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used an attached cord in order to pull the handlebars quickly back up the zip line to the start. She motioned for Jack to go next.
    Jack looked at the roof-exit door. If he was on his own, could he make it down the stairs, somehow get past the front desk and escape before the police arrived?
    As if in answer, the police sirens stopped and he heard the screech of tyres.
    Car doors slammed.
    Slink peered down. ‘The cops are going into your building.’ He looked up. ‘I think you should hurry.’
    Jack didn’t move. How long before the police realised they were on the roof?
    Charlie grabbed his arm and shook him. ‘Jack.’
    He looked at her for a moment, then at Slink and Wren on the opposite rooftop.
    ‘Running out of time,’ Obi said. ‘The cops are on their way up to you.’
    Jack reached into his pocket and pulled out a coin. ‘Heads you go first, tails I go. Agreed?’ Before Charlie could answer, Jack tossed the coin into the air, caught it and showed her the result – heads. He stepped back. ‘Go.’
    Charlie hesitated.
    ‘No time for an argument,’ Jack said.
    Charlie slipped her hands through the loops, gripped the bars with both hands and threw herself off the ledge of the building.
    Even though this backup plan had been his idea, Jack was regretting it.
    A lot .
    He considered just letting himself get caught, but that would be very stupid. The others would have all sorts of hassle breaking him out again. He gazed across London. Huge areas of it were completely dark.
    No , Jack thought. There really wasn’t a decision this time. He had to get back to the bunker and find out what was going on with these blackouts.
    Charlie landed on the opposite roof and let go of the bars.
    Jack adjusted his hood and bandana, making sure his face was hidden, then grabbed the string and hauled the bars back.
    His stomach twisted into knots as he reached up and slipped his hands through the loops. The handle­­­bar grips were still warm from Wren and Charlie using them.
    He swallowed and, with a surge of determination, Jack stepped on to the ledge of the building. He hesitated again and did what he knew he shouldn’t have – looked down.
    The road below seemed like a hundred miles away.
    ‘Oh God.’
    ‘You’ve done more dangerous things than this,’ Slink said in his ear.
    He was right – a while back, Jack had jumped off a building with nothing but a parachute. Only thing was, that time he hadn’t had long to think about it – he’d just jumped. Plus, bullets whizzing past your head made you do crazy things.
    ‘It’s easy,’ Wren said.
    Yeah, right .
    Suddenly, there was a shout.
    Jack looked over the edge of the building. In the street below were several police cars and officers.
    One policeman had his hands cupped around his mouth. He shouted, ‘Don’t do it. Stay right there.’
    A small crowd of onlookers gathered and pointed up at Jack.
    Brilliant. Now he had an audience.
    The door to the roof burst open behind Jack and a couple of cops ran straight for him.
    No time left .
    Jack took a quick breath and, keeping his eyes locked on Slink, dropped off the ledge.
    There was a collective gasp from the onlookers below.
    The cold air forced Jack to squint and his stomach dropped as he accelerated down the zip line. He felt the wind pushing from the right, trying to tear him free.
    Jack closed his eyes and, after what seemed like forever, he reached the other building. Slink grabbed hold of him and Jack wobbled on his feet as he unclipped the handlebars from the wire.
    Taking deep breaths, Jack looked at Charlie.
    ‘See?’ she said. ‘That was fun. No?’
    ‘No.’
    Slink handed her the bars and she slid them into her backpack.
    Jack looked at the other roof – the cops were standing at the edge of the building, their mouths open in astonishment.
    ‘Use the cable,’ Slink jeered.
    One of the police officers lifted a radio to his mouth.
    Jack looked down at the street as another police car pulled to