COMMS! I hadn’t exactly forgotten about it, but I was trying not to remember. Kez just rolls her eyes and lumbers off. Susan’s about to go in the same direction when she stops and turns back to me.

‘Three years,’ she says and I give her a puzzled look. ‘You asked. It is three years since I saw my daddy. My “dad”.’ Then she turns abruptly and marches off, leaving me wondering what the heck I said wrong.

It’s lunchtime. Mrs Farroukh’s at the front of the classroom, guarding the biscuits (‘Only two each, please, Malcolm!’). Kez isn’t there and I can’t say I’m surprised. She’ll have wriggled her way out of this somehow, probably with the help of her dad calling the school or something. Two students from the sixth-form college up the road do most of the talking, and hand out a list of ‘COMMS tasks’.

Anyway, long story short: Susan Tenzin and I are visiting some old geezer on Collingwood Terrace. I put my hand up.

‘Yes, Malcolm?’ says Mrs Farroukh.

‘How long do we have … that is … how long do we stay?’ I was going to say have to stay but it was halfway out of my mouth when I realised that might sound like I have the wrong attitude. It makes no difference: Mrs Farroukh’s on to me and she purses her lips.

‘I think, Malcolm, a rule of thumb will be long enough to have a leisurely cup of tea. Is that too onerous for you?’

I don’t know what ‘onerous’ means, but I shake my head and say, ‘No, miss,’ and she seems satisfied.

‘Good. Mr McKinley will be very pleased to see you. To see you both,’ she adds, aiming a sickening smile at Susan Tenzin.

I look down the list:

Mr Kenneth McKinley

12 Collingwood Terrace

It’s been staring me in the face since the sheets were handed round. How come I didn’t see it? But, when Mrs Farroukh actually says his name, I think I almost jump out of my seat.

Mr McKinley.

McKinley. That’s the name on the box I stole!

Someone is saying my name and I look up.

‘Malcolm! Do pay attention. He’ll be expecting you both tomorrow morning. Is that all clear?’

Am I imagining it? Is there a sly look in Mrs Farroukh’s eye?

I look again at the sheet. Collingwood Terrace. Mrs Farroukh has even printed off a little map and a Street View picture. The backs of the houses lead to the lane where I was with Kez Becker when I took the Dreaminators. A kind of sick feeling comes over me.

I am being sent to visit the very person I stole from.

Chapter 26