No, I don’t want to seem underhand or insulting but Toccata’s a poisonous, untrustworthy, self-serving little… — Jasper Fforde

I’d been so convinced of that particular narrative I never for one moment stopped to reappraise the situation.

It would have been easy to dislike her intensely, but I actually felt nothing for her at all.

The numbers were too great for HiberTech to hide what had happened. As it was, well-engineered corporate surprise, orchestrated bafflement, faux delight, suitable soul-searching and feigned contrition won the day.