Pete looked behind to check for obstacles (none) then stretched out on the bed, feet politely hanging over the edge, arms behind his head.

‘You know, I wasn’t sure you’d be able to pull it off, Danny, but some of that stuff you wrote was brilliant. I’m not going to lie, there were a couple of dodgy ones in there but, geez, mate, I’ve got to hand it to you – you did good.’ God, how long was it since I’d heard those words?

‘Jeremy’s dead keen for you to get on to the rest of them, pronto!’ He sounded positively cocky now, and even though I was really quite happy to have contributed in some small way to restoring his job security – ‘the rest’?

I didn’t have to wait too long to find out what that meant because Pete reached into his satchel, took out two huge bundles of paper and dumped them on the bed, accompanied by an enthusiastic commentary. It seemed the letters had continued to come in at a rate of knots the week the issue of the Double was in circulation, and even into the next. Jeremy had been so delighted at the response to Pete’s story that he’d given him a couple of juicy celebrity interviews and even allowed him to sit in on some editorial meetings.

‘Jeremy said this is quids in the human-interest piece of the year, no telling where it could go from here. He did make the point that if we’re going to be publishing the letters we might have to make them anonymous, though. Privacy laws and all that.’ I resisted the urge to ask if Pete or Jeremy had considered my privacy while they were busy revealing my name, address and fake spiritual credentials to the world.

‘Don’t you worry about that, though, I’ll come up with some appropriate pseudonyms – you know, to protect the innocent. Tragic in Twickenham, Fix Me from Finsbury, that kind of thing.’ Pete winked. ‘Mind you, I’ve read through most of this lot and we might be protecting a few guilty ones as well.’ I thought about Fake Trev and his dealer’s A-levels and silently agreed that anonymity was probably a very good idea.

‘The thing is, Danny, the Double’s only been going six months but they’re . . . I mean we’re really starting to get some traction in the market. We’ve had a couple of celebrity endorsements and Jeremy reckons our distribution numbers will be giving the Metro a run for their money any day. And now that he’s being . . . Well, I mean, thanks to what’s happened with the story about you, he’s finally taking me seriously as a journalist, you know? It’s brilliant, it really is. I can’t tell you what a massive boost it’s been.’ He lifted his tea in a salute. ‘I even got asked to go for a drink with Jeremy and a couple of the paps the other night, although between you and me I don’t think I’ve got the stomach for that too often. But I feel like things are finally looking up for me. Honestly, mate. Thanks a million.’