‘I hope not. Do you know where she is?’
‘She’s been at her aunt’s house in Oxfordshire this weekend, but she’s back in London now.’
Stella paused, not sure how much she should tell Alex. After all, he wasn’t her boss anymore and Lara had given her the distinct impression that Alex disapproved of the Meyer investigation.
‘Stella, please,’ said Alex, picking up on her hesitation. ‘I’m worried about her. I tried her at the Misty, but she’s not there and she’s not answering her phone. Any idea where else she could be? Could she have met Stefan Melberg?’
Stefan? Did Alex know about him?
Stella wasn’t certain that Lara was shagging the handsome Dutch journalist, but Stella considered herself pretty intuitive about these sort of things and she had seen the way Lara and Stefan had looked at each other that morning at the Le Caché office. Perhaps Alex had worked it out too, and perhaps he was jealous, but there was concern in his voice that put her on edge too.
‘Well, I do know she was meeting Victoria Sachs today at some fundraiser,’ said Stella, looking at her watch again. ‘Mind you, that was a lunch thing.’
‘Victoria Sachs? Damn.’
This didn’t sound good.
‘So do you know where she is?’
‘We could always try the Le Caché office. I think Eduardo is back from Africa today and there was some plan to meet him and Stefan.’
‘Where is the Le Caché office?’ he asked.
‘Shoreditch. I haven’t got the exact address but if you meet me at Shoreditch High Street tube, I’ll take you there.’
Alex was already waiting on the far side of the barriers under the shadow of the bridge. He was wearing a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a deep frown.
‘Hi,’ said Stella. ‘Have you been waiting long? I’ve been…’
‘Which way?’ he said, cutting her off.
Stella stopped, then shook her head.
‘Not until you tell me what’s going on.’
She knew she was being pushy but the truth was, this was more her investigation that his.
Alex had a reputation for being a fair, supportive manager, unlike many senior news executives. Today though, he looked tough, the man who in editorial meetings Stella had seen tear into anyone he thought was giving less than 100%.
‘Alex, tell me or I’m not taking another step. Lara’s my friend too.’
Stella could barely believe she had just spoken to the great Alex Ford that way, but she was sick of being the last to know everything.
‘I think Stefan’s been working for Michael Sachs,’ he said finally.
‘What? You’re serious?’
She examined his face again.
‘You’re really worried?’
‘Stella, Sachs is the man Lara suspects of…’
‘Killing Sandrine?’ she said, glancing around. ‘You think Lara’s in danger?’
‘At the very least Stefan’s been lying to Lara. Right now, I just want to find her.’
Stella wanted to find her friend too. She’d tried Lara’s phone as soon as she’d got off the line from Alex, only to be told, ‘the person you are calling is not available.’