I told Margot on the phone last night that I’d be there at noon. She wanted to go to the hospital to see Heather first thing, she’d said. But at eleven Jack still hasn’t turned up for work. I text him, mentioning that Margot has agreed to talk, but when there’s no response I ring his mobile. In desperation I leave my desk to find Ellie, the trainee.

She’s on a computer in the corner uploading press releases onto the Herald’s decrepit website. It’s supposed to be updated daily, but Ted hates anything too technical and because it’s so out of date hardly anybody reads it. Ellie has sprayed the ends of her brown hair blue today. Usually it’s pink. The odd occasion it’s been green. I ask her if she’s seen or heard from Jack yet today, but she shakes her head, without looking up from the keyboard.

Seth is painstakingly sorting through photos in his side room. I go up to him and stand in front of his desk. He looks up and smiles kindly, pushing his black-framed glasses further onto his face. ‘You all right, girl?’ He calls everyone ‘girl’. Even Sue. But nobody is ever offended. If Ted said it, or Jack, it would come across as condescending. But Seth is old-school. A Cockney who worked in Fleet Street back in the day. Getting on for seventy now, he should have retired long ago but he loves his job. And it’s not as if he goes around brushing up against us or slapping our arses. Even Ellie, twenty-three and a staunch feminist, doesn’t seem to mind. In fact she calls him ‘Pops’ in retaliation, and he loves it.

‘Just wondering if you’ve heard from Jack. I’ve tried to call his mobile but it goes straight to voicemail.’

Seth glances at the clock on the wall, his brow furrowed. ‘No. Now you mention it I haven’t. He’s never late.’

A sense of unease settles in my stomach. Has something happened? It can’t have. I left him with Finn last night. Maybe they’d had a late one and he’s overslept. But even as I think it I know that’s wrong. Jack is always on time. Diligent. Professional to a T.

‘We’re supposed to be going on a job.’ Although he wouldn’t have known that last night.

Seth sits back in his chair. ‘I’ll give him a call. Find out where he is. I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.’

I thank him and go back to my desk. I need to leave soon if I’m going to get to Margot’s for midday. I pick up my phone to check again, and as I do so it buzzes in my hand. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see Jack’s name flashing up.