Chapter 5
After my unsuccessful attempt to reach Harriet, I sat back in my chair and stared at the bounced‑back email notification. It felt strangely final, as though the address hadn’t just been wrong — it had been closed off to me. I hesitated for a moment, then opened a new draft and began typing to Jane, hoping she might bridge the gap. I read the message aloud quietly before sending it, just to make sure it sounded right: “Dear Jane, I hope you’ll be able to help me. I’ve been trying to contact Rachel—Harriet, as she introduced herself—because we met and she was keen for me to carry out some research. The email address I used must have been wrong. Could you drop her a line and arrange another meeting? Kind regards, Archie.” I hit Send and watched the message disappear from my outbox. There was nothing more I could do but wait. The reply came later that afternoon. Short, direct, and exactly what I needed: Harriet would meet me at The Ship & Shovell. I exhaled, relieved...
