‘So that monster was a kid?’ Harry gasped.

‘Thirteen or fourteen. There are genetic templates in the decrypted files, which suggest they’re experimenting with gorilla DNA. Apparently, gorillas are nine times stronger than men, and their genetic make-up is near identical.’

‘Where does all this craziness end?’ Harry said, mostly to himself.

‘Too much scary shit going down,’ Matt agreed. ‘Did you hear from your relatives in London?’

‘I Skyped with my granddad in Devon. He says everything is locked down. Everyone is supposed to stay at home apart from key workers like cops and medics. He was all stiff-upper-lip don’t worry, Harry, we’ll all be fine, but you could tell he was scared. And my nan came on and kept saying how much she loved me and that it was the first time she’d ever been glad me and Kirsten are so far away.’

‘And your dad? Isn’t he in London?’

‘I’ve tried, but his phone’s dead and he didn’t answer my messages.’

‘Bummer,’ Matt said.

Harry shrugged. ‘If I couldn’t get through to my grandparents and cousins I’d worry. But my dad’s shady. He goes off radar for months even when things are normal.’

Gemma stepped naked from the bathroom and yelped when she saw Matt.

‘Jesus!’ she squealed, hopping back into the bathroom and slamming the door. ‘You could have warned me, Harry.’

Harry laughed as he grabbed a T-shirt, pulling it over his head and following Matt across the hallway to his bedroom.

He’d bought the swanky apartment with money he’d made selling some of his five per cent stake in Elliegold Media to Kent Clark. After a few battles, Matt’s parents reluctantly agreed to let the besties live together for their last year of high school.

‘Is your girl Lana coming to Axl’s party tonight?’ Harry asked Matt.

‘I got sooo lucky,’ Matt said cheerfully. ‘Lana apologised to me, because she’s got this girls’-night-out thing. I was all, like, oh, that’s so sad. But inside I’m smiling my ass off, because Axl’s big brother’s party was total depravity and people are saying tonight is gonna be worse.’

‘A ton of people who know Lana will still be there,’ Harry noted. ‘And you sobbed your little heart out the last time she ditched you.’

A shout came from across the hall. ‘Harry, did you see where my underwear went?’

‘Matt kicked them under the bed,’ Harry called back.

‘Tell your boyfriend he’s a jackass,’ Gemma yelled irritably.

‘I didn’t cry,’ Matt lied, shaking his head. ‘And at least I don’t sleep with random girls who wait till you fall asleep and steal your Mini.’

Harry was enjoying the banter. ‘At least I still have my licence, Mr Ninety-Miles-Per-Hour-Through-a-LIDAR-Trap.’

‘I’m outta here, you guys,’ Gemma said, sounding ticked off as she came out of Harry’s room.