As Izzy entered This Time Round that evening, she was accosted by Mickey.

"Hi," he said amiably. "Jackie said I've got a great case, and I should put my legal team on it first thing tomorrow. I reckon I'll wait a bit, though."

"Um, thanks, I suppose. But why..."

Mickey's smile widened. "Because first, I wanna see what's left after Tegan's dealt with you."

Tegan, apparently overhearing her name, turned sharply and noticed Izzy.

"There you are!" she snarled, advancing menacingly.

"Tegan, please, be reasonable," entreated Izzy.

"Reasonable? Reasonable? You lock me in a room with the bloody Mara and you expect me to be reasonable?"

"But it wasn't me. It was the book. I didn't choose you."

"You could have made it choose someone else!"

"I didn't realise..."

"What? All that shouting and screaming and you just thought I was acting?"

"Well... Yes."

"Well, no. You try being locked in with your worst nightmare and you're supposed to let it stick its fangs in you, and see how frightened you can act. Why didn't you get me out when I asked you to?"

"Honestly, I don't think I could have."

"Why not? You recast Mickey, and all he complained about was getting wet."

"But that was at the beginning of his part. You'd done nearly all your scenes. Please, Tegan, it was just a story..."

This seemed to be exactly the wrong thing to say. Tegan, her expression that of a Fury, struck out. Had Mickey not grabbed her shoulder, the blow would undoubtedly have connected. Even using all his strength, he seemed to be having difficulty restraining her.

"I'll, er, see you all tomorrow," said Izzy hastily, and ran for it.

She didn't dare look back to see if Tegan had managed to break free from Mickey, but as she sprinted away another uncomfortable thought struck her.

Had that been a snake tattoo on Tegan's arm?