Through the flap my vision is blocked by a fringe of bristles. I put my ear to it and listen. Nothing. Until I hear the noise of a door being unlatched and the faint drift of voices being chased by their makers. They are coming back. He’s safe. I drop the flap and run back to the car and crouch.

A minute later the door opens and to my relief there is Amit, framed in light. He is shaking the man’s hand. Ebadi. He waves as Amit turns to leave, and slowly the door shuts.

I breathe again.

On my feet I beckon to Amit, who is twisting his neck, looking for me. He catches sight of me at last and runs over. I scrutinise his face for signs of harm or alarm until, at last, he reaches me.

Smiling.

‘Amit. Are you okay?’ I say, staring into his expression.

‘What? I’m fine,’ he says, putting a hand through his hair.

‘What the hell happened? When you went inside I thought you might have been killed!’ I am losing control over my voice.

‘It’s fine, Xander,’ he says, laughing. I find myself relaxing a little but my throat is still tight.

‘So how did you get in?’

‘Oh. I told him I used to live here when I was a kid and if it was okay could I see my old room again,’ he says, straightening up.

‘You did what?’ I can’t quite believe how brazen he had been.

‘I found something out you’re definitely going to be interested in,’ he said and nodded at me to follow him down the road.

27

Tuesday

I’m back in Hyde Park. Alone again. I have found a dry patch in a dense clump of bushes on the outer edges even though I shouldn’t be here in the dark after the Squire thing. What if he ends up back here again and starts bothering me? Could that get me into trouble? I beat the thought away. Squire’s playground patch is at the other end of the park, and I need to be near number 42B – that is the most important thing right now.