He took the fire stairs down to the underground garage two at a time and headed to the family VW, which was parked in its usual spot. He walked around the car, looked under it, and then unlocked it and opened the door. There was nothing amiss—a Buzz Lightyear toy on the back seat and a book list for school on the passenger seat. He turned on the power and scrolled through Romy’s recent map directions—nothing unusual. He scrolled the recent calls on the screen. She’d received a call from Ana at 3.49 p.m. the day before; Romy had missed the call and rang her back at 4.02. They spoke for six minutes.

He returned to the apartment and sat on the sofa, cycling his breathing to calm himself. He scrolled through his own personal phone, found Ana’s number and texted, Are you awake?

The reply came twenty seconds later: Am now.

De Payns called her and Ana picked up immediately. He apologised for the hour and explained that he’d come home to an empty apartment. ‘Do you know where Romy and the boys are? Have you seen them today?’

Ana was sleepy. ‘I rang her to ask about regulation school shoes for when the boys start next week,’ said Ana. ‘We ran through it and agreed we should meet up at the park in the next couple of days. Surely they haven’t just disappeared? Could they be at Romy’s parents’ house?’

‘Not without Romy’s wallet and car keys,’ said de Payns. ‘Oliver’s teddy bear is still here. He wouldn’t sleep over without it.’

He knew what he had to do—the personal security of the Company’s operatives was handled by the DGS, and the protocol, when there was a breach, was to contact the emergency number and report it. Ending the call with Ana, he dialled the number which all operatives had to memorise. He was asked for his OT number by the male voice on the end of the line, who paused. ‘I can’t respond to you,’ said the DGS man.

‘What?!’ replied de Payns. ‘You can’t—’

‘There’s a note; I’ll connect you now,’ said the man, and the line clicked and buzzed, as if he was calling a new number.

‘Hello, Alec?’ answered a man.

De Payns knew the voice. ‘Manerie? Christ, is that you?’

CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

CHAPTER

FIFTY-NINE

‘I’ve been waiting for your call.’

Cold anger welled up in de Payns. ‘Waiting?! Manerie, what the fuck? Where is my family?’

‘Be outside in ten minutes,’ said Philippe Manerie. ‘And as they say in the movies—don’t tell anyone about this. Remember your oath.’