They were in the middle of arguing about Perry’s proposed trip when they heard hurried footsteps and Gordon Latimer flung himself over the top of the roof and rolled down towards them.

‘That’s the way to make an entrance!’ said Andrew, laughing.

‘Shhhh!’ said Gordon, twisting on to his knees and crouching low. He was desperately short of breath, his clothing ripped and untidy. ‘They’re on to us.’

‘Who are?’ said James, looking around.

‘I’m not sure,’ said Gordon, his voice high and strained. ‘I was spotted. They were looking for me.’

‘Who? The police?’ asked Andrew.

‘Beaks, I think,’ said Gordon. ‘I’ve been all over the place trying to shake them off. There’s a big search party heading this way. We’ve got to get out of here.’

Even as Gordon said this, they heard shouts from the street below.

‘Split up,’ said Andrew and he was off.

In a second all the other boys were up and running in different directions, each taking their own chosen route.

James didn’t hesitate. He sprang to his feet, vaulted over the rooftop and was away, his heart hammering against his ribs.

If he had wanted danger, he had it now.

2

Double M

James tried not to think about what would happen if he were caught. He knew he would definitely be beaten, but worse than that, he would probably be expelled from Eton. He didn’t mind so much for himself, but he hated the idea of upsetting his guardian, Aunt Charmian.

James’s parents had been killed in a climbing accident when he was eleven, and since then he had been brought up by Charmian. He didn’t want to do anything that might hurt her.

He realised, of course, that he probably should have thought about that before he got himself into this mess.

He intended to take his usual route, but halfway back he saw that his way was blocked. His pursuers had set a ladder against one of the buildings and a large, fat man was climbing it.

Risking an unfamiliar path, James turned off to the side, sprinted over the top of a couple of rooftops, then shinned down a drainpipe. He found himself in a maze of low buildings and sheds. It was very dark here and he was soon lost. He was scurrying around trying to find a way back to more familiar territory when he heard a search party coming his way. He climbed up the side of a timber-framed house and hid himself behind a tall brick chimney stack until they had passed. He thought he recognised the nearby rooftops, so he scuttled along the side of the building and jumped across to the next roof. As he landed a tile slipped beneath him and crashed to the pavement. He heard pounding feet and someone yelled something very nearby; the sound echoed around the deserted night streets.

He raced up the roof and over the other side, but his luck was fast running out. Two more tiles came loose and he found himself sliding uncontrollably down towards a drop into darkness.