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It worked.

Zoe’s eyes narrowed slightly. ‘Let me rephrase that. Did it go according to plan?’

‘I can’t answer that,’ Sienna said.

Zoe’s right eyebrow flew up. ‘Why not?’

‘Because I didn’t plan it,’ Sienna told her plainly. ‘You’d have to get Dora Jenks in here, the producer. Ask her,’ she said with a nod to the booth.

‘Ninety-five point one percent confidence,’ Karen announced without looking up from her chart.

Next to her, Robin let out a quiet scoff, shifting in her seat.

Sienna kept her eyes on Zoe.

‘Very clever, Sienna,’ Zoe said. ‘You’re giving me exact technicalities to keep your heart rate down. Let’s see how long that lasts when we talk about what happened before dinner,’ Zoe said quietly, her eyes flicking between the two of them. ‘Now, let’s hear that bathroom conversation once more.’

Zoe tapped a button. Through the studio monitors, the audio from that night played back.

‘Are you and Valeska an item?’ Sienna’s recorded voice echoed, tensely. ‘Did you go home with her after your date?’

‘No,’ Robin answered. ‘I told you. I walked her to her car... What about you? Are you and Claire getting together?’

‘No. I don’t think so.’

‘Why not? You seem so well suited.’

‘I am not discussing this with you.’

The clip cut out.

Sienna’s stomach did a violent drop. Robin’s distraction tactics had failed earlier, but Sienna’s strategy of literal compliance was crumbling just as fast. How was she going to get out of this one?

‘A lot of listeners said that didn’t sound like two co-hosts, Sienna,’ Zoe said softly, her voice dripping with malice. ‘Many believed it sounded like a woman who was terrified the girl she liked was taken, and relieved to find out she wasn’t. Why were you so desperate to know if Robin went home with Valeska?’

‘I was interested,’ she said honestly. ‘We’ve become something like friends through this.’

‘Truth index: ninety-one point two percent,’ Karen read out.

‘I’m touched,’ Robin said quietly.

Zoe gave her a look that said, Shut up. I’ll get to you soon enough. She turned back to Sienna.

‘Then Robin asked why you weren’t going to see Claire again. You shut the conversation down.’ Zoe tapped her pen against the wood. ‘Why didn’t you want to date Claire, Sienna?’

‘I realised Claire and I were incompatible,’ Sienna said.

Karen adjusted her specs. ‘Truth index: sixty-four point three percent confidence. Partial truth. Emotional suppression detected.’

‘Karen, what does that mean?’ Zoe asked the woman. ‘In a bit more detail?’

‘She told the truth,’ Karen said flatly. ‘But possibly not all of it.’

Zoe nodded. ‘Ah, interesting. Well, there’s a bit more to the clip after you left the bathroom and went into the corridor.’ Zoe hit play.

‘Well, well,’ Robin’s recorded voice said.

‘I’m sorry, Robin,’ replied Sienna.