Rüzgâr's shoulder was not dislocated.

It was, however, bruised, swollen and painful with every movement. The blow to Ege's stomach had darkened further. Ice had been wrapped around two of Ada's fingers.

The three of them sat in silence in the spacious living room of the twins' home.

Old photographs of Sami lay on the table beside notes from the operation that had led to his arrest and satellite images open on Ada's computer.

Rüzgâr took the cushion from the edge of the sofa and threw it to the floor.

"This has gone too far."

The cushion landed soundlessly on the carpet.

That only made Rüzgâr angrier.

"We put the man behind bars. Four months later he walks out and tries to kill us. How does anyone get that comfortable?"

Ege leant back against the sofa.

"That's not comfort. That's being a bastard."

Rüzgâr looked at him.

"What?"

"He's not comfortable. He's a bastard."

Without lifting her eyes from the computer, Ada spoke.

"Could the two of you be serious for two minutes?"

Ege and Rüzgâr fell silent.

Ada enlarged the plan on the screen.

"There were three places Sami might be hiding. Two are empty. The third is an old textile workshop outside the city."

Rüzgâr moved closer to the table.

"How do you know?"

"Electricity consumption. Officially, the building isn't in use, but its night-time consumption has risen over the last three days."

Ege looked at the ice around Ada's fingers.

"How are you using the keyboard?"

"Angrily."

Rüzgâr bent over the satellite image.

"The workshop has two entrances."

"Three," Ada said. "The service door to the north looks as though it's been bricked up, but it opens from inside. There are at least twelve men around the building. I don't know how many are inside."

Ege nodded.

"So knocking on the door and talking would be risky."

Rüzgâr looked at him.

"Were you genuinely considering a conversation?"

"I always consider it."

"The man tried to kill us three times today."

"That doesn't mean he's closed to communication."

Ada shut the computer.

"We end this tonight."

A short silence settled over the room.

Rüzgâr raised his head.

"Let's leave it to the police."

Ada and Ege looked at him.

Rüzgâr rubbed his aching shoulder.

"We can't attack directly. We don't know how many people are inside. And we need evidence if we want Sami arrested again."

"We also need to learn who helped him escape," Ada said. "If the police raid the place outright, that person may disappear before Sami talks."

Ege picked up one of the photographs from the table.

He studied Sami's face.

"He wants us to go in."

Rüzgâr frowned.

"To kill us."

"Yes."

"Why do you sound pleased about that?"

Ege set the photograph down.

"Because we won't have to trouble ourselves with opening the door."

Ada's eyes turned to her brother.

Ege was quiet for several seconds, then drew the workshop plan towards him.

"Eureka."

Rüzgâr sighed.

"Every time you say that word, one of us gets hurt."

"This time we're already hurt."

Ege turned the plan around.

"Sami wants to see us alive. For a few minutes, at least. We go there. Appear unarmed. They let us in."

"And then?" Ada asked.

Ege placed a finger on the section where the ventilation system ran.

Ada's expression slowly changed.

"Then we put everyone inside to sleep," she said.

Rüzgâr looked from one twin to the other.

"When did you make this plan?"

"Just now," Ege said.

Ada opened her computer again.

"I'll tell Kenan. He won't send police straight in for a raid. He'll put out a firearms report to nearby units. They'll be in the area when we come out."

Rüzgâr studied the ground around the workshop.

"Who plants the gas?"

A slender smile appeared on Ada's lips.

"I do."

When night fell, the ground around the workshop changed completely.

The building that looked deserted by day came alive in the darkness with the low growl of engines, glowing cigarettes and doors opening and closing at irregular intervals.

Ege and Rüzgâr approached on foot along the narrow road leading into the forest.

Both kept their hands in their pockets. They carried no weapons. Their slim filter masks were fastened inside their trouser legs, above the ankles. The small trigger had been built into Rüzgâr's watch.

Ada had entered over the northern wall two hours earlier.

She had been silent since.

That meant the plan was working.

At least, that was what Ege wanted to believe.

The two men by the workshop entrance noticed them from several metres away. Their hands moved beneath their jackets.

"Stop."

Ege stopped.

Rüzgâr remained beside him.

The men approached. One turned them towards the wall and searched them. He took the phones and keys from their pockets, along with Ege's wallet.

Ege glanced back at the wallet in the man's hand.

"There's a family photograph in there. Don't lose it."

The man struck his shoulder and turned him back to the wall.

Rüzgâr let his eyes travel over the other shadows in the darkness.

Fourteen men.

Two more than Ada had estimated.

At least four of them were armed.

"So you came," said the man beside the door.

Ege turned to him.

"Sami sent an invitation. It would have been rude to decline."

The man noticed Rüzgâr's injured shoulder.

"You've taken a beating today."

Rüzgâr did not look away.

"Your boys left the job unfinished."

"They'll finish it inside."

Ege's smile did not diminish.

