his idea initially to move here from London, and I can work from anywhere so I was fine with it too, delighted in fact, and he’s been really excited about his new job, and a better lifestyle. We’ve been busy non-stop since we moved in, of course, just getting the house sorted, but it’s really lovely. We’re renting for now, just until we decide exactly where we want to live, but it’s such a great place, big rooms and this beautiful courtyard, we both love it, and … well, no. None of those things. He was fit and healthy and happy, and I honestly can’t think of a single reason why … why …’ She stopped talking and swallowed hard.
Helena was still making notes.
‘Does he use social media? Facebook, Twitter, Instagram? Any of them?’
Gemma shook her head again.
‘No. Neither of us do really. He doesn’t at all, and I have an Instagram account for work purposes but I don’t post very often. Danny’s quite anti-social media actually. Says it’s damaging, that people end up comparing themselves to all these other people who seem to have these perfect glamourous lives, and it’s all rubbish really. I’m not so extreme – I think it can be quite useful, if you follow things you’re really interested in. And it’s kind of part of the job when you work in the media, it’s expected. But to answer your question, no, I’ve never known Danny to have a social media account.’
Devon, who’d been sitting quietly, cleared his throat.
‘How long have you been together, Gemma? You said you’ve only been married a year or so?’
She turned to look at him.
‘We haven’t been together long at all really. It all happened quite quickly. I hate the term “whirlwind romance”, but it was, kind of.’ She gave a little laugh, her cheeks flushing. ‘We met online, about eighteen months ago. We’d only been dating for four months when he proposed, and we got married three months later, in March last year. It’ll be our first wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks. So, as I said, all pretty quick really. But when you know, you know, I guess.’
‘I suppose so, yes.’ Devon smiled, then his face turned serious again.
‘So … well, I hate to ask this, but … is there any chance that he was seeing somebody else, having an affair? It’s just that sometimes when people go missing …’
Gemma was shaking her head again, vehemently this time.
‘Absolutely not. One of my friends asked me that too, and I’ve really thought about it, you know; even though it’s an awful thing to think, I’ve tried to genuinely consider it as an option. But no, no way. He was at work all day, sometimes until quite late, but he pretty much always came straight home afterwards, and we haven’t had a single night apart since we moved, or a single weekend – I didn’t have a press trip booked until Thursday, so that was the first night since we came to Bristol. And we were together most of the time in London too. I mean, we’d both have the odd night out with friends, separately, do the occasional thing on our own, you know; he’d go off on his bike and so on, he’s a keen cyclist. But we spent the vast majority of our time together. I’d know, too. I just would. Nothing’s changed between us, we’re the same as we’ve always been, better in many ways since we moved …’
The tears were back, sliding down her cheeks, leaving streaks in her foundation.
‘All right, and so sorry to have to ask these questions, I know it’s very difficult for you.’
Devon pushed the tissue box towards Gemma again, and she sniffed and nodded.
‘It’s OK. I understand. I just want him to come home,’ she whispered.
‘We’ll do everything we can,’ Helena said. She turned to look at Devon for a moment, and he gave a small nod.
‘OK, let me just get those other details, addresses and date of birth and things, and then we’ll let you go.’
For a few minutes, she listened as Gemma ran through home and work addresses, Danny’s contact details and other basic background information, until she was satisfied she had everything she needed for now. She made a final note on her pad, put her pen down and leaned back in her chair.
‘Look, we’re going to start making some enquiries. The best thing you can do is go home, and let us know the second you