‘Wait, what?’ He frowned.
‘You can use them to read someone’s mind and get into their head,’ Kensy said.
The boy swallowed hard. A terrible thought dawned on him. ‘You haven’t tested them on me, have you?’
Kensy grimaced. ‘No, of course not. Though I did consider the possibility, but only for a second. I know I’d hate it if you used it on me.’ She then explained how they’d come into her possession and the strange interactions she’d had with Mrs Vanden Boom back at school. Then she told him how they were meant to work.
‘This is awesome,’ Max whispered as their mother called out again. ‘You’d better hide them somewhere safe.’
Kensy quickly closed the lid and stuffed the box into her bedside cabinet, piling some underwear on top. Max helped her tidy up – actually he did most of it, but at least now she wouldn’t be in trouble with their mother.
‘Come on,’ Kensy said as Max folded the last of her jumpers and put it into the chest of drawers.
The twins bounded up the stairs together where Song handed them a mug each and they sat on one of the couches next to Fitz and opposite their mother and father.
‘What took you both so long?’ Anna asked. ‘Hot chocolate usually brings you running.’
‘We finished unpacking and I was just helping Kensy – her room looks great,’ Max said, garnering a smile from his mother.
In the centre of the coffee table a bowl of melted cheese simmered atop a little gas burner surrounded by chunks of fresh bread and long skewers.
‘You’ve outdone yourself with this fondue, Song,’ Fitz said as he reached forward and stabbed another piece of bread before dipping it into the yellow goo. ‘Is there a secret ingredient?’
Song looked over from the kitchen where he had made a start on dinner. ‘It is the mixture of cheeses. I think the goat is key – although it smells like wet socks on its own.’
‘Ew,’ Kensy wrinkled her nose, sniffing the air and thinking she might see if there were any crisps in the pantry.
Max was braver. As he munched on the crusty loaf he took a good look around the room, noticing the floor-to-ceiling windows on almost every wall. Their view stretched down across the valley and up to the chalets and hotels on the hillside opposite. There were no coverings on the windows, but it wasn’t cold due to the central heating as well as the flickering gas fire.
Ed wrapped his arm around his wife and drew her in close for a cuddle. ‘Is this okay?’ the man asked.
Anna looked at him and rolled her eyes. ‘It would be perfect if we were here for a holiday.’
‘Speaking of which.’ Fitz walked over to the internal wall by the stairs and placed his hand on a small panel. Seconds later the timber slid apart to reveal a cavity housing a small arsenal of weapons and armaments.
‘What are you doing?’ Max gasped. ‘Everyone for miles will be able to see that.’
Fitz grinned. ‘You don’t think your grandmother would have that covered?’
‘It is absolutely safe, Master Maxim,’ Song said. ‘No one can see in from the outside. The windows have a special coating as well as being triple glazed with a thermally broken heating system between the panes. They are blast-proof too.’
Max breathed again then hopped up to inspect the collection. His sister walked over to join him.
‘Is there more?’ Kensy asked. ‘In other parts of the house.’
Fitz nodded. ‘I’ll show you where everything is later, but for now you need to put these on.’ He threw the twins a pair of glasses each then grabbed another four pairs for himself, Anna, Ed and Song.
The family sat around the room and Fitz initiated transmission. Cordelia appeared as a hologram in front of each of them.
‘Good evening, everyone. As you are now viewing this it means you have safely arrived at your destination. I hope you find the accommodation comfortable. I’m looking forward to the day when we are there for the simple pleasures of a family holiday, however, while I hope that you get to have some fun, you are in Zermatt as part of an important undertaking. And I want to make a special point of thanking you, Anna, for agreeing to be involved. I know this is not what you wanted, but it is important that you are there as a family and I know that you won’t let me down.’
Anna’s body tensed. She wished her mother-in-law hadn’t said anything. It was bad enough that she felt blackmailed into going in the first place.
‘Your targets are Fox and Heike Van Leer,’ Cordelia said.
