Page 40 of The Impossible Fortune

Paul sends another message to Nick. Joanna starts typing a message to her mum with the good news. Nick replies to Paul.

Can’t ring this evening Paul. Will explain all soon.

‘In fact, I’ll ring Mum,’ says Joanna. ‘They might still be with Holly. Everyone will want to know.’

Paul holds a finger in the air. ‘One second.’

Joanna waits.

‘He never calls me Paul,’ says Paul. ‘You know that, he calls me Paolo. I call him Nico. We have done since university.’

That’s true. It’s embarrassing, but the sort of thing you ignore at the beginning of a relationship, and hope will become cute eventually.

‘Well, he’s calling you Paul now,’ says Joanna. ‘I mean, it’s a serious situation – perhaps he thinks Paolo is a bit flip?’

‘Or perhaps it’s not him,’ says Paul. ‘Is that crazy? Perhaps someone has got hold of his phone?’

Joanna thinks, Champagne in one hand, mobile phone in the other.

‘Ask him something only the two of you would know,’says Joanna. ‘Anything. As silly as you like. Just something that would prove it. Put your mind at rest.’

Paul nods and starts typing.

Nico, just want to be cautious here, I know you’ll understand. What was the name of your first car? The Vauxhall Nova?

‘We called it the Babe Magnet,’ says Paul to Joanna, a little apologetically.

‘And was it?’

‘Not so much,’ says Paul. ‘Not so much.’

There is another ping. Paul reads out the reply.

Sorry mate, what is this? A test of our friendship? I’m letting you know I’m okay, and this is what I get?

‘Well, I don’t love that,’ say Joanna.

‘I don’t love it either,’ says Paul, typing again.

Come on Nico, I just need to make certain it’s you. Play the game.

‘There’s zero reason, if it’s really him,’ says Joanna, ‘why he wouldn’t just tell you.’

‘Agree,’ says Paul.

Another ping.

Jesus Paul. When I need you most, you pull this? We both know the name of the car. Stop messing around and let people know I’m okay.

‘It’s not him,’ says Paul.

‘It’s not him,’ agrees Joanna.

‘Which means someone has got his phone,’ says Paul.

‘And whoever has got his phone has got him,’ agrees Joanna. ‘I’m ringing Elizabeth.’

There is another ping. Another message from Nick.