Matt stayed in the shadows of the buildings as they walked along St Martin’s Lane towards the church, shades firmly on his nose. Then, without any warning, he stopped and sat on a small wall in front of a boutique selling hats. He took out his phone and started texting feverishly.
Em frowned. ‘You never text anyone.’
I’m not texting. Sit next to me and act interested.
That’ll be a stretch.
Em sat down and pretended Matt’s phone was the most interesting thing in London, listening carefully to her brother’s voice in her head.
Don’t look, but we’re being followed.
Em looked.
I said DON’T look. You are such a tool!
Sorry. You mean that girl over by Starbucks?
Matt gave slight nod. She’s been on us since we left the shop.
Now that Matt had pointed it out, Em could feel the girl’s gaze like someone pressing fingers into her temples.
Do you think she’s one of the bad guys?
Matt lifted his shades. His kaleidoscopic eyes were troubled. I don’t know.
Em glanced at the girl again – only to see her hurrying away.
Shit, she knows she’s been seen.
Follow her!
Em was already on her feet, close behind Matt.
She’s heading for the Tube.
They ducked down the stairs and into the brightly lit tunnel beneath the Strand, pushing through the turnstiles, their eyes trained on the girl as she hurried ahead of them. They ran down the escalators, through more tunnels – on to a platform where a train stood waiting.
‘Faster!’ Matt ordered, breaking into a sprint. ‘I want to ask her a few questions.’
‘I’m going as fast as I can!’ Em gasped.
The twins threw themselves through the closing doors of the carriage, one car away from the girl. Every now and then, the girl glanced in their direction, then looked back. Em had the sudden impression that she wanted them to follow her.
Westminster, St James’s, Sloane Square, the District Line Tube rattled underground and overground, twisting and squealing on its tracks. When it reached South Kensington, the girl glanced in the twins’ direction again – then darted off the train.
‘Excuse me, sorry…’
Matt pulled Em off the train and up the steps into the ticket hall. The girl was already halfway up the steps, her dark hair billowing around her shoulders. The twins did their best to keep her in their sights, but it was a warm autumn day in the heart of the city and it was as if the whole world had descended on London’s cafés and restaurants.
Matt swore, looking left and right. ‘I think she went that way…’
The moment they hit the Cromwell Road, Em ground to a halt, reeling from an overwhelming sense of fear. She looked round, feeling disorientated and a little sick. All thoughts of the girl were forgotten.
Matt glanced at her. ‘What just happened?’
‘I just got this awful feeling, Mattie…’
‘Where from?’ Matt asked, his voice urgent. ‘A person? A place? Can you tell?’
‘It came from over there.’
Em pointed to the wide entrance of the Victoria and Albert Museum.