A picture of a man and woman appeared in front of them and Kensy physically jumped back while Max grimaced and his parents, Fitz and Song pulled faces too.
‘And yes, they both have an unnatural addiction to plastic surgery. They are also the owners of Van Leer Holdings, a company that has expanded at a rapid rate in the past few years, with no obvious capital. We have received information that the Van Leers are likely the instigators of an organised-crime syndicate moving armaments through Europe to supply various militia groups in the Middle East and European domestic terrorist organisations. We believe that this activity has enabled them to purchase a vast number of legitimate business interests including in transport, agriculture, mining, casinos and other infrastructure, which would enable them to launder the money made from the arms deals. Given they both come from families of very modest means and neither has received any grand inheritance nor earned a legitimate fortune, their enterprise is highly suspicious,’ Cordelia explained.
‘The pair seems to have an uncanny ability to know when a company is in trouble, allowing them to swoop in and purchase the distressed brand for a fraction of what it is worth. We’ve spent many hours trying to determine how they have gained this information, but there is no evidence of insider trading. Unless one of them is clairvoyant.’
Cordelia went on to explain more about the pair and then she introduced the family to Fox and Heike’s fourteen-year-old son, Soren, a handsome blond-haired boy who resembled neither of his parents, as well as their live-in housekeeper, Sylvie Gould, who had been with them for thirteen years and an associate called Axel Gruber who was officially the family’s personal trainer, though it was suspected he did much more than that. Axel also resided with the Van Leers and barely left Fox’s side.
‘We believe that Fox and Heike are meeting with associates while in Zermatt and what we need is proof of these relationships and any hard evidence of deals – either done or in the making. We are unsure if Soren knows anything of his parents’ misdeeds but, Kensington and Maxim, I would like you to strike up a friendship with the boy. Your key objective is surveillance and gathering any other information that will help us to put an end to their activities. Our man in the Federal Intelligence Service in Switzerland will take over at the end – whenever that may be. We all know that FIS is about as effective as a screen door on a submarine, however, bringing down an organisation of this size will surely improve their credibility and we all like to help the underdogs when an opportunity arises.’
Kensy and Max were well aware of the way Pharos worked. Transcending governments, it was something akin to the world’s largest private espionage organisation – giving them the ability to work for the greater good rather than just the government paying the most money. Of course there were Pharos agents inside almost every important body, but that was the point really – Pharos often did a brilliant job of making the agencies look good, without taking any of the credit.
‘Good luck, darlings, and have a soak in that lovely new spa for me. See you all soon.’
And with that Cordelia was gone.
‘Well, they’re a pair of weirdos,’ Kensy said, shivering at the thought. Max collected everyone’s glasses and Fitz put them back into the cupboard, which closed up again at the touch of his hand.
The adults began to dissect the information Cordelia had just supplied while Kensy stood up and walked to the kitchen, placing her empty mug on the bench. From there she spied a telescope in the corner of the living room and hurried ove
r to take a look. When she leaned in against the eyepiece, she realised that the lens was pointing directly into the living room of another chalet across the river on the hillside opposite. She could see someone whom she immediately recognised.
‘Oh, good grief!’ Kensy exclaimed. ‘Fox Van Leer is even weirder looking in person than in his pictures. And seriously, was it just a coincidence that Granny happened to build this lodge right here overlooking the Van Leers’ place?’
‘Your grandmother doesn’t believe in coincidences, Kensy,’ Ed said.
The girl continued peering through the lens, watching the man’s every move. He sat down at a dining table with his wife and Axel. A young woman, most likely Sylvie, had just set down two plates and disappeared through a doorway. The telescope was so powerful Kensy could see what they were having for their meal.
‘Dinner looks good – it’s schnitzel and potato roesti,’ she declared.
‘That is slightly disconcerting,’ Song said as he walked out of the pantry with an armful of potatoes. ‘We are having the same. Though I am sure mine will taste better.’
‘I haven’t seen Soren yet,’ Kensy said. ‘Are we certain that he came with them?’
