Page 64 of Mistletoe and Mulled Wine at the Christmas Campervan

Lucy fumbled for her mobile, checking again for any missed calls or messages. Nothing.

Cocktail Party Claire was now stood by the horsebox, hands on hips, looking for an explanation, but Lucy wasn’t a mind reader. ‘Bloody hell, I’ll have to send one of the guests out to make a trip to the supermarket for some booze at this rate. Or go myself. I really don’t know what to do?’ The woman was stressing big time, and was of course entitled to be. After all, her campervan bar with its va-va-voom had disappeared, and her big birthday surprise for her husband was about to go down like a wet balloon. ‘God, it’s bloody freezing out here too.’ She shivered. ‘Look, I hope everything’s okay,’ she added, suddenly realising there might be something more to this, ‘but it’s just … Craig’s due back from the pub in twenty minutes, and I’ve got fifty people about to turn up for his surprise party, and no bloody booze.’

‘I know, and I’m so sorry. Look, I’ll keep trying for you. See if I can find anything out. I’ll come and find you as soon as I hear anything. And in the meanwhile, I’m all set up and ready, so at least everyone can tuck into pizzas.’

‘Hmm,’ was followed by a big frustrated sigh, as Claire retreated to the house, all a-fluster.

Lucy quickly Googled the vet on her phone and was able to find the list of staff. There he was, smiling at her; she recognised the thumbnail of Matthew Taylor BVetMed MRCVS. Typical that he had a common surname. Finding him on social media might well prove a challenge. She’d try and call the vet first, see if they might release his number, or at least let her explain her concern, and they could pass it on.

Her fingertips were trembling as she dialled. She spoke with a lovely receptionist, who explained that they weren’t able to give out any private mobile contact numbers, but she took Lucy’s details and said she was happy to pass a message on asap, as Matthew was still there, having been working on the surgery team this evening. In the meanwhile, Lucy tried to call Jack’s mobile once more. Again, it just rang out, flicking frustratingly over to answerphone. She’d already left three messages, so she rang off.

Her first instinct was to drive over to his house by the route he’d most likely come, but she had a pizza oven belting out at 450 degrees that she daren’t leave, and a party of fifty people about to arrive imminently. In fact, some were turning up already. A couple of taxis pulling up beside the horsebox, spilling out their excited guests.

Who might help? Who could she call? Becky? But she already had enough on her plate. And Jack might well have broken down or something, that might be it, and in an area with no signal. Campervan Ruby had been a bit temperamental lately. She needed someone practical.

Olly suddenly came to mind. Yes, she’d try her brother. She scrolled to his name … called. Thank goodness, he picked up straight away.

‘Hey, hi Lucy.’

‘Oh Olly, I’m really worried … about Jack. Can you help?’

‘Yeah, of course. What’s happened, Luce?’

She tried to get the words out. ‘I-I don’t know, that’s the problem. He … well, he’s meant to be here and he’s not turned up. It’s cold and maybe icy … the roads weren’t brilliant when I set off.’

‘Right …’

‘Or he might have broken down or something,’ Lucy continued to explain, trying to still the panic in her voice. ‘He was due here to work at this party over an hour ago, and I can’t get through on his mobile at all.’

‘Okay, so where are you?’ Olly’s tone was concerned but calm.

‘I’m just outside of Belsay, it’s a village near to Morpeth.’

‘Yeah, I know it.’

‘Do you think you could go and check the route from Jack’s place over to here? Sorry, I know that’s a bit of a pain, but I’m really worried, Olly. It’s so not like Jack to not turn up like this. Just to put my mind at rest, while I keep trying to get hold of him, or find out more. I’ll message the address and postcode over.’

‘Yeah, no worries. I’ll just explain to Alice, then I’ll set off straight away.’

‘Thank you. I might be overreacting, but it’s just not like him to be late and not even to call …’ Lucy hoped so much that she was overreacting. That Ruby would drive in at any moment, and she’d have to call Olly straight back and tell him to call off the search mission.

As soon as she turned off the call to her brother, her phone buzzed to life once more. She looked at the screen expectantly … it was a mobile number she didn’t recognise.

‘Lucy?’

‘Yep.’

‘Matt, Jack’s mate. My colleague passed on a message to say you’d rung, everything alright?’

‘Hi, thanks for calling. Look, Jack’s not turned up at this event tonight he’s booked for. He was due here an hour ago. Do you happen to know if he actually left your house this evening?’

‘Right …’ A short pause ensued. ‘Ah well, no, sorry – I don’t know, I’ve been working here since two. Hang on, I can ring Jess quickly, try and find out for you. She’ll be home. Been there most of the afternoon, as far as I know … she was going to come over early and then cook some supper for us.’

‘Okay, thanks. Let me know then, yeah?’

Might he have been struck ill and never left the house? Ruby might still be parked up there? All sorts of scenarios were filling her mind.

‘Of course. Will do.’ And with that, Matt finished the call.