Since he can remember, Simon Spinks has craved privacy, and now, middle-aged and feted by his peers, this craving has only intensified. The claustrophobic is liberating, lockdowns a joy, words best restricted. So when his workplace is violated by an intruder, an obsession with security develops and an old problem returns. Thanks to the support of his trusted assistant Linda Haig, and an overhaul of the company's defences, he survives. Normal service is restored. Both his official and unofficial investigations are resumed. Spinks is happiest in his special room, spending time with those he loves, and while dedicated to the common good it is only right that he reaps the rewards of his labours. The future is rosy. But beyond the cameras, fences and a poisoned no-man's land, danger threatens. Mickey Moo and his maverick crew of shapeshifting, undercover thinkers are on the move. The civilised and the primitive are about to collide. This edition also includes the short story Roadblock 2am, where a young traveller faces a life or death decision on the road to Guatemala City.