The Uninvited

speculation, I have to tell you. As you’dexpect. He talks about blue-sky thinkingbut . . .’ Unexpectedly, she smiles. I can’ttell if it’s genuine or what kind of smile itis. She has very regular teeth. Her lipstickis Dusk Rose.I say, ‘Ashok doesn’t hire me to tell himwhat he wants to hear. He hires me to spotbehavioural trends.’She raises her glass to me and takes asip of Chardonnay. She leaves a lipstickmark on her glass. ‘Hesketh. Please.We’re on the same side.’ I don’t knowhow to begin replying to this. Shestraightens up and sighs. ‘OK. The firstthing you need to know is that there havebeen new cases of this, everywhere. I’mtalking about motiveless sabotagefollowed by suicide. A Brazilian