Chaudhry was sitting at the back of a lecture theatre typing notes into his laptop. There were more than a hundred students listening to the lecturer and most had laptops open in front of them, though a few were still taking notes the old-fashioned way, scribbling away on notepads. He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket as he received an SMS. He took out his phone. The message said ‘Now’ and was followed by a mobile number he didn’t recognise. It was Khalid. He changed his number every few days and changed his phone once a month. It was Friday and Chaudhry hadn’t had any contact with Khalid for over a week. Chaudhry grimaced. The door was at the front of the lecture theatre and if he left now he’d have to walk past the lecturer, a forty-something surgeon with a tongue as sharp as his scalpel. Chaudhry looked at his watch. There were only another ten minutes until the lecture would be over so he decided to wait, though he packed away his laptop and put it into his backpack. As soon as the lecturer finished, Chaudhry picked up his bike helmet and backpack and hurried out into the corridor. There were too many students around so he went along to the cafeteria, where there were only a handful of people. He took out his mobile and called the number.
‘What took you so long, brother?’ asked Khalid.
‘I’m at the university and I needed to find somewhere quiet,’ said Chaudhry.
‘You can talk now?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then listen to me, brother, and listen well. It is time.’
Shepherd was walking out of Tesco Express when his mobile rang. It was Chaudhry.
‘John, where are you?’
‘Hampstead,’ said Shepherd. ‘What’s wrong?’
‘It’s on,’ said Chaudhry. ‘Today. Today’s the day.’
Shepherd quickened his pace, heading for his flat. ‘What do they want you to do?’
‘I don’t know yet. Harvey and I are being picked up later today and that’s when we’ll be told. John, what do we do?’
Shepherd could hear the tension in the man’s voice and he was breathing heavily.
‘Just take it easy, Raj. Everything will be okay.’
‘This is it. This is when the killing starts. They want us to kill people. You have to do something.’
‘Raj, you need to be cool. No one’s going to kill anybody. We’ve got your back. Let’s just take this one step at a time. Now, who did you speak to?’
‘It was Khalid.’
‘And did he say where you would be going?’
‘He said nothing, John. Just to turn up outside an Indian restaurant and a van would collect us. Me and Harvey.’
‘Anyone else?’
‘He didn’t say.’
‘And the restaurant? Where is it?’
‘Stoke Newington Church Street. At five o’clock. That’s only four hours away.’ He was talking quickly again, the words tumbling into each other.
‘It’s going to be fine, Raj, I promise. Now, did he ask you to take anything with you?’
‘No.’
‘What about clothing? Did he tell you what to wear?’
‘Just casual stuff.’
‘Outdoor gear, indoor?’
‘He didn’t say.’
‘Did he say anything about bringing ID? Money?’
‘He didn’t say anything about that.’
‘Passport? Did he mention your passport? Or driving licence?’
‘Nothing.’
‘Okay, now the phone we gave you. The one with the GPS. I need you to take that with you and to keep it switched on.’
‘He said no phone.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Of course I’m sure. He was very specific about that. He said that Harvey and I were to leave our phones behind.’
Shepherd tapped his phone against the side of his head as his mind raced, considering all his options.
‘John, are you there?’
‘Yes, Raj, I’m here.’
‘What do we do?’
‘Are you okay to go?’
‘I think so. But what do you think they want?’
‘I don’t know. I wish I did, but I don’t,’ said Shepherd. ‘Okay, now listen to me carefully, Raj. I want you and Harvey to do exactly as you were told. I’ll make sure that you’re followed and that you’re protected.’
‘You can do that? You’re sure?’
‘As soon as I’ve finished this call I’ll get on to my bosses and arrange it. You and Harvey do as Khalid says and I’ll make sure you’re followed every step of the way.’
‘But what if they want us to kill, John? What if they give us guns or bombs?’
‘Then we’ll see that and we’ll move in,’ said Shepherd. ‘Look, Raj, do you think you can take your phone with you? That would make it easier for us to follow you.’
‘But what if Khalid finds out? He’ll know I disobeyed him.’