Page 133 of A Beginner's Guide to Breaking and Entering
‘Yeah, I don’t imagine I’ve still got my old photography job. I think the police will have asked after me enough that my old bosses won’t be interested in employing me any further.’
She smiles. ‘In that case, you might like to know we’ve had an approach.’
‘Oh. I can’t talk to anyone, I’m afraid. That McAdams woman made me sign a vow of silence about the whole thing. Plus, I’m not sure I’m really a morning television kind of guy.’
‘Not that kind of approach. A job offer.’
‘From …’
She holds her phone out so I can see the screen. ‘They call themselves social engineers. They test weak points in corporate security – getting into places they shouldn’t be, reporting back. Kate McAdams says she put them on to you. To us.’
‘You’re saying … interloping for a living?’
She shrugs. ‘Might beat working. For a little while.’
‘Sounds a bit legal for my taste. And yours. I’ve always thought of myself as a poacher-staying-poacher.’
‘I’m sure we can find ways of making it interesting.’ She smiles at me.
There’s one other thing I want to say to Em, and I don’t know how to say it, so I’m just going to start and follow wheremy mouth leads. This breaks Rule 25 (Only start a line if you know how it finishes); right now, I don’t care. ‘Thanks for coming back.’
‘Thanks for asking.’
‘Were you not worried that I didn’t know what I was doing? I mean,Iwas.’
‘I don’t think any of us knew what we were doing there. We’ll be better prepared next time it happens.’
‘Very funny. I’m serious, Em. I don’t know what I would have done without any of you.’
‘Well, that’s good. Because I’ve been looking, and I think between the four of us, if this new job pays anything decent, we might be able to secure a three-bed somewhere.’
‘Only three bedrooms?’
‘Well, you’ve got to economise somewhere.’
It’s my turn to smile.
‘Am I allowed to kiss you goodbye?’
‘Even if you’re not, I don’t think they could get to you in time to stop you.’
It turns out I’m right about that. And as Em is politely escorted from the room, I get the feeling – just an indication, you understand – that from now on, everything might just be completely fine.
There should probably be a rule for this sort of moment, but right now I’m afraid I can’t think of a single one.
