I made a frantic scribbling gesture towards Mo, who took a few seconds to realise I was asking for a pen. I scrawled the number onto the back of my hand, filled the air with sweet platitudes, and hung up.

     "That did not sound like an emergency," said Mo.

     "Shut up, Mo."

     I dialled Elaine's mother's number.

     "Hello?"

     "Mrs Leclerc, it's –"

     "Daniel! What a surprise. How lovely to hear from you. How's my gorgeous granddaughter? She is simply the most ravishingly beautiful baby I have ever set eyes on. She gets it from me, darling."