"Tell Sami we take our tea weak."

The man pointed to the door.

"Walk."

Inside, the workshop was warmer than outside. The heavy smells of oil, rust and cigarette smoke tangled in the air. Old machinery stood against the walls, and a few fluorescent tubes drowned the space in pallid light.

As they were led down the corridor, Rüzgâr looked up at the ventilation grilles.

Ada had done her part.

A barely visible strip of black tape marked one corner of a grille.

Ege saw it as he passed.

Their eyes met for an instant.

It was ready.

Sami was waiting in the office at the rear of the workshop.

He sat behind an old wooden desk, checking the magazine of the pistol in his hand. When they entered, he looked up.

Sami was short and broad. The calm in his face was more unnerving than anger. He did not shout or trouble himself to display his threats. The pleasure of seeing them before him lived in his eyes.

"You opened the door and walked in yourselves," he said.

Ege counted the men in the room.

Five.

Two outside the door.

Rüzgâr noticed the metal safe beneath the desk and the camera on the wall.

"You were the one who called us here," he said.

Sami stood.

"Luck favoured you three times today."

Ege shook his head.

"I don't count the second one. The car was slightly damaged."

Sami's eyes moved to Rüzgâr's shoulder.

"Your lives must have been worth more."

"Depends on the car," Ege said.

Sami placed his pistol on the desk, the barrel pointing at them.

"Where is Ada?"

Ege rolled his eyes.

"The same question every time."

Rüzgâr looked at Sami.

"You still don't understand, do you?"

Some of the pleasure left Sami's face.

"Understand what?"

"We don't leave one another behind."

"It rather looks as though you have."

Rüzgâr took one step forward.

"You tried to kill us this morning. Followed me this afternoon. And tonight the two of us came to your door without a single weapon."

Sami did not answer.

Rüzgâr continued.

"If you think that was courage, you're a genuine fool."

One of the men in the room raised his weapon.

Ege looked at him.

"I'd wait, if I were you."

The man hesitated.

Sami's gaze moved to the door, then to the ceiling.

He had realised something was wrong.

"Did you search them?"

"We did, boss."

"Properly?"

Rüzgâr smiled.

"They emptied our pockets."

His right hand moved slowly towards his watch.

Sami reached for the gun on the desk.

Rüzgâr pressed the button.

For the first second, nothing happened.

In the second, a fine white mist began to pour from the ventilation grille above.

Sami seized the pistol.

"Kill them!"

Rüzgâr pulled the mask from beneath his trouser leg. Ege bent down at the same moment.

The first bullet struck the ceiling.

Within seconds, the mist filling the room turned acrid. The men's eyes burned; their coughing tangled together. One made for the door, but collapsed to his knees before taking two steps.

As Ege fitted the mask over his face, the man beside him lunged.

Ege retreated. Instead of trying to fight, he circled the desk. Chasing him, the man lost his balance and struck the chair.

Rüzgâr caught the wrist of another man. Pain spread from his injured shoulder down his arm. As his grip weakened, the man turned the gun.

Ege threw the file box from the desk at him.

A corner of the box struck the man's face.

Rüzgâr tore the gun from his hand and flung it across the room.

Sami was trying to reach the door. Every step brought harsher coughs, and he could barely keep his eyes open.

"What have you done?" he shouted.

Rüzgâr spoke through the mask.

"Be more careful on your way to prison this time."

For several seconds, Sami fought to remain standing.

Then he caught the edge of the desk, sank to his knees and collapsed.

One by one, the other men in the room went still.

Ege narrowed his eyes and looked around.

"Is that it?"

Rüzgâr was struggling to breathe.

"We have to get out."

They moved towards the door.

The two men in the corridor were on the floor. One leant against the wall; the other lay face-down.

When they reached the outside, clean air filled their lungs.

Ege pulled off his mask and drew a deep breath.

Ada emerged from the darkness. Her hair was dishevelled, one sleeve of her jacket torn. An empty dart gun rested in her hand.

"Finished early," she said.

Rüzgâr removed his mask.

"The people inside were helpful."

Ada looked at one of the men on the ground.

"There were sixteen outside."

"I counted fourteen," Rüzgâr said.

"Two were on the north side."

Ege looked at his sister's torn sleeve.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm fine."

"There's blood on your face."

Ada wiped her cheek. A thin smear of red remained on her fingers.

"It isn't mine."

Ege shook his head.

"That answer isn't always reassuring."

Ada looked at Rüzgâr's shoulder.

"You?"

"If I can't lift this arm tomorrow, I'll use the other one to beat Ege."

Ege smiled.

"The plan worked."

Ada was about to answer when a gunshot cracked through the air.

The bullet struck the metal door beside them.

All three scattered on instinct.

Ege and Ada slipped behind the wall as Rüzgâr dropped to the ground. A second bullet buried itself where he had been standing.

"Who is left?" Ege asked.

Ada looked into the darkness.