Fitz nodded. ‘He was seen leaving Berlin with his parents, Sylvie and Axel.’
‘Actually, here is he now,’ Kensy said.
The boy was nursing some sort of electronic device as he walked into the room and sat down at the table.
Max skittered over to his sister. She stepped aside to let him take a peek. Max was staring through the telescope lens when he gasped.
‘What’s the matter?’ Kensy demanded.
‘Fox just grabbed that device from Soren and threw it on the floor before crushing it under his foot,’ Max said.
‘Are you serious?’ Kensy nudged her brother aside and looked into the lens.
She spied the debris then moved the telescope back to Soren who was clearly upset. ‘Someone’s an angry man.’
‘What has your mother got us into this time?’ Anna demanded, staring at Ed.
‘You know very well,’ her husband replied. ‘If they’re supplying arms to militia groups, we can’t sit back and do nothing.’
Kensy stepped back from the telescope. ‘True, Dad. Imagine how many innocent people are caught up in the crossfire because of them – children and babies.’
Anna huffed loudly. ‘Of course you’re going to bring up the children and babies, Kensy. Thanks for that reminder.’
‘We’ve trained for this, Mum,’ Max said.
‘Come and sit down, kids,’ Ed instructed. ‘We need to talk about tomorrow and what’s going to happen from here on in.’
Max had spent the night in a dreamscape of terror. He was running away, but he couldn’t get a footing. It was too slippery and whoever was chasing him was getting closer and closer until he could feel their breath on his neck. He’d fallen, hitting his head. For a second he was knocked senseless, but when he awoke and rolled over to see who had captured him, there was no face – just the darkest, coldest eyes he’d ever seen. There was a word too that had blazed across in front of him as if it was on a screen. Tip. He had no idea what that was supposed to mean. He’d woken screaming and within a minute his mother and sister were by his side.
Beads of perspiration trickled down the boy’s face and his pyjamas and sheets were soaked with sweat.
Anna had quickly found some fresh trackpants and a T-shirt and although there was a spare loft bed in the boy’s room accessed by a ladder, Kensy insisted Max take hers. She slept in the loft in her own room, not wanting her brother anywhere he could fall, should the nightmares return.
Kensy had just come out of the bathroom the next morning when Max finally stirred. She watched him open his eyes and register where he was.
‘You okay?’ Kensy asked as she pulled a pale blue jumper over her head.
Max sat up, still groggy. ‘Yeah, I think so,’ the boy replied. He hesitated for a second, remembering the events of the night before. ‘Sorry about, you know. I didn’t mean to kick you out of your bed.’
Kensy sat down on the chair in the corner to pull on some socks. ‘I don’t know what you were dreaming about, but you screamed so loudly. Much worse than the night terrors you used to have when we were little.’
Max shivered at the memory. ‘It was him. The firefighter. Except that it wasn’t all of him – just those evil eyes. He was chasing me and I couldn’t get away. It felt so real.’ Then Max remembered the word too. For some reason it made him think about the note from Magoo’s study, which they still hadn’t figured out. Fortunately he had brought a copy with him and would check it later. The word was tip, which made no sense, but then neither did the rest of it. Future, imminent, threat, Song, birthright. And if Song wasn’t a bad guy, which they’d definitely established during their trip to New York, then why was he even mentioned? What did he have to do with any of it?
Kensy stood up. ‘Well, that horrible man’s not here, so you don’t have to worry,’ she said.
Max nodded. ‘I should have a shower.’
Kensy smiled. ‘I’ll see you upstairs.’
She exited the room and bounded to the top floor where Song was pottering about in the kitchen. There was no sign of her parents or Fitz yet.
‘Good morning, Miss Kensington,’ Song said, smiling. ‘Would you like some bacon and eggs or pancakes for your breakfast?’
‘May I have pancakes with crispy bacon and maple syrup?’ Kensy asked. ‘I haven’t had that since New York.’ She walked to the windows, watching the sun rise over the top of the mountains. The whole place sparkled.
‘I’d forgotten how much I love the Alps,’ she said wistfully, while Song bustled about in the kitchen.
‘Me too,’ the man replied. ‘There is nothing quite like the feeling of speeding down a mountain with the wind in your hair – or in my case, the wind on your very big forehead because your hair has migrated past the middle of your head to the back only.’
Kensy giggled. ‘At least you haven’t gone grey yet.’
‘It is a minor miracle known as Grey Away, Miss Kensington – and I have no idea why I just told you that, as it is my one and only vanity,’ the man said.
Kensy laughed. ‘It’s okay, Song. Your secret’s safe with me.’ She tapped the side of her nose. ‘At least for a little while.’
‘Thank you, Miss Kensington, and in return I promise not to tell your mother where her missing chocolates went – you know the special French ones that her parents had recently sent as a reminder of her childhood.’ The man gave a nod and a smile.
Kensy’s eyes widened. ‘What? How did you know that? She’ll kill me.’
‘Wrappers under the bed are never a good idea. I am fastidious with the vacuum. So I take it my secret will never surface either?’ he said.
‘Deal,’ Kensy replied, hurrying to the fridge where she pulled out a jug of orange juice.
‘What are you two making deals about?’ Anna asked as she appeared at the top of the stairs.
‘I said I’d stop teasing Song,’ Kensy said, ‘if he’ll stop playing really awful country music.’
‘I can’t see either of those things happening.’ The woman smiled and flicked the kettle on.
Within a few minutes the rest of the family was gathered around the island bench. Fitz made coffee while Ed helped with the toast. When Max arrived Anna walked over to give him a hug. She pressed the back of her hand against his forehead and checked that the dark circles under his eyes were nothing more than tiredness.
‘Can we go up the mountain later?’ Kensy asked, taking a bite of her pancake, which was dripping with syrup.
‘Absolutely. Today is all about getting a feel for the place and hopefully meeting our targets – or at least sighting them,’ Ed said. ‘We need to get as close to the Van Leers as possible and remember your job is to befriend Soren.’
The twins nodded. Last night they’d discussed ways to make that happen. They knew Soren l
iked to ski so hopefully they would be able to ‘run into’ him on the slopes.
‘Have you been to Zermatt before, Dad?’ Kensy asked.
‘Years ago, before you two were born your mother and I came for a long weekend but that’s it. So we’re not terribly familiar with the trails either,’ the man replied.
‘Don’t worry – I’ve memorised the whole place,’ Max said. ‘But what are we doing about skis and boards and things?’
The family had always travelled with their own equipment during the years Ed and Anna had worked in resorts around the world – more often than not, second-hand kit sourced from their parents’ colleagues whose kids had outgrown their gear. This time they’d arrived with a suitcase full of casual clothes, but that was it. Their father said they didn’t need to worry about packing bulky ski gear – they’d sort that when they arrived.
‘Your grandmother instructed us to take you on a very special shopping trip,’ Ed said.
‘Cool,’ Kensy replied, a rasher of bacon hanging out of the side of her mouth.
‘That’s very generous of Granny,’ Max said.
‘Yes, but we are technically working,’ Kensy added. ‘So that’s like our pay and we never got anything special for bringing down Dash Chalmers in New York.’
‘I think we had some help there, Kensy,’ Max said. ‘Uncle Rupert was the real hero, as I recall.’
‘Speaking of Uncle Rupert,’ Kensy said, waving her fork in the air, ‘will he be joining us? Granny said that he might if we needed him.’
‘I’m not sure. He’s been in Australia and I don’t know when he’s due back,’ Ed said. This was news to everyone except Fitz.
‘What’s he doing there?’ Max asked.
‘Helping resettle Tinsley and the children. They ultimately decided to go home to Sydney in time for the start of the new school year,’ Ed explained.
Max frowned. ‘Really? He’s been spending a lot of time going back and forth to America since we were there.’
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