As I yank the phone out again and open Facebook, Nico disappears. Aiden has posted four photos in total. The first one is clearly the mine as there’s an old, weathered sign, although I can’t quite make out the name. The next two are shots of the area which is just rough terrain. There’s nothing much to see except a moonscape of tumps, some low-level scrub and, in the background, several huge mounds of earth. The last one is of Aiden, standing in between a youngish man and a woman with dark brown hair tied back in a ponytail, the one Hannah sent me. There’s another man in the background who is carrying a pick over his shoulder. They’re all laughing and pointing at a sign that says Cook’s Kitchen. It’s no more than a shack in the middle of nowhere.

‘Here, it looks like you need this,’ Nico says, holding out a glass half filled with red wine.

I take it from him and he cradles his own in his hands, not sure what to say.

‘I don’t know what’s happening. I had some missed calls and two short texts. Aiden says he’s safe but on the road, and he’s with two other people. He was at this opal mine in the middle of nowhere. I doubt I’ll hear anything further tonight. His battery was almost dead, but he told me that they’ve managed to get a lift to Adelaide. I think that’s more than a day’s drive, and I have no idea what the roads are like.’

Taking a big gulp of wine, I quickly lower my glass, wondering if Nico should be drinking. He senses my concern.

‘As I said, I’m not an alcoholic, Fern. Everything in moderation,’ he adds, tipping his glass in my direction.

I smile, half apologetically, not wanting Nico to feel I don’t trust him. ‘Well, I doubt whether Hannah or I will get much rest until we hear from him. It’s all my fault as I shouldn’t have missed his calls and now my sister is worried sick, too. It’s so frustrating not knowing what’s going on.’

‘I have the perfect solution.’ Those dark eyes seem somehow a little softer under the studio lighting. ‘Here, hand me your glass. Now, let’s get you all set up. If you aren’t going to be able to sleep, nothing is more relaxing than painting, I promise you.’

Nico sounds enthused, but that little lift I had when I first entered the room has dissipated and he can see that.