, licensing, marketing, final ticks in boxes, that sort of thing.’
‘Ah, so this conference was about promoting a new product? Attendees were given samples, then?’
Tilda nodded.
Kelly’s gut turned over. IfYouthBlastwasn’t on the market that meant that somebody at the conference was also at Faeryland café, and it couldn’t be a coincidence.
‘Can I ask you to look at this for me – do you recognise her?’
She showed them the sketch of the girl under the boat.
They shook their heads.
‘Why?’ Tilda asked.
‘Unconnected,’ Kelly said. She nodded to the marketing poster forYouthBlast. ‘And this is what people want? A magical smoothie?’
‘Exactly. Magic. People need to feel as though they’re doing the right thing and the easier we can make that for them the better,’ Hank said. It was as if Tilda had lost her tongue.
Kelly felt queasy suddenly. Being brought up on fresh air, cold water and real food, Kelly didn’t trust chemicals to do the work for you. These people were aliens to her.
‘It’s the job of the scientists to pass these products for efficacy and safety, our job is to market them and make people think they can’t live without them,’ Tilda said proudly.
