‘Knew soon as the twin walked in with the high-rise feet. Noon don’t move like that. Nothing gets past The Squared.’ He sways from side to side like he can’t stay in one place for too long. ‘We SHOULD report it but they won’t do nothing. Noon’s 4-leap. Adult. She ain’t gone long enough. But we need to act. Eve knows we know. Double-act could help us.’

He stands up like he’s about to start rapping again. I hope he doesn’t. My brain couldn’t stand it.

‘Too many Leaps gone missing here.’ He shakes his head. ‘Time Squad didn’t deliver. Kwesi tried to solve it solo. Now he’s AWOL. Greenwich says glitch in the anti-leap. She’s sharp but she ain’t cracked this one.’

‘Kwesi told Ama he was going on Leap 2100.’

MC2 whistles through his teeth. ‘First I heard. Greenwich know?’

I nod and he disappears, appears on the spot. He can’t help himself.

‘Thought she was trying to tell me somethin’ last night. We got interrupted.’

I think of Le Temps interrupting his freestyle, Millennia interrupting Season when she couldn’t find the right word.

‘Season wanted to keep us safe but Millennia and Le Temps want to put Leaplings in danger.’

I tell him about their conversation when I was under the table. He whistles again, this time much longer.

‘Don’t say I said nothin’ but Millennia’s past participle. She switched sides. Time Squad used to catch crims every week. Now we’re told, wait. Turn a blind eye to small crime: go for the big boss. Problem is, Elle,’ he disappears, appears, ‘Millennia’s the big boss.’

‘Millennia? She’s pretending to catch criminals when she’s HEAD of the criminals?’ I knew she was bad but never guessed she was bad to the power of 3. He nods his head.

‘We got proof but not enough. Trust me. Leaps are on the case.’

He forms a fist with his left hand. The infinity tattoo: .

‘See this? Earned it the hard way. Kwesi the same. Greenwich got one on her ankle. She don’t flaunt it. We work for Infinity. Call ourselves The Infinites.’

He disappears, reappears the other side of the room. I look at him out of the corner of my eye without moving my face. He continues:

‘Kwesi wanted a Youth League. Thought Time Squad wasn’t doin’ enough for the planet. Suspected Millennia. Infinity got wind of it and next I knew, I got TWO jobs. I’d ditch Time Squad, but I’m contracted.’

‘Have you got a motto?’

‘Yeah, sis. ROOT FOR THE FUTURE. We gotta protect tomorrow. Sow the seeds for the planet’s needs. Infinites are top secret. Only report to Infinity.’ He checks his watch.