Jameson intercepted them and pulled Bloom to one side. ‘Your phone,’ he said, handing it to her. ‘It was left behind in the mansion flat.’

‘Thank you,’ she said. She gestured to the helicopter. ‘And thank you.’

‘It was nothing.’ They stood for a moment in silence. ‘Why did you leave the safe house when I told you not to?’

Jake Peterson joined them. ‘You were brilliant,’ he said and held his hand out to Bloom.

‘I don’t know about that. Things could have been very different. But you handled yourself very well. Hiding the watch. Getting that man talking to you. Staying so calm. I was really impressed. Your mum and dad will be very proud.’

The teenager blushed. ‘Dad had this story about a friend of his who was taken hostage in the war. He survived by making friends with his guard. I figured it was worth a shot.’

‘Smart,’ said Jameson.

Jake looked even more delighted to receive praise from Marcus. No doubt he knew that Jameson used to be a secret agent. He rushed back towards his mum and sister who were still coiled together.

‘Seraphine sent me a text. She said that you were in danger and that I needed to go alone.’

‘And you believed her?’

‘I believe she cares about you. So yes. I took it at face value.’

‘That woman cares about nothing but her own mile-high ego. So she’s behind all this as well, then?’

‘I’m not sure.’ She found Seraphine’s number in her phone and dialled it. ‘Let’s find out.’

Seraphine answered on the second ring. There was a lot of white noise. ‘My favourite psychologist,’ she said. ‘How are you?’

‘Alive. Where are you and is Harry with you?’

‘Did you use the pencil? I modified it. Did you work it out?’

‘I left your pencil where I found it. I’m not playing games with you any more, Seraphine. Where is Harry?’

‘Africa. I think. It’s only been a few hours so he must still be on the continent unless he’s really resourceful.’

‘He’s not with you?’

‘Why would he be with me?’

‘Because you took him away. What did you do with him? Is he in danger?’ Her words brought the whole welcoming party a little closer. ‘Seraphine?’

‘You said you left the pencil. What about the syringe?’

Bloom sighed. This was the nature of conversations with psychopaths. They only talked about what they wanted to talk about. ‘Yes,’ said Bloom. ‘That was useful.’ After a moment of silence, she gritted her teeth and said, ‘Thank you.’

‘Ha. Good. Now why did you call?’

‘Stop it, Seraphine. I have the man’s family here. They’re worried about him. Just tell me where you left him.’

‘I told you, Africa.’

‘Is Harry involved in whatever it is you and your murder of crows are up to?’

‘I like that. Murder of crows. Is Marcus there?’