The Trinity Health Centre for Palliative Care was an expansive, glass-fronted building surrounded by lawns and native gardens, walled in by a tall, immaculately manicured hedge that kept out the sounds of the city. It was a peaceful place, John had often said, despite – or perhaps because of – all the people who came here to die. Kate didn’t find it all that peaceful. At best, it gave her the creeps. At worst, like today, it felt haunted.

She hadn’t told Fisher she was coming here. If she had, he would have insisted on coming, and Kate wasn’t sure how much more time she could spend with him before blowing her top.

She parked her Lexus at the far end of the car park, alongside a small wooden yurt with Prayer Room printed neatly above the door. The yurt was connected to the main building via a glass tunnel. Kate followed it into a large reception area painted in calming shades of blue and green, decorated with inoffensive, introspective artwork.

Standing in the middle of the lobby was a bubbling Japanese-style water feature. It sometimes made her wonder where poor people went to die, because they sure as hell couldn’t afford to come here.

A slim man in his twenties bobbed around behind the front counter, dressed in a tailored grey suit and black turban. He looked up with a gentle smile when Kate approached. When he saw who it was, the smile faded. ‘Kate, hello, I’m surprised to see you.’

‘Hi, Chatveer,’ she said. ‘Is Holly in?’

‘Is she expecting you?’

‘It’ll only take a few minutes.’

He drummed his fingers lightly on the desk, looked down the brightly lit corridor that led into the centre, then turned back. ‘Can I offer some advice, Kate, as a friend?’

Are we friends? she wondered.

‘Holly told me about the…’ he paused, chose his words carefully, ‘… miscommunication between you and John, and she doesn’t want to get involved. And honestly, you don’t want to get her involved. Talk to John about this. Believe me, it’ll be better for everyone that way.’

‘I would if I could,’ Kate said. ‘But John’s missing.’

The words were sharp, jagged things inside her mouth.

‘Missing?’

‘I haven’t seen or talked to him in three days. There must be a reason he didn’t tell me he resigned from this place, and there might be a connection between that and wherever the hell he is. Please.’

He nodded once. ‘I’ll get Holly.’

Holly Cutter sat Kate down at one of the tables in the cafeteria and offered her a green tea. When Kate declined, Holly made herself one at a station in the corner.