Uncle laughed as he sat in an office chair. ‘Trey’s lucky that his father is one of my oldest friends. He can get down on his knees and pull up carpet tiles for himself.’

As the boys headed out, Uncle opened a MacBook and the microphone under the desk recorded his login.

22. ROCKY

It was Saturday morning. With no school, kids at Nurtrust were pottering around in nightwear and grabbing breakfast to eat in bed. Ryan hated his cramped room with tiny escape-proof window, so he settled on a sofa in the TV lounge with bacon and hash browns. Rhea sat alongside, tucking her feet under her bum and smiling as she sipped hot chocolate.

‘We could do something tonight,’ Rhea said. ‘You got an ID? There’s a club called Passenger, not far from here.’

Ryan raised his hand. ‘What about my little brother?’

Rhea shrugged. ‘Leon’s cute, but he’s just a kid.’

‘I can’t,’ Ryan said. ‘I like you, but I’m not gonna start some huge row with Leon.’

Ryan was in shorts and he found Rhea’s hand touching just above his knee.

‘I can be very persuasive,’ she purred.

Daniel picked that exact moment to step in from the hallway.

‘A word, brother,’ he said, taking a superior tone.

Ryan apologised to Rhea as he ditched breakfast and headed out into the hallway.

‘Leon’s not gonna like that if he finds out,’ Daniel said, smirking as he led the way to their rooms.

‘I just got a text,’ Daniel explained. ‘James wants the three of us to drop by the flat in half an hour.’

They knocked on Leon’s door, and found him towelling off after a shower.

‘Nice zit on your back,’ Ryan teased. ‘Want me to splat it?’

‘So what does James want?’ Leon asked, as he dropped the towel and went for jeans, which still had yesterday’s briefs lined up inside.

‘Probably wants to tell me how great I am,’ Ryan suggested. ‘How the whole mission was going nowhere, until my magnificence stepped in and saved the day.’

‘You don’t half talk some crap,’ Leon said, as he realised that the trousers he’d just pulled up were gummed with carpet glue and went to his locker for a clean pair.

‘You heard from Rhea?’ Daniel asked his twin, stirring it.

Leon instinctively glowered at Ryan. Then shrugged and acted all defensive. ‘I’m not that bothered.’

Daniel smiled. ‘So Ryan can take a run at her?’

Leon ground his teeth as he sat on his bed, pulling on socks. Ryan flicked Daniel’s ear and said, ‘Need to get my shoes,’ as he backed out.

James looked cheerful when the brothers arrived at his flat twenty minutes later. They gathered around the dining-table with mugs of tea and a stack of bacon sandwiches.

‘You got mayo?’ Daniel asked, as he lifted the top off a sandwich.