  The rare $B \to K^{(*)} \bar{\ell} \ell$ decays exhibit a long-standing
tension with Standard Model (SM) predictions, which can be attributed to a
lepton-universal short-distance $b \to s \bar{\ell} \ell$ interaction. We
present two novel methods to disentangle this effect from long-distance
dynamics: one based on the determination of the inclusive $b \to s \bar{\ell}
\ell$ rate at high dilepton invariant mass ($q^2\geq 15~{\rm GeV}^2$), the
other based on the analysis of the $q^2$ spectrum of the exclusive modes $B \to
K^{(*)} \bar{\ell} \ell$ (in the entire $q^2$ range).
  Using the first method, we show that the SM prediction for the inclusive $b
\to s \bar{\ell} \ell$ rate at high dilepton invariant mass is in good
agreement with the result obtained summing the SM predictions for one- and
two-body modes ($K$, $K^*$, $K\pi$). This observation allows us to perform a
direct comparison of the inclusive $b \to s \bar{\ell} \ell$ rate with data.
This comparison shows a significant deficit ($\sim 2\sigma$) in the data, fully
compatible with the deficit observed at low-$q^2$ on the exclusive modes. This
provides independent evidence of an anomalous $b \to s \bar{\ell} \ell$
short-distance interaction, free from uncertainties on the hadronic form
factors. To test the short-distance nature of this effect we use a second
method, where we analyze the exclusive $B \to K^{(*)} \bar{\ell} \ell$ data in
the entire $q^2$ region. Here, after using a dispersive parametrization of the
charmonia resonances, we extract the non-SM contribution to the universal
Wilson coefficient $C_9$ for every bin in $q^2$ and for every polarization. The
$q^2$- and polarization-independence of the result, and its compatibility with
the inclusive determination, provide a consistency check of the short-distance
nature of this effect.
