I step out into the hall with my phone and call Simms.

‘Any news?’ I say.

‘Not yet, but we’ve checked every property they own, and nothing’s turned up. His primary address was listed as an apartment in the city but it’s empty.’

‘The Sirius building, right?’

‘Sorry?’

The barista’s voice rings in my head. He’s got a big apartment in the Sirius building. ‘He lives there.’

‘Umm, no,’ he says the word slow and uncertain. ‘It wasn’t in the Sirius building. It was an apartment on Queen street.’

It takes a moment for my fatigued brain to process this. Could the barista be wrong? It’s a distinct building, capped with a large star shape. It was built recently and is the second tallest building in the city. Hard to forget that. He had it all planned, a penthouse hideout. I reach into my bag and feel for the familiar shape of my car keys.

‘Get someone to the Sirius now.’

‘What?’

I turn to Gabe, his eyes half-closed, slumped in a chair. ‘I’ll be back soon,’ I say. His mouth opens to speak but I don’t pause, I just sprint towards the elevator. ‘He was living in an apartment there. His ex-girlfriend visited it and she told me.’

‘The Sirius in Southbank?’

‘Yes! I might lose you, I’m getting in an elevator. Trust me, get officers there now.’

Sure enough when the elevator doors close, the phone cuts out. It stops one level before the car park. A nurse in squelching white shoes gets in. She’s turning a box of cigarettes between her thumb and forefinger. I reach forward, impatiently pressing the button to close the elevator doors.

At the basement car park, I run to the car, calling Simms again, but there is no answer. I call triple zero instead.

‘Hi,’ I say. ‘The kidnapper who is missing, Nathan Schultz, is at the Sirius building in Southbank. Please send police there now.’

The operator asks for more details but I can’t give her any. She assures me someone will be on their way.

I pay for parking at the boom gate, then emerge out onto the street. The building is not so far away. Ten minutes if traffic is clear. I’m in the car, flying out towards Southbank. I think of his words. They ring in my mind again.

If I ever lost her, I’d grab a taxi and take the next flight out. I wouldn’t hesitate.

I park up outside the building and climb out. My heart is knocking. I scan the street, waiting to see police cars arriving but my hope is already wilting. There are so many people already awake, going about their morning business. He’s probably left already.