TOYL

checking his pulse. ‘Call an ambulance.’
    Edward remained glued to the spot.
    ‘He’s dying,’ Will said.
    ‘Let’s go,’ Edward said. ‘There’s no reason for us to be here anymore.’

49

    ‘Thanks for this,’ Emma said, as she and Lizzy exited the apartment. ‘I couldn’t just sit in there, waiting for something to happen.’
    ‘That’s okay,’ Lizzy said, ‘although I think it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to find Eric when the police couldn’t. Surely he wouldn’t be hanging around the very place where you’d expect to find him.’
    ‘Probably not,’ Emma said, ‘but I’ve got to try something.’
    ‘What if Eric doesn’t have anything to do with Dan’s disappearance?’
    ‘Then we’ve run out of suspects,’ Emma said, taking care while crossing the road as they headed north towards the park.
    ‘Did you notice a difference in attitude with the police officers?’
    ‘Maybe.’
    ‘I think they’re starting to believe you.’
    Emma stopped and turned to face her friend. ‘I’m sorry, Lizzy. I should have believed you about the letter.’
    ‘It’s okay. Let’s just forget about it.’
    ‘I can’t. I should have listened to you.’
    ‘Hey,’ Lizzy said, putting an arm around her shoulder. ‘Don’t beat yourself up over it. If the situation had been reversed, do you think I would have been any different?’
    Emma shrugged.
    ‘I’m surprised you can trust anyone at the moment,’ Lizzy continued as they started walking again. ‘This whole situation must be really screwing with your mind. I’m just glad that you believe me now, and that you’re letting me be here to help you through this.’
    ‘Thanks, Lizzy.’

    ***

    ‘It doesn’t look like he’s here,’ Lizzy said.
    They had been standing around Primrose Hill for half an hour now, wandering around, scanning the area for Eric.
    ‘No,’ Emma admitted, looking off to her right, hoping that amongst the people Eric’s face would appear. ‘It doesn’t. I thought maybe if I came up here, then we’d lure him out into the open.’
    ‘You’re using yourself as bait?’ Lizzy said, horrified.
    ‘I suppose so, yes.’
    ‘Em, this isn’t a good idea. If Eric did have something to do with what happened to Richard and Dan, then you shouldn’t really be playing games with him. You shouldn’t put yourself in danger.’
    ‘Anything’s better than just imagining what’s happening,’ Emma replied. ‘I just keep thinking of Dan, where he is, what’s happening to him. If he’s being kept somewhere, what are the conditions like? He’s been gone for over a week now. Are they feeding him?’
    ‘I know it’s hard, but you can’t think the worst. Everything might be okay.’
    ‘No, Lizzy. Whoever attacked Richard has already shown that they’re willing to kill… if we hadn’t come back to the apartment when we did, Richard wouldn’t have survived. That’s why we need to find Dan quickly, before something happens.’
    ‘Hopefully the police will find something from the couriers. If they get a name, that could lead them straight to Dan.’
    ‘I hope so. But I can’t see it being that easy. Why would the person give their real name, knowing that it was likely the police would investigate where the letter came from?’
    ‘So what do we do now?’ Lizzy said, looking out across the area. ‘Just wait here and hope Eric turns up?’
    ‘I can’t think what else to do. I just know that I need to find Eric, and ask him outright if he had anything to do with this. But if he’s not here, then I don’t know where else to look. I don’t know where he lives – I don’t even know his surname.’
    ‘Where else would someone who likes photography visit?’ Lizzy asked. ‘Maybe he’s got another favourite location, where he can take pictures.’
    Emma thought on that. ‘That’s it! Lizzy, you’re a star. I think I know where he might be.’

    ***

    They found him at the photo exhibition in the National Portrait Gallery, standing admiring a huge photograph of Princess Diana. It was one of those seminal photographs that you’d seen a thousand times before, yet never tired of. The Princess’s blue eyes seemed to look right at you, breaking out of the image in three dimensions.
    ‘Are you sure about this?’ Lizzy whispered, as they both watched Eric from a distance.
    Emma nodded.
    Eric was so much in awe that he didn’t notice Emma walk up to him.
    ‘Eric,’ she said.
    He spun around so fast that he