Sure Fire

The phone stopped and, now that he was awake, Rich could hear the low sound of Chance speaking. Rich’s mobile showed the time when it wasn’t being used – it said 04:32. Who was ringing up at half past four in the morning?

He needed the toilet now he was awake, so he tiptoed to the door and opened it. Rich paused. Chance’s voice was muffled and indistinct through his closed study door, but Rich couldn’t help catching a few words when he pressed his ear to the door.

“…No, not here… better not meet yet… dangerous… leave it for me… usual place… I’ll collect… soon.”

The sound of Chance’s voice stopped. If he had to be somewhere soon, he’d be in a hurry, Rich realised. He darted back into his bedroom and pushed the door almost closed. The study door opened and through the crack between the door and its frame, Rich saw Chance hurry into the living room. He was still dressed.

Maybe he slept in his clothes, Rich thought. Maybe he didn’t sleep at all.

Rich climbed back into bed, his need for the bathroom forgotten. When he woke again it was morning, and the events of the night seemed as vague as a dream.

Jade appeared in the bedroom door. She was still in her pyjamas and carrying two mugs of tea. “He’s gone,” she said.

Rich didn’t need to ask who she meant.

He told her about the night-time phone call while they drank their tea. They went through to the study, where the computer was on. It showed a standard screensaver and there was a password to get out of it and back to the main screen.

“Who needs a password when he lives alone?” Jade wondered.

“Maybe it’s for our benefit,” Rich said. “Or maybe he takes the laptop to work. Maybe he’s gone to work already.”

“It’s not seven o’clock yet,” Jade pointed out.

“Long commute?”

“Or a long meeting. I wonder who called him.”

“Let’s find out,” Rich said, lifting the phone. “1471 – gives the number of the last caller.”

“Probably withheld or unavailable,” Jade said.

Rich tried it anyway. The dial tone was replaced by the beep of the buttons as he pressed them. But then, instead of a voice, he heard an electronic screech. It was so loud and shrill that Rich dropped the phone.

Jade could hear it too. She picked up the handset to replace it in the cradle. But then she hesitated, pointing at the plastic box attached to the phone. Lights were flashing on the side of it. She hung up and the lights went out.

“I don’t like this,” Jade said quietly.

Before Rich could reply, they heard the sound of the door to the flat slamming shut. They rushed to the living room.

Chance looked tired. He was holding a few letters which he dropped unopened into the kitchen bin. He closed up the cupboard where the bin was kept and turned the kettle on.

“Lucky we got milk,” Rich said from the doorway.

“I drink my coffee black,” Chance replied, without looking round. “You’re up early.”

“We all are,” Jade said, pushing past Rich into the kitchen. “Where have you been?”

“Couldn’t sleep. Went for a walk.”

The kettle was boiling and Chance made his coffee. “I’ve got some work to catch up on. I’ll see you later. Help yourselves to breakfast.”

“I guess he means the beer,” Rich said, when Chance had gone. “Unless there’s some cereal hidden away.” He opened a few cupboards, but found nothing. Having tried all the others, he opened the cupboard under the sink. This was the cupboard with the bin. As the door opened, it raised the lid of the bin inside.

“Hang on – look at this.” Rich was staring into the bin.

Jade joined him and saw what he was looking at – the letters that Chance had just dropped.

Rich lifted out the letters. “They’re all the same,” he said, showing her. There were five letters – bills and junk mail. The address was the same on them all – Second Floor Flat – and the number and street. And they had all been sent to the same person.

But that person wasn’t John Chance. It was Henry Lessiter.

“Remind me,” Jade said quietly. “How do we know that this man who says he’s called John Chance but gets someone else’s post, who gets phone calls in the middle of the night and goes to ‘meetings’ until dawn—”

“How do we know,” Rich finished for her, “that he’s actually our John Chance at all?”

Chance told them he was working from home that day. He was happy for Jade and Rich to explore the area, and they went to the shops. For lunch they got a sandwich in a little internet café, and Rich spent an hour mucking about on the web. Jade emailed her friend Charmaine in America.

They found a small supermarket within easy walking distance and Jade bought bottled water, grapes, oranges and a spray air freshener. Rich bought crisps and coke. They thought about getting some food for the evening, but neither of them fancied cooking and they doubted Chance would offer. So they grabbed a few ready meals that would microwave.

When they got back, Chance was in the living room, talking on his mobile. He hung up as soon as Rich and Jade came in. They exchanged glances, sure it was for their benefit.

“Can I ring my friend Charmaine?” Jade asked.

“Of course you can,” Chance said. “You’ve got a mobile.”

“I’m almost out of credit.”

“Me too,” Rich said.

“Give me your mobile numbers and I’ll get them topped up.”

“I’ll write them down for you later,” Rich said.

“Just tell me. I’ll remember. I’m good with numbers.” He smiled. “Really.”

Rich reeled off his mobile number. Grudgingly, Jade told him hers too. Chance recited them both back perfectly.

“Charmaine’s in New York,” Jade said, as Chance offered his own mobile. “It’ll cost a fortune on that.”

“There’s the phone in the study,” Rich suggested.

“Maybe later,” Chance said.

“I need to call her now, before she leaves for school. You know – the time difference?”

Chance sighed. “All right, all right.”

Jade didn’t wait for more, but headed straight for the study. Chance hurried after her and Rich followed.