"I must have missed one."

Rüzgâr moved behind a nearby tree.

"How many are you allowed to miss?"

"One out of sixteen."

"A six per cent margin of error."

"You can file your complaint later."

The gunman was firing from the darkness beside the workshop. He did not dare approach; from a distance, he was trying to pin them behind cover.

A bullet struck the trunk of the tree sheltering Rüzgâr. Flecks of bark struck his face.

"We can't reach the car," Ada said. "We'd be exposed."

Ege pointed to the forest behind the workshop.

"We go into the trees."

Rüzgâr nodded.

"Kenan?"

Ada took out her phone.

There was a single message on the screen.

Two minutes.

"They're coming."

Another gunshot rang out.

"We can't stay here for two minutes," Rüzgâr said.

Ada fixed her eyes on the place where the attacker was hiding.

"On three."

Ege drew a deep breath.

"Every time you say that, very bad things happen."

"One."

Rüzgâr chose the direction he would run.

"Two."

The gun fired again.

"Three."

All three broke from cover at once.

They ran for the forest.

Two shots followed them in the first few steps. One bullet buried itself in a tree beside Ege. The other vanished into the dark.

The ground was covered in dry leaves and unseen stones. Ada led; Ege and Rüzgâr followed.

Rüzgâr's shoulder throbbed with every step. His breathing had become uneven.

"How many shots?" Ada asked.

"Six."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Another gunshot came.

"Seven."

Ege leapt over a root in his path.

"Is the magazine empty?"

"Depends on the weapon."

"Wonderful. Very informative."

Another shot.

The bullet passed over Ege's head. He ducked involuntarily and lost his balance, catching himself with his hands at the last instant.

Rüzgâr pulled him up by the arm.

"Eight," he said.

For several seconds, the three of them did nothing but run.

No new sound came from behind.

Ege laughed between breaths.

"He's empty."

A metal magazine struck the ground.

Without looking back, Ada spoke.

"He has another."

One second later, the gun fired again.

Ege's smile disappeared.

"Couldn't fate grow tired just once? Couldn't it say, 'That's enough for today'?"

An unwilling smile appeared on Rüzgâr's face.

"Good plan."

"Thank you."

"We aren't safe yet."

"A detail."

Ada changed direction.

"This way."

Ege looked at the identical trees surrounding them.

"Are you sure you know the way?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I marked it on the way in."

Rüzgâr peered into the darkness ahead.

"I can't see anything."

"That's why I'm in front."

Sirens rose in the distance.

Blue and red light flickered between the trees.

Ada slowed.

"They've entered the workshop."

Rüzgâr looked back. As the sirens approached, the gunman stopped firing.

A police vehicle appeared between the trees. Kenan, behind the wheel, saw them for several seconds. His gaze met Ada's.

Then he turned his vehicle the other way.

He directed the units behind him towards the main entrance of the workshop.

"He saw us," Ege said.

Ada began running again.

"I know."

As they neared the edge of the forest, the tarmac road came into view. Summoning the last of their strength, all three emerged from the trees.

The road was almost empty.

Headlights appeared in the distance.

Ege stepped into the middle of the road.

Ada tried to pull him back by the arm.

"What are you doing?"

"Hitchhiking."

"This is not hitchhiking."

Rüzgâr moved beside Ege and raised both arms.

The car approached at speed. The driver braked at the last instant. Tyres shrieked along the empty road.

Ada opened the front door.

"Three of us are getting in. We'll explain afterwards."

The driver did not answer.

Ada took the front seat. Ege and Rüzgâr climbed in through the rear doors.

"Drive!" Rüzgâr said.

The car started moving again.

The gunman appeared at the forest's edge and emptied his remaining rounds in quick succession. One struck the rear bumper. The others vanished into the darkness.

Ege sank back into the seat.

His breathing had still not steadied.

Rüzgâr sat with his eyes closed, clutching his injured shoulder. Ada watched behind them through the windscreen.

For a while, none of them spoke.

When the car had travelled several kilometres, Ege leant forward.

"You truly saved our lives. We'll pay for the damage, of course. The bumper, the fuel, cleaning the seats..."

The driver turned her head.

Ege fell silent.

Miray was at the wheel.

The sleeves of her white blouse were still rolled to the elbows. Her hair was tied back now. The expression on her face belonged to someone entirely different from the calm woman they had seen before the photocopier that afternoon.

Ada stared at her for several seconds.

"You."

Miray kept her eyes on the road.

"Fasten your seat belts."

Rüzgâr opened his eyes and looked ahead.

"Who is this?"

Ege wore an expression somewhere between exhaustion and disbelief.

"Long story."

Ada's gaze moved to Miray's hands, the mirrors and the navigation screen before her.

A predetermined route leading away from the workshop was open on the display.

This was no coincidence.

The moment Ada understood, every trace of exhaustion vanished from her face.

Anger took its place.