‘This is her phone. We can’t call her.’

‘But is there any other? Like a contact for emergencies?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Look in the back. See if there’s a next of kin.’

Ayesha turned to the last page.

‘Next of kin,’ she said. ‘There’s a number for a sister by the look of it, but the address is Manila.’

‘What time is it in Manila? Do you want me to check?’

He tapped some digits, and turned his own phone sideways to see the results of his search. He brought the screen closer and tapped again.

‘They’re ahead of us,’ he said at last. ‘It’s ten past nine in Manila – you could try her.’

‘What could she do, though? “Maria Ruiz”, that’s her name.’

‘Whose name?’

‘The woman who owns this bag.’

‘Her sister might know someone. There might be a mutual friend you can send it to.’

‘She’s stuck,’ said Ayesha. ‘She’s got no phone, and we’ve got all her money – we’ve got everything. Could we call the rail station? Get them to make an announcement?’

‘You could try.’

‘What station was it? Carlisle?’

‘It might be better if we just hand it to the guard. Let him do it.’

Ayesha nodded.

‘I’ll take it to him,’ she said. ‘I’ll go down to the buffet car, and see if I can find him. Can you look after my stuff?’

She stood up, and put the guitar on her seat. She walked carefully through the carriages, for the train had picked up speed. The woman’s phone rang as she emerged from the third, plaintive and urgent. Ayesha stopped and fumbled for it. She held it close, and for a moment she couldn’t remember which button you had to press for a connection – the ringtone wailed on, desperate as a crying child. She found the right one and put the thing to her ear.

‘Hello?’ she said.

There was a pause, and she heard an anxious, distant voice: ‘Hello? I think… Hello?’

‘Hello.’

‘I think this is my phone, yes?’

‘I think it is,’ said Ayesha, steadying herself. ‘You left it next to me, on the table.’

‘Hello?’ said the voice.

‘Hello. Hi, can you hear me?’

‘Yes, but not very well—’

‘You left your bag on the table. Is that Maria? I’ve got it here, Maria – it’s safe. Where are you now?’

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t hear everything.’

Ayesha found a seat, and pressed the phone closer. She could hear a station announcement, and the speaker above her head chose the same moment to come to crackly life, the volume high.

‘Good afternoon,’ said a voice. ‘This is your train manager speaking, and I’d like to welcome those passengers who joined at Carlisle…’

Ayesha ducked low and closed her eyes.

‘Hello?’ she said.