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and Rich spent an hour mucking about on the web. Jade emailed her friend Charmaine in America.
    They found a small supermarket within easywalking distance and Jade bought bottled water, grapes, oranges and a spray air freshener. Rich bought crisps and coke. They thought about getting some food for the evening, but neither of them fancied cooking and they doubted Chance would offer. So they grabbed a few ready meals that would microwave.
    When they got back, Chance was in the living room, talking on his mobile. He hung up as soon as Rich and Jade came in. They exchanged glances, sure it was for their benefit.
    â€œCan I ring my friend Charmaine?” Jade asked.
    â€œOf course you can,” Chance said. “You’ve got a mobile.”
    â€œI’m almost out of credit.”
    â€œMe too,” Rich said.
    â€œGive me your mobile numbers and I’ll get them topped up.”
    â€œI’ll write them down for you later,” Rich said.
    â€œJust tell me. I’ll remember. I’m good with numbers.” He smiled. “Really.”
    Rich reeled off his mobile number. Grudgingly, Jade told him hers too. Chance recited them both back perfectly.
    â€œCharmaine’s in New York,” Jade said, as Chance offered his own mobile. “It’ll cost a fortune on that.”
    â€œThere’s the phone in the study,” Rich suggested.
    â€œMaybe later,” Chance said.
    â€œI need to call her now, before she leaves for school. You know – the time difference?”
    Chance sighed. “All right, all right.”
    Jade didn’t wait for more, but headed straight for the study. Chance hurried after her and Rich followed.
    â€œHang on,” Chance said. “I need to set this up.” He fiddled with the plastic box attached to the phone wire.
    â€œWhat’s that for?” Rich asked.
    â€œOh, it’s… It’s a security thing. Like a phone lock.”
    â€œThere’s only you here,” Jade said. “Or was.”
    â€œThe company insists. I deal with a lot of sensitive stuff in my job.”
    â€œLike what?” Jade asked.
    â€œLike I can’t tell you.” He finished working on the box. “That should work now. I’ll leave you to it.”
    Rich followed him out. “Why did you throw your letters away?” he asked. “Junk mail?”
    â€œProbably,” Chance said. “Why do you ask?”
    â€œJust curious.”
    â€œThey were for the previous tenant of the flat. He didn’t leave a forwarding address.”
    Rich nodded. “And no one writes to you?”
    Chance smiled. “That’s me – Johnny No-Mates.”
    The phone worked fine now, but Jade just got the answer phone at Charmaine’s house, so she rang Mrs Gilpin instead.
    Mrs Gilpin seemed pleased to hear from her. “How is everything?” she asked.
    â€œOh, fine,” Jade lied. “There’s some shops nearby and a little park. And… Dad is sorting out school for us. We’ll be OK.”
    â€œYou must come back and visit us.”
    â€œThank you. We’d like that.” There was something funny with the phone – probably something to do with the plastic box. Jade could hear a clicking every now and again. But she thought nothing of it.
    Three streets away from where Jade was making her phone call, an unmarked black van was parked in a side road.
    Inside the van, a man wearing dark-framed glasses and a long grey raincoat was sitting in front of a sophisticated audio monitoring system. He wore headphones, listening intently to every word Jade said.

4
    At Heathrow, Stabb was meeting a woman who had just arrived on a scheduled flight. As they walked to the short-term car park, Stabb told the woman how things were going.
    â€œSo you’ve achieved nothing,” the woman said with a smile. She was beautiful, with long, straight, jet black hair.
    â€œIt is difficult until we can get back the