“One of the funds that propped up Quadrant when it looked like it might go under is called Celestus Ventures. They were lead investor in the last financing round. From what I can tell, they have twenty-five active portfolio companies, all space related, and they put seventy million into Quadrant without blinking an eye. They don’t appear to seek any control. They don’t answer their phones, either. Quadrant must have something pretty incredible in development. So that’s one thing that took me to the British Museum, but I didn’t find anyone who could shed any light. So I’m really hoping my luck changes now. Your go.”

“Nine Russell Square.”

“So you do know something.” Fischer sat back and appraised her. “It’s an interesting address. Can you throw any light?”

“Owned by FSF Holdings, based on Guernsey. Geoffrey Payne and Stuart Adair were there this afternoon.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes.”

Fischer considered this. “Know what FSF stands for?”

“Go on.”

“The Free Space Foundation. Nine Russell Square is going to be the foundation’s prestigious new home. They fund research into space policy, advise government on space law, promote investment in the industry. Advocacy work. All sounds very proper, and it’s where you’d expect to find an official research center, but it’s shady. More a lobbying company than anything academic. No official university affiliation. Trace the cash back and you get to Quadrant. It seems to be a useful address for a lot of Quadrant business that they don’t want in their head office.”

“Like what?”

“There were eight rival companies working on space debris, all in the running for the UK government funding. In the weeks leading up to the funding allocation at least six of them were subject to surveillance: employees bugged, computers hacked. The trail ran straight back to the foundation and onto Quadrant. They’ve targeted the European Space Agency and they’ve targeted the UN’s Office for Outer Space Affairs. We know that. They play dirty. They also play rich. Since Quadrant’s recent windfall they’ve used the Free Space Foundation to make almost half a million in political donations.”

“What do they get for that?”

“Payne’s been helping Quadrant acquire UK launch facilities. That involves a lot of licensing and planning applications, but the foundation’s generosity has paved the way. Doors seem to open for them. There’s a well-established institute for the development of space policy just around the corner. It’s respectable, independent. Until last year they were advising the government on its space strategy. Then suddenly they weren’t. In the last couple of months foundation staff have held regular meetings at both the Foreign Office and Department for Business, while a lot of experts in the field have been closed out.”

“So the foundation does have staff.”