‘No. Like I said earlier, spirits don’t tend to pose a threat if they’re left alone – but most poltergeists really don’t like to be approached by voyants, let alone bound. It can spark a dangerous reaction. Like startling an animal.’ He rubbed the bridge of his nose. ‘Only a very skilled binder – like Jaxon – could have snared Metyard. Didion should have known better.’

‘Does he always dress like he’s fallen out of an eighteenth-century novel?’

Nick laughed, warming me to my bones. ‘He’s a character, I’ll give you that.’ He took a phone out of his pocket. ‘Let’s see what Eliza has turned up in her research.’

He waited until Eliza answered, then leaned in closer to me, so I could press my ear to the back of the phone. I could hear his breath, feel the warmth of his arm pressing on mine.

‘I’ve found two places that were significant to Metyard in her life,’ Eliza said. ‘The first, of course, is Tyburn, where she and her daughter were hanged.’

‘Turns out that’s where Didion found Metyard,’ Nick said. ‘Any others?’

‘Shit. Well, we’ve had a report that she was in Bruton Street earlier, in our section – that’s where the Metyards used to live – but she’s long gone, apparently. I’ll get back to the files.’

His sigh flickered through my hair. ‘Okay. Let us know if you find more.’

‘Don’t have too much fun without me.’

He hung up. I leaned back into my seat.

‘So no leads yet,’ Nick said. ‘Let’s hope she finds something useful soon.’

‘What if she doesn’t?’

He put his notebook away. ‘Well, my theory is that Metyard will be searching for Anne. Our best option is to wait for her, as Maria suggested – so, stake out Anne’s haunt in Farringdon until Metyard comes. We’ll wait for the commute to die down a little first, though.’

As soon as he finished speaking, a voyant waitron brought the food: eggs poached in milk on crisp, butter-gold toast, with wafer-thin lace cookies and cranberry muffins to follow. I tucked in, famished.

While we ate, I checked my watch. The commute would be over in about forty minutes. Forty minutes with Nick to myself. The thought made my palms tingle.

‘What happened to Metyard’s daughter – Sally?’ I said. ‘Is her spirit still around?’

Nick looked thoughtful. ‘Interesting. I haven’t heard of anyone finding Sally, but … she might be drawn to her mother’s presence, if she is still in the æther.’ He glanced up at me as he sliced into his toast. ‘We haven’t been able to talk much since you joined the gang. I’m sorry I haven’t been around,’ he said gently. ‘My day job is demanding, and Jaxon works me to the bone when I’m back.’

I tucked a flyaway curl behind my ear. ‘Would you ever quit the day job?’