‘What the fuck are you doing?’ the guard asked, suddenly standing in front of him.

‘What the fuck does it look like? Oh, that’s right. A fat bastard like you wouldn’t know what a push-up is.’

The guard laughed.

‘Yeah, righto,’ he said. ‘I left myself open for that one. Get to muster, ya funny cunt.’

Jax had a horrifying thought while he was standing in the morning sun waiting for his number to be called. He realised he had not switched off the phone. He wondered what the factory set ringtone was, and, more importantly, how loud it was. Surely, they wouldn’t call him?

They didn’t, thank God. There were no missed calls when he broke his ‘not before lights-out’ rule to check his phone after breakfast. Nor were there any later that night when he switched it back on.

HIS HEAD back under his blanket, his face lit by the glow of the screen, Jax started going through the other files summarising the betting accounts. Not taking notes felt a little awkward. He’d never needed to write anything down, as everything was saved in his head, but he had made it a habit. Not wanting to look out of place, he was always armed with paper and pen. He also pretended to read his notes whenever someone was watching.

Jax logged back into his email account when he was done and sent Sami another note.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Subject: MEETING

Special Agent Sami,

I need to see you tomorrow. It’s urgent.

R.J.

Jax slept soundly for the first time in weeks. He even managed to get the Serpent out of his head.

CHAPTER 42

Ben Chifley Building, Canberra, NSW, Australia

IN a room way too modern and clean to be a torture chamber, Clarke circled Mahmud with a freshly purchased pair of pliers.

‘He’s enjoying this way too much,’ Sami said to Mav as the pair watched through one-sided mirror glass.

A personal call from the President of the United States had convinced the Australian Prime Minister to allow a ‘light working over’. After receiving advice from his cabinet, Prime Minister Taylor had used the National Secrets Act to both make the strenuous interrogation of terror suspects legal and also ensure the amendment was never made public.

Clarke had driven himself to Bunnings for some DIY torture shopping. He’d headed straight for the tool shop and picked up an angle grinder.

‘We’re not cutting hands off,’ Sami said when he saw Clarke’s loot.

Clarke ignored Sami and continued unpacking the rest of his purchases.

KHALIL had broken fast. As soon as he saw the hose and the towel.

‘Yes,’ he answered, Sami asking the questions after Clarke had insisted on doing the slapping.

‘The cathedral. Yes. Bashir was going to blow it up. That was the first target.’

Sami pushed him on the second. ‘What did they plan on blowing up next?’