‘Ah, well,’ said Ollie. ‘We did have fun, didn’t we? But all good things must come to an end, you folks need to be getting on your way and I need my beauty sleep if I’m going to be back at that toothpaste tube in the morning, and I’m not getting any younger either, so let’s get this over with, shall we?’

Theo swung round to look at him, and spoke, for the first time since they had left the apartment. ‘You mean you ain’t coming with us, then?’

‘Neither is she,’ he replied, gesturing towards June. He laughed at Theo’s outraged face. ‘And who’ll bring the next bunch down here if we do, eh? You lot got the royal treatment, being bumped to the front of the line and everything, but can’t very well leave ’em hanging now, can I? Nope, gotta be back providing service with a smile soon enough, so now we’ll just put you in your next minder’s hands and then be off on our merry way, thank you very much!’

All this was said in almost a single breath. Albert looked hard at him. ‘How often do you do this? Dodge patrols and bring people here?’

The fat man laughed again. ‘Often enough to keep me sprightly, that’s all I’m saying!’

He turned to look at Albert. ‘Also, one other thing. Call it a friendly word, if you will. When you do get there, I wouldn’t tell everybody everything, if you get my drift. From what I hear, these days some people, well, aren’t as broad-minded as others.’ Albert stared again, but Ollie had already turned around, though he was still talking. ‘All right then. Let’s see if we’ve got anyone to welcome you with open arms.’

‘Is there someone here? I can’t see anyone. And what did you mean?’

Ollie smirked at him. ‘Oh, you’re a smart lad. You’ll figure it out soon enough. And course you can’t see them! They’re not stupid, are they, to be hanging around, having a cuppa out in the open when larry’s on the prowl everywhere? But they’ll be around. Leastways, I hope they’ll be around. Else I’ve gone and done all this exercise for nothin’.’

‘So now what? Do we wait for them here?’

‘More like they’re waiting for us. The cavalry’s round the corner, so to speak. But first we give them the signal, just so’s they know everything’s all airtight.’

‘What signal?’

Ollie beamed at him, as if this was the question he had been waiting to hear all night. ‘Ah! Now that’s the really beautiful part!’ He was rummaging through his pockets as he spoke, rifling through them with an expression of mock dismay on his face. ‘Don’t tell me I dropped the dratted things! Ah, there it is!’