‘I’m looking down the list and he’s not on it, but my colleague did say that it’s a bit out of date. Has he worked here for long?’

‘Quite a few years.’

‘Oh. Then he should be on this list. Let me try one more place.’ She didn’t bother putting me on hold this time. I could hear her riffling through some papers and muttering under her breath. I continued to stare at the photos on the website. More pylons… lightning bolt (quite pretty that one) … some sort of power station… Oh. My. God!

‘That’s him!’ I squealed.

‘What’s him?’ Tegan asked.

‘On your website. Can you get your website up? There’s a photo of two men at an exhibition. Scott’s the one on the left. I’ve found him! He definitely works for you.’ I clicked on the photo to stop it scrolling.

‘Just a second. Let me get onto the right photo. One moment. Erm… Hilary? I’ve got a caller who wants to speak to Scott Hastings but I can’t find him. She says he’s in this picture.’

‘Which picture?’ said a muffled voice. ‘Give me the phone a minute.’ There were some scrabbling sounds as the phone was passed over. ‘Hello, you’re through to Hilary on reception. Can I help you?’

‘Yes. I’m trying to get through to Scott Hastings but Tegan can’t find him. He’s in the picture on your website, though. The one at the exhibition.’

‘I’m looking at it now. The one on the left or the right?’

‘The one on the left as you look at it. The younger one.’

‘That’s Adam. Adam Hannigan.’

‘No. Adam’s Scott’s colleague. Who’s the other one?’

‘That’s Ian Pilsner. He left the company last year. Goodness, we must get this photo updated.’

‘No. That can’t be right. Are you looking at a photo of two men holding clipboards in front of a banner that says, “Into the Future”?’

‘Yes.’

‘The younger one with the dark hair and jacket is…?

‘Adam Hannigan,’ Hilary said.

‘And the one with blond hair and no jacket is…?’

‘Ian Pilsner.’

‘You’re absolutely sure the dark-haired one in the jacket isn’t Scott Hastings?’

‘I’m sorry, but I don’t know a Scott Hastings. That’s definitely Adam Hannigan. Did you want to speak to Adam?’

I felt sick. My mouth kept opening and closing but I couldn’t form any words.

‘Hello? Are you still there?’

‘Yes,’ I whispered.

‘Did you want to speak to Adam…?’

I shook my head, which I knew was pointless over the phone, but I couldn’t speak. Several phones were now ringing in the background.