It's a dreadful feeling. When you have to call a client to inform him that you won't be able to deliver what you have promised to deliver, two days ago. I have been told so many times before, and it is something that I have known all along; to never get involved in anything partially. When you have no total control over something, people might not appreciate being pushed around by you.

Obviously, when you want to get things done, one person should be in charge to look at the overall of everything. Because, who should answer to the client when the person we depend on to do the work has not been answering his phone, for two days? Pointing fingers would be useless at times like that, wouldn't it? But we have to remember that we are relied upon by the client as well.

So yes, time to tell the client the truth. We failed to deliver what we have promised, and it was all our fault. Most probably the client will understand, they just need to be informed so that they'd know what to do or plan. Or explain to their client. 

Ahh.. the beauty of sub-contracting.