She says it so bluntly that I’m thrown for a second, but then I realize it’s a defence mechanism.

‘I’m sorry. How old was Kai?’

‘Five. Old enough for him to have memories.’

The door to the cafe opens and Cassie comes in. She holds it open while Kit, another of our friends, man-oeuvres her baby’s bulky pram inside. They spot us and wave. I reach for my jacket.

‘I’m going to go,’ I say to Anna as they inspect the array of cakes, flapjacks and brownies. ‘I need to phone Nick’s parents. I should have done it yesterday, but I thought he’d walk through the door. I can’t believe he hasn’t. Thanks for listening, and sorry I had to ask you that. I know it’s ridiculous.’

‘You can talk to me any time. Will you text me if he comes back? I’ll be worrying.’

I hook my bag over my shoulder. ‘Please don’t tell anyone about this.’

‘Of course I won’t.’

‘Right. Well, thanks.’ I feel as bewildered as I did when I stood on her doorstep an hour ago.

‘Hey, don’t leave,’ Cassie says, turning to me as she pays the cashier for a pot of tea and a flapjack.

‘Sorry, I need to get back to work.’

She gives me an odd look, glancing past me to where Anna appears to be texting frantically. ‘Evan’s been trying to get hold of Nick about a Chelsea match.’

‘He’s not well.’

‘Oh, I’m sorry about that. What’s up?’

‘Food poisoning, he thinks. Sorry, I have to dash. I’ll tell Nick about Evan.’

Nick has been gone for thirty-six hours. I call the police but the officer I spoke to on Sunday is in a meeting and no one else can update me on progress. She calls me back fifteen minutes later and I tell her about the minimart CCTV. She says they’ll look at it, if necessary.

‘Can I suggest you use social media? Get the word out. It can produce results. People will be interested in a successful City man going missing. Maybe speak to the Metro or the Evening Standard?’

I freeze. ‘No,’ I say too sharply. ‘Please don’t involve the press. He wouldn’t want a fuss made.’

‘But Ms Trelawney, we have limited resources. If you put out a plea to Nick to contact you, or someone else if he doesn’t want to do that, just to reassure us all that he’s alive and well, it can’t do any harm.’

‘I’ll think about it.’ I hope she can’t hear the note of panic in my voice. ‘And you won’t talk to them before I do, will you?’

She hesitates. ‘If that’s what you want.’

‘It is.’