Jax attempted to hide the phone between his legs, both his shock and the attempt to conceal the phone fake. This was all part of the plan.

‘What are you talking about?’ Jax said. ‘You must have been dreaming. Go back to sleep.’

‘Nah, bullshit,’ Khalil said. ‘You got a phone. Give me a look.’

Khalil jumped to his feet. He was as solid as a rock, completely balanced, no wobbles. Jax hadn’t drugged Khalil that night, hadn’t given him the full dose of Rohypnol that he was now giving him most nights, the half-dose no longer enough now that Khalil had built up a tolerance to the drug. Tonight he hadn’t given him anything at all. Sure, he’d counted Khalil’s breaths as usual, but this time it was to make sure he was awake.

‘Yeah, alright,’ Jax said. ‘But don’t tell anyone I got it. You aren’t going to dog on me, right?’

‘No way, man,’ Khalil said. ‘You are my bro.’

Jax again faked reluctance as he sheepishly pulled the phone from between his legs and handed it to Khalil.

‘Fuck, man,’ Khalil said, surprised. ‘How small is it, bro? This is mad, hey? Fucking tiny. Sweet.’

‘One of my old army mates is into stuff like this,’ Jax said. ‘He is into all his gadgets. It’s so small that he forgot he had it in his pocket when he came in.’

‘How?’ Khalil asked. ‘What about the metal detectors?’

‘All plastic, bro,’ Jax said.

‘Fucking awesome,’ Khalil said. ‘How did you get it?’

‘I took it,’ Jax said. ‘Said if he got busted on the way out he would end up in here with me.’

‘Sweet, bro. Reckon you can get any more?’

Jax was certain he could. In fact, he already had more: another six in the secret compartment under his shelf, rather than in the kettle, the hiding spot he wanted Khalil to see. All bugged and ready to record, with an agent at the other end, already assigned to listen in full-time.

HALIM couldn’t see what all the fuss was about. Why was Bashir so interested in bringing this Aussie in? This fucking infidel. It would have made sense to him if this Riley Jax only had a year left to run on his sentence. Then they could give him a bomb and send him to die. Better him than one of their own. God could decide if he was a true believer or not.