He was unlikely to be disturbed. The occupant of the flat wasn’t going to raise the alarm. Wasn’t going to raise anything any more. He examined the bedroom critically. A sudden bleeping sound startled him. He spun round, eyes searching the room for the source. A red light flashed. It was a pager on the bedside table. His breathing inside the protective mask sounded loud once the bleep stopped. The mask covered his face from nose to chin, the air tube trailing over his shoulder to the tank on his back. When he was sure the room was entirely to his satisfaction he crossed to the gas fire and turned on the gas. He left the bedroom and closed the door firmly. He collected his equipment and replaced it in a large duffel bag. He set aside a length of coiled rope, closed the bag, and tied one end of the rope round its handles. The next part was the trickiest. Entering the place had been easy. Exiting it so as to give the appearance he’d never been there was totally different.
