“Was there anything on there that could lead them to me?”
“That depends. First off, I cloned your device and everything on it. I also installed a program that allows me to kill everything remotely. And I mean everything, including any apps and data, in the unlikely case this ever happened. I even left them a little surprise in the form of a tiny incendiary device concealed beneath the cover. Gives the term burner phone a whole new meaning. What I’m saying is not to worry, because they won’t be able to use it again, the fuckers. I already activated the shutdown after I made a trace to find the last place of use. Whoever nicked your phone switched it off here, because this flat is the last known location. As soon as they try to turn it on, everything will be wiped, and my unexpected gift will begin to work its magic. The only issue is that if theywerelooking for you, they’d have figured out you’re not living here. Which means they’ll start looking elsewhere. And if it has anything to do with Albert’s delightful family, I am sure his solicitor will have mentioned the Italian building site.”
“Thanks for the warning. Honestly, Nishan, I agree with you—”
“Hold up, hold up! Josh has just turned up. Give me a second.”
“Hello, your lordship, or whatever they call you now,” comes Josh’s loud and cheerful voice. Nishan has put his phone on speaker. “We’re enjoying Sunday morning cinnamon lattes andcream cheese bagels from the artisan cafe down the road. Has he told you this place got turned over last night? Bastards. They stole both my prized Rolex watches—”
“Don’t listen to him, Gabe. He’s never owned a Rolex in his life,” says Nishan.
“Yeah, well. The insurance company don’t know that, do they?”
“And how exactly are you going to explain storing prized Rolex watches in an empty flat?”
“Trust me, I’ll think of something.”
“He will, Nishan,” I say with a chuckle before becoming serious. “But I agree. It does sound like petty theft. Even so, take care at your end. If the thieves were targeting me, they might have also figured that you manage the rental and might be helping me.”
“I think you’re giving them too much credit,” said Nishan. “But if anyone does call and ask, I’ll tell them you’re an old friend who needed a place to hang for a couple of days before moving on.”
“You’ll tell them it’s none of their fucking business,” chimes in Josh.
“Look, I don’t want my problems getting you guys into—”
“Bollocks! We’re on your side, remember? And don’t you worry your pretty face about us, Gabe,” says Josh. “We can take care of ourselves. Not only is our flat set up like a bloody bank vault thanks to my lovely paranoid boyfriend, but I still know people, if you know what I mean? We’re more concerned about you.”
“Well, as I say, I appreciate the call. How are things otherwise?”
“Same old shit. This is the only bit of excitement we’ve had since you left. How are you doing? Are you enjoying your new role as a lord of leisure?”
“Very funny. But honestly, this place is like paradise. Nothing for miles around and days of sunshine. I get fed three meals a day, have a huge bed to sleep in and a swimming pool all to myself. What’s not to love?”
“Lucky bastard,” says Josh.
A pause falls between us, and I decide to push him to answer something that has been bugging me before he ends the call and rejoins Nishan.
“Josh, back when we worked the bars together, did I ever give you the impression that I spoke or understood any other languages?”
“That’s an odd question. Where’s this coming from?”
“Just one of those funny moments. Probably nothing. I just wonder if it might have something to do with my life before I lost my memory.”
“No, you never spoke another language in front of me. Although there was that one time…”
“What time?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Maybe not, because I thought it was nothing. Something happened in the early days when we were both working late. Do you remember Polish Tomek?”
“Vaguely. So many coworkers came and went. What about him?”
“It was that first summer we worked together. We were left to clear the bar at the end of a weekday evening shift before heading off to find some food and then somewhere to bunk down for the night. I wasn’t there when it happened, but Tomek found a paperback stuffed down one of the bench seats left behind by someone, a well-thumbed, yellow-stained book that had seen better days. Apparently, he tossed the book to you out of curiosity, and after a glance at the front and back covers—we were busy trying to finish up and get out of there—you told him it was by Dick Francis, something calledLongshot, beforereading off the blurb on the back. After that, you tossed it back to him, telling him to leave it in the lost property box.”
“Not much of an anecdote so far—” I say.
“Hold your horses,” says Josh before his humour kicks in again. “See what I did there? Dick Francis? Hold your horses—”
“Get on with it, Josh,” comes Nishan’s voice.