‘We,’ Kirby said, enjoying the chance to correct Dee this time. ‘If we start a company, then we’ll need a secretary to handle the paperwork and as first shareholder, I vote for you. Are you interested?’

‘Well, Scott might not vote for me,’ Dee said. Her nose wrinkled at the thought of how much he hated her – and vice versa. ‘I imagine you’ll want him on the board of shareholders too?’

Kirby shrugged. ‘Can’t imagine starting a company without both of you.’

Dee nodded. ‘How about your adult then? I think they’d need to be an Australian citizen. If you want to keep control of the company, then you’ll also need someone who won’t stick their nose in too often or want to boss you around.’

Kirby laughed. ‘That counts out everyone I know.’ Her dad would puke in her boots if he found out she had nearly half a million dollars in her bank account. Then he’d ground her for life when he found out how she got it. Her sister would probably blow a valve too. ‘Gran maybe,’ Kirby said. ‘But she’ll want to know where the money came from and then she’ll mention it to Dad.’

‘Do you know someone who’s not around often? Someone who cares enough to help you but can’t do much because they’re already too busy themselves?’

‘Jayson,’ Kirby said, knowing he’d be perfect for the job, ‘my big brother. Old enough to die for his country, so he must be old enough to run a company with a couple of kids. He’s always off with the army. Always helps me with homework when he’s home too. I’ll tell him it’s a special project. He won’t care.’ 

‘Great,’ Dee said. ‘All we have to do then is vote on a company name.’ But Kirby’s phone blipped again interrupting their conversation. They read the message in silence together.

 SUFR = PAY UP / WE DOB U 2 COPS. U LOOZ 500K N E WAY

‘So they reckon we have to pay them our money,’ Dee asked, ‘or we’ll lose it to the cops anyway? What planet do they come from? Cops aