“Jack. Jack, who? I know no Jacks. Please, I am very busy, it is late. Are you in trouble?”
The same quiet voice came back at him. “Your friends in London sent me. They send you their regards.”
Doubt and confusion riddled the old man"s mind. “Friends in London? But I have no friends in London either, young man. Now please I don"t wish to telephone the local constabulary.”
There was a sharp intake of breath from the disembodied voice outside, almost as if he"d realized an error in his introduction. “I"m sorry. My mistake, I apologize. If I said the name Scorpius to you, would that make a difference?”
The old man slammed the door shut. Through fear, shock or anger – even he wasn"t sure. Then, only when he had regained his full composure did he unlock the bolt on the door, before slowly o
