‘Chloe, slow down.’ Holding the telephone close to his ear, Justin tried to make sense of what Sophie’s friend was saying. ‘Where and when were you supposed to be meeting her?’

‘In town, but I’m babysitting.’ Chloe still wasn’t making much sense, frustratingly. ‘She rang me earlier, and then she rang me again, and she sounded so upset. I’m worried about her, Mr Cole. I can’t take the baby with me and I—’

‘Whoa. Chloe, please, slow down.’ Justin felt a knot of panic climb his throat. ‘Take the baby where? Why was she upset?’

Chloe didn’t answer.

Justin pressed his fingers to his temple. ‘Chloe, this is really important,’ he said, working to keep the immense agitation he was feeling from his voice. ‘I wouldn’t ask you to share anything you thought was confidential otherwise.’

‘Birmingham. The Bull Ring shopping centre. Outside H&M, on the second floor. Sophie said she was catching the bus in. She’s probably already halfway there by now.’

‘Okay.’ Justin nodded. He needed to go. But first, he needed to know why she’d taken off. ‘Can you tell me why she was upset, Chloe?’ he urged her gently. ‘Is it to do with Luke and the funeral?’

Again, Chloe was reluctant. ‘She heard you, Mr Cole,’ she confided, eventually. She heard what you were saying… about her not being yours. She was really upset. I should have told her to come here, but I didn’t think, and now—’

‘Jesus Christ.’ Why hadn’t he done something? He’d known she had. Cold dread pooled in the pit of Justin’s stomach.

‘I thought you should know. I wasn’t sure what else to do,’ Chloe was talking fast now, sounding scared. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Cole. I—’

‘It’s okay, Chloe. It’s fine. I’ll find her,’ Justin reassured her. ‘Let me have your number and I’ll text you.’ He snatched up the newly delivered loan car keys and his mobile, noting several messages from Alicia as he did so. ‘Meanwhile, will you let me know if she gets back to you?’

‘Uh-huh, yes, I will, I promise.’ Sounding relieved, Chloe reeled off her number. ‘Do you want me to text her?’ she asked tentatively. ‘I thought maybe if I told her I was coming, but I was running late, that, you know, it might buy you a bit of time.’

‘Good idea. You did the right thing, Chloe.’ Justin quickly keyed in her number and sent her his. ‘I’ll be in touch.’

He was halfway out of the front door when Alicia rang. ‘Justin, it’s Sophie – she’s gone!’ she said frantically when he picked up. ‘She heard… What you and Jessica were discussing. She… She’s taken her overnight bag. She’s not answering her phone. I’ve tried her a hundred times. I don’t know what to do. I—’

‘Fuck!’ Justin’s chest constricted. If she’d taken her overnight bag, she clearly intended to stay away from Jessica’s. Would she come back here? Justin very much doubted it, now that he knew what she’d overheard. She had her key, but… Dammit! He needed to find her.

‘I know. Chloe rang me.’ Drawing in a tight breath, he braced himself. ‘Is it true?’ Do not lie to me, Alicia.

An agonising second ticked by, before she delivered the blow that would surely kill him. ‘I… I don’t know.’

‘I see,’ Justin said quietly. He felt close to exploding. ‘So, what did you expect her to do, Alicia? Sit down and have a nice, calm conversation over a fucking cup of tea?’

‘Oh God. Justin, I…’ Alicia broke off with a sob. ‘I’m sorry. I am so, so sorry. I never intended to hurt you or Sophie, I swear I didn’t.’

‘Right.’ Yanking his car door open, Justin threw himself behind the wheel. ‘That’s not how it looks from here, Alicia.’

‘I know. I’m sorry.’ Alicia sobbed harder. ‘I know you can’t forgive me. I know you won’t ever, but please, please help Sophie.’

‘Jesus!’ Justin slammed the car door. ‘Did you honestly think I wouldn’t?’

‘No. I…’ Alicia’s voice caught wretchedly in her throat. ‘I’m so sorry.’

‘So you said.’ Justin breathed in hard. ‘Just tell me one thing, Alicia. Was he worth it? Was he worth this?’

Alicia didn’t answer. Justin guessed from her choking sobs that she couldn’t. ‘I have to go. I have to find my daughter,’ he spat. He simply didn’t have it in him to be anything but angry. It was too late for apologies – way too late. The cold, hard fact was that her deceit had led to this. If he didn’t find her tonight… anything could happen by morning. He might never find her. That thought slicing through him like a knife, Justin cut the call, started the engine and screeched the car out of the drive.