Harry lets them sit.

  That’s the bit Tony misses, because Tony is already halfway into his coffee and halfway into a joke that hasn’t finished forming.

  The café sits by the river. Plastic chairs scrape. Metal tables wobble if you lean too hard. The coffee’s fine. No one’s here for the coffee.

  Tony orders first and turns it into a thing. Lenny follows. Arthur reads the board without really reading it. Cameron takes the chair that lets him see the door.

  Harry turns up late.

  He spots Cameron straight away and smiles like he’s found what he came for. Drops into the spare chair like it’s always been his.

  “Good to see you,” Harry says. “Was hoping I’d catch you.”

  Tony looks over his cup. “Rah. Speak of the devil.”

  Harry glances at him. “We’ve met.”

  “Yeah,” Tony says. “Unforgettable.”

  Harry nods and moves on. “Just wanted to say thanks.”

  Cameron lets that sit.

  “For what,” Tony asks.

  “For standing down the other night,” Harry says, eyes on Cameron. “Saved me a headache.”

  Tony laughs. “Any time. Community service.”

  “You were helpful,” Harry says. “Clean.”

  Arthur shifts.

  Harry turns to him. “You’re Arthur. Your notes are tidy.”

  Arthur blinks. “You been reading my stuff.”

  “Yeah. Easy to follow.”

  Tony snorts. “That’s mad.”

  “Efficient,” Harry says.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  He takes Cameron’s water, a quick sip, puts it back exactly where it was.

  “I told a few people you’re reasonable,” Harry says to Cameron. “That carries weight.”

  Tony leans back. “Your people.”

  Harry meets his eyes. “The ones who decide who gets waved through.”

  Tony grins. “Man’s chatting like this is Canary Wharf.”

  Harry nods. “Places blur.”

  Silence settles.

  Lenny fills it. “So you came out just to say cheers.”

  “Mostly,” Harry says.

  Tony rolls his eyes. “No one does mostly.”

  Harry looks back to Cameron. “I’m not interested in running your lane.”

  Tony points between them. “That’s exactly what you’re doing.”

  Harry lets it hang. “You handle things when they kick off. You’re good at that.”

  Tony beams. “Hear that.”

  “I handle them earlier,” Harry says. “Quieter.”

  Tony’s grin tightens. “Same outcome.”

  “Different shape,” Harry says.

  Arthur leans forward.

  Cameron lifts a hand. Arthur stops.

  Harry clocks it.

  “I logged the last thing as a misunderstanding,” Harry says. “People relax when they hear that.”

  Tony laughs. “You’re welcome again.”

  “I described you as enthusiastic.”

  Tony squints. “That’s cheeky.”

  “Only if you wear it.”

  Harry stands.

  “If anything comes up,” he says to Cameron, “I’ll ring you direct.”

  Tony scoffs. “We’re right here.”

  Harry looks at him, then back to Cameron. “I know.”

  He goes.

  Tony watches him disappear. “That was strange.”

  “That was a warning,” Arthur says.

  Tony waves it off. “That was a bloke trying to sound bigger than he is.”

  Lenny looks at Cameron. “He wasn’t.”

  Tony drains his cup. “He was. Poorly.”

  Cameron keeps his eyes on the door.

  Same café. Same river noise.

  Different balance.

  ---

  They clock the gate late.

  Tony’s still talking, replaying the water job like it’s already legend. Arthur’s quiet now. Lenny’s watching the ground.

  The service access comes up quick. Old gate. Shortcut.

  Tony reaches it first. One hand. No look.

  The gate holds.

  He tries again, shoulder in, still smiling. “Oi.”

  Nothing.

  Arthur slows. “That’s new.”

  “It sticks,” Tony says.

  He pulls his keys anyway, habit more than hope.

  “Since when does anyone touch this,” he mutters.

  Lenny crouches. “Latch is free.”

  Arthur steps closer, reads the laminated notice.

  Tony reads it aloud. “Temporary. Access under review. See.”

  He knocks the metal. “Hello.”

  The gate stays quiet.

  “Who put this up,” Tony asks.

  Arthur checks his phone. “No date.”

  Tony laughs. “Figures.”

  “We can go round,” Lenny says.

  “That’s long,” Tony replies.

  “So,” Arthur says.

  Tony opens his mouth, then closes it. Smiles. “Alright. Come on.”

  They turn away.

  Tony glances back, waiting for the gate to explain itself.

  It doesn’t.

  Arthur snaps a photo and pockets his phone.

  Cameron keeps walking.

  ---

  Cameron doesn’t stop.

  His eyes move as his feet do.

  Left side street, scaffolded shut.

  Right steps to the towpath, chained.

  Ahead the footbridge, narrow, bad angles.

  Behind them the gate again, cameras set wide.

  He slows half a step.

  Tony drifts wide. Arthur drops in behind. Lenny stays close.

  Cameron adjusts his pace. They match it.

  Tony laughs. “If that’s his big move, I’m underwhelmed.”

  Cameron lets it pass.

  They walk.

  A loading bay slides by. Shutter half down.

  Arthur glances at Cameron. “You seeing this.”

  Cameron nods.

  Tony hears the tone. “Seeing what.”

  “Routes,” Cameron says.

  They reach the bridge.

  Cameron pauses, checks ahead. Two people lean on the rail, talking, placed well.

  He steps on.

  Tony follows. “Next time I see him, I’m pressing him.”

  Halfway across, Cameron stops.

  Tony nearly walks into him. “Bro.”

  “If something kicks off here,” Cameron says, “where you moving.”

  Tony blinks. “What.”

  “Say it.”

  Tony looks properly now.

  Alley. Chain. Cameras. Rail.

  He shrugs. “Forward.”

  “And when that closes,” Cameron says.

  Tony opens his mouth.

  Nothing.

  “There’s no sideways,” Lenny says.

  Arthur breathes out. “That’s new.”

  Tony forces a grin. “You lot are deeping this too much.”

  Cameron starts walking again.

  He’s done counting.

  He knows how many exits they had before.

  He knows what the number is now.

  Harry didn’t raise his voice.

  He didn’t push.

  He just redrew the map.

  Cameron shifts a little closer to the others as they move.

  That’s the adjustment.