‘I dunno. Should try and put it behind us, I guess. But I still want to know what really happened, you know?’ He had looked at Pete, who shrugged. ‘Because then, if she’s got the wrong guy –’

‘– she owes you an apology.’

‘Right. But then if it was me – well, then I can apologize sincerely. And then hopefully that’ll be enough.’ A heavy sigh. ‘I don’t know. Going to have to do some detective work.’

Pete had slapped him on the back by way of sympathy.

Ben sat up now. He glanced at his watch: it was almost 6 p.m. He could definitely text Alexa now. He squeezed his phone out of his jeans pocket, and noticed that Oli had replied to his message.

Hi Ben. All good in Oxford, thank you – how is London? Yes – of course, I will ring you this week if that is OK? Love, Oli x

Ben smiled. Oli had not yet mastered the fluency of WhatsApp. It reminded Ben of texting their mother.

Yeah mate, just ring me sometime this week

Around every evening

Now: Alexa. Ben looked at his message thread with her. Their texts from last night seemed like they belonged to two entirely different people.

He scrolled back down to the end of their messages and tapped out a text.

Well that was an absolutely mad morning eh

Satisfied, he hit send, then flopped backwards on to the bed. Maybe he’d order a pizza.

28. Alexa

From: elias@southeast_homes.com

To: [email protected]

CC: [email protected]; [email protected]

Subject: Re: 49 Rokeby Close

ALEXANDRA

What do you MEAN that there has been a FLOOD at 49 Rokeby Road?

If you have BROKEN a PIPE you will PAY for the PIPE and another thing the KITCHEN was put in in the last FIVE years and the fixtures and fittings are expensive please see the inventory for more INFORMATION.

PLEASE can you respond to this email ASAP as possible ALEXANDRA I need to know more about the FLOOD

THIS IS SERIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!

Elias

PS also the carpets are custom MADE

It took Alexa a few reads of this email to confirm that it was something she did not wish to deal with ‘ASAP as possible’. Also, the carpets were absolutely not custom made.

She would not respond herself but would, instead, wave the email in front of her father, who was at least – for all his many other faults – a senior partner in a London law firm. Perhaps he could cross-reference it with their tenancy agreement, and help her draft something official. Elias would, surely, be chastened by a formal-sounding notice from someone with an email signature reading Hunter, Dacre & McCarthy, Alexa thought, hopefully.