Georgie gets to her feet as Lily comes over to take her to the basins. While Lily washes Georgie’s hair, I dash into the staffroom, grab my phone and call the hotel. It rings for a while and then, frustratingly, goes to voicemail. I leave a message asking them to call me back urgently. I also call Vicky, the general manager, on her mobile, but she doesn’t pick up either. This isn’t a good sign. I’ve never been unable to get through to her before. I leave another message and also tap out a quick text, feeling my heart grow heavier as I press send. Next I call Toby, but he doesn’t reply either. Not that I expected him to. He’s probably on site, in the middle of a job. I decide not to worry him by leaving a message. I’ll wait until I hear something definite. I try all the numbers again, but no one is picking up.

I don’t normally have my phone while I’m with my clients, but I know Georgie won’t mind if I keep it with me just this once. I can’t afford to miss a call from the hotel. She agrees to keep the news to herself for now and I promise to call her as soon as I hear anything one way or the other.

Forty-five minutes later, I wave goodbye to Georgie and her newly shining locks, and she says she’ll let me know if she hears anything more. I now have an hour and twenty minute lunch break, during which I’d originally planned to pick up some groceries for Vivian and the kids to have over the weekend. But I’ll have to leave that for now. It’s about a ten-minute jog home to get the car and then a fifteen-minute drive to the hotel. If I leave immediately, I can make it there and back with time to spare.

I check my phone, but no one from the hotel has come back to me, so I slip off my ballet flats, tug on my boots, grab my coat and bag from the staffroom and head to the front door, catching Becky’s eye on my way out. She’s laughing with her client but must have noticed my anxious expression because she stops and raises an eyebrow in my direction. I mouth back that I’ll tell her later.

‘Zoe!’ I’m tempted to pretend I don’t hear Jennifer calling my name, but I can’t bring myself to do it, so I turn around, trying to appear calm. ‘One of Mark’s clients has popped in for a fringe trim. He’s out on his break so would you mind doing it before you leave for lunch?’