Damn. That kind of attention is the last thing I need right now.

‘We have to wait for the police,’ Stack says. ‘Then I’ll take you home. O will reschedule your appointments.’

The word ‘police’ hits me with a thump. I don’t want to talk to the police! Then I remember Meera. I’m late for the meeting. I try to Spacetime her but she’s offline, so I leave a wobbly message telling her what’s happened. But I sound so pathetic I can’t stand to listen to myself. So I tell her that I’ll be late but I’m on my way. It’s a good excuse to avoid the police.

‘I have to go, Stack. Thanks for everything.’

‘What? You can’t—’

He tries to stop me getting on the bike, but I’m not having it.

‘I’m fine. I need to be somewhere now. I’ll call you later.’

‘This is a bad idea!’ he shouts after me as I ride off wobbling towards Kentish Town. But I’m not going to flake out on my commitments, I’m not going to be intimidated, and I’m not giving up a chance to get better.

Also: I’m not dealing with the police.

But pedalling hurts like hell. I get to the cafe and there’s no sign of Meera. I leave another message. When my Spacetime pings, I answer expecting Meera but it’s Shandy. She takes one horrified look at me and demands to hear the whole story.

‘It’s sheer luck you’re alive,’ she says. ‘This has gone far enough. Stay where you are, I’m coming over. I was calling to tell you we’re going on the offensive tonight, anyway.’

‘But I can barely work my legs.’

‘You won’t need your legs for this, Horse.’

* * *

‘Let me just tuck you in,’ Shandy says.

‘This is the worst idea you’ve ever had,’ I hiss, and she laughs. She’s put flowered sheets on Bernard’s neighbour’s sofa and tucked me in so tightly I can’t even move. ‘What if Mrs and Mrs Shoji come back?’

‘They won’t come back. I told you, they’re at the theatre. Do you have any idea of the price of tickets in the West End?’

‘But it’s breaking-and-entering.’

‘No, it’s not. They left their window open and we are looking for our cat.’

‘We don’t own a cat. We aren’t even a “we”.’

‘Of course we’re a “we”, and you don’t need to be a couple to have a cat together.’

‘I never really thought about it. Did you take off your shoes?’

‘What?’

‘Shandy, look around. See the photos? The Shojis are Japanese. Didn’t you notice the slippers by the door?’

‘They won’t know. And what if we have to run away? We can’t stop to put our shoes on.’