‘I have no idea at all what you’re talking about.’

Toccata raised an eyebrow. Oddly, over her non-seeing eye.

‘Then let me enlighten you: I just got a call from Central Records, thanking me for the very interesting picture I sent to be identified. I was surprised about the call, Wonky. Do you know why I was surprised?’

‘I’ve got a feeling you’re going to tell me.’

‘Because I never sent any picture ID request, and that must be me having a serious memory lapse, because it had my signature on it.’

‘Oh,’ I said, ‘really?’

‘Yes, really. Then they asked me who the man in the picture identified himself as, because they’ve been after him for twelve years and he’s on their Campaign for Real Sleep watch list. And you know what?’

‘What?’

‘I couldn’t answer that question, either. Because I hadn’t sent it and didn’t know what they were talking about. Isn’t that totally weird?’

‘Very weird – but I still have no idea what you’re talking about.’

Jonesy picked up the actual fax that I had carelessly left on my desk and showed it to Toccata, then to me.

‘You are so busted,’ said Jonesy with a smile. ‘I think you’d better tell us everything.’

Charlie Webster

‘ . . . The Josephine III was built on the Clyde and launched in 1936. After a long career plying the North Atlantic route she was sold to a Southern shipping line and renamed the Argentinian Queen. Captured while blockade-running in 1974, she was consigned to Newport to be scrapped in 1982. Her tow parted during delivery and she was swept onto Rhosilli beach  . . . ’

– Wrecks of the Gower – Welsh Tourist Office

‘So before I even start getting to work on you,’ said Toccata, ‘whose details are about to come back via the fax?’

There didn’t seem much point in lying – they’d find out soon enough.

‘You’ll know him as Charles Webster.’

‘Webster the orderly at HiberTech?’

I nodded, and Jonesy and Toccata looked at one another. They were surprised, or perhaps shocked, or perhaps both. I could feel my eye start to puff up where Toccata had hit me earlier, but resisted the urge to touch it.

The fax machine began to hum and we waited without speaking until the message had fed out of the printer. Jonesy picked it up before I could see and showed it to Toccata.

‘How did those idiots at HiberTech Security miss this?’ said Toccata. ‘They let a known RealSleep agent right into the heart of their organisation.’

‘That’s actually quite amusing,’ said Jonesy.

‘Yes, it is,’ agreed Toccata, and they both stared at me for some time in silence.

‘Can you feel that empty pause, Wonky?’ said Toccata. ‘It’s where you tell us why you were investigating Charles Webster. How you knew he wasn’t who he said he was. Let’s hear it.’