“It’s the point of the matter,” he says primly. He stares at me. “I have to query your pre-wedding game, Zeb. I must say I don’t think I’ve come across many best men who’ve managed to fit in a spot of office reorganisation around their duties.”

“I thought you were allergic to weddings, Max,” Felix says coolly. “Or was that commitment? What a silly twink I am.” He smiles. “Ah, but now I remember. You’ve been a best man before. Now that memory is still evergreen for me.”

Max winces, and I lose it.

“Shut up, both of you,” I shout. The room stills and they both turn their heads at the same time and same angle. It’s like talking to meercats. “Good,” I say. “Now, I need an address in Devon and that is all I need from you. No backchat. No smart remarks. Just the address.”

“Any address or something in particular?” Felix asks, showing absolutely no sign of being cowed.

“I need Jesse’s parents’ address. I’m sure they live in some small village there.”

“Well, that narrows the field,” he says. Over-sarcastically, in my opinion. He pushes me out of the way. “And did you manage to find it before you became involved with chucking stationery and Apple products about?”

I scuff my foot. “No.” It’s more of a question than I’d like, but Felix is a scary person. The only person who isn’t wary of him is Max, but then he did used to run towards gunfire, so he obviously has a death wish.

“It’ll be on his employment records as his next of kin,” he muses. He looks down at the sad sight of my computer. “Oh dear, maybe we could attach a string to it and shout the answers through the gaping holes in your keyboard.”

“We’ll use yours,” I say decisively but he puts a hand up to stop me.

“Absolutely not until you calm down. You’re not touching my computer in this current mood, and if you go out there you’ll lose more customers if you don’t watch it.”

“I don’t care,” I say impatiently. They stare at me and I huff. “What? I don’t.”

“Why?” Max asks. He’s staring at me as if I’ve gone mad. Maybe I have.

“Because I need to find Jesse, and I need to do it as soon as possible.”

“What about the wedding?” Felix says slowly. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the church soon?”

I shake my head. “I’m not going.” They gape at me and I grimace. “What? I’m not going. I’ve got more important things to do.”

“And to clarify, Jesse is that important thing?” Felix asks, folding his arms and leaning against the desk. I nod. “And what about your promises?”