After a hearty breakfast, the furthest the twins and their grandparents had moved was from the kitchen to the couch in the family room, where Hector had promptly sat on the stray ninja star Kensy had forgotten about from their training the other day. Max had quickly snatched it away, mumbling something about not knowing where on earth that could have come from. Before Hector and Marisol had come downstairs, Song had gently reminded the children that their grandparents had no knowledge of Pharos and for now it had to stay that way.

‘Mum looks a lot like you,’ Kensy said to her grandmother. ‘You have the same nose and eyes.’

Hector smiled. ‘Your mother is a great beauty, like your grandmother.’

‘And Anna is very clever, like her father,’ Marisol said, looking at her husband.

Kensy grinned. ‘That’s just like us. Max is pretty and I’m smart.’

‘You don’t know what you’re talking about, Kens. I’m pretty and smart.’ Max rolled his eyes and his grandparents chuckled.

Marisol patted her granddaughter’s hand. ‘I see you two have a wonderful rapport.’

‘Most of the time,’ Kensy said, squeezing the woman’s hand in return. She didn’t ever want to let it go.

Max curled his legs up on the couch opposite his grandmother and sister. ‘I still can’t believe Dash Chalmers had you captive for twelve years. That’s the whole of our lives and a little bit more.’

‘When you spoke his name, I was in shock,’ Hector said, shaking his head. ‘We had been in discussions with his parents on a project that would have changed the world.’

Marisol’s blue eyes hardened. ‘That man needs to be caught and brought to justice, and I hope with all my heart that his parents had no idea what he was up to.’

‘Don’t worry, Uncle Rupert seemed pretty determined,’ Max said, though he and Kensy were still completely in the dark as to why the man was there in the first place and whether or not he’d managed to capture Dash Chalmers.

As for Nick, Song and the children had imprisoned the man in Hector and Marisol’s flat until Pharos could determine what they would do with him. They could afford to take their time as he had enough supplies to survive for months. All things considered, the twins felt as if their mission was like a giant jigsaw puzzle that was still missing several important pieces.

‘Would anyone care for a piece of cake?’ Song asked.

‘Yes, please,’ a voice called from the front hall.

‘Fitz!’ Kensy and Max charged down the short flight of steps to the lounge room. ‘We did it! We found them!’ the said, jumping about excitedly.

Fitz stepped back and grinned. ‘Amazing job, kids.’

Kensy peered over his shoulder, a worried look on her face. ‘But …’

‘I did it too, Kens,’ Fitz said as the door pushed open and Anna and Edward Grey walked inside.

‘Mum! Dad!’ the children exclaimed, rushing into their parents’ embrace.

‘You two are a sight for sore eyes,’ Ed said, smiling from ear to ear. ‘We’re so proud of you both.’

‘I can’t believe you found them,’ Anna said, her eyes brimming with tears. She looked up and gasped. ‘Maman, Papa.’ She clasped her hands to her mouth and ran to her parents.

Amid the weeping and hugging, there was simply nothing to say – for the moment. Hector and Marisol greeted their son-in-law, but when it came to Fitz, Marisol faltered.

‘Fitzgerald,’ she said, ‘is that really you?’

‘He’s let himself go, hasn’t he?’ Ed teased, and the twins giggled.

‘My dearest Marisol, I can assure you, I will be back to my old self in no time flat,’ Fitz said. He cast a worried glance at the butler. ‘Won’t I, Song?’

‘Of course, sir.’ Song picked up the small bottle of solvent from the kitchen bench and waved it about a little too enthusiastically. It slipped from his grasp and flew into the air. Max was under it like a shot. He dived and caught it millimetres from the floor.

‘Great job, Max!’ Ed cheered.

Max stood up and passed the bottle to Fitz.

‘Thanks, mate,’ the man said, breathing a sigh of relief. ‘You know you might just make a champion slips fielder yet.’

‘Has anyone told my mother the good news?’ Ed asked.

Max shook his head, a twinkle in his eye. ‘We were waiting for you,’ he said. Then, lowering his voice, added, ‘Is this the end of our time with Pharos?’

‘On the contrary, I suspect you and your sister are only just getting started,’ Ed replied with a wink.

Max grinned and Kensy beamed at her parents. ‘We’ve got so much to tell you,’ she gushed.

‘It’s going to take days – no, weeks – to catch you up on everything,’ Max said, his eyes widening. ‘Maybe even months.’

Anna laughed. ‘Take as long as you need, my darlings. We’ve got all the time in the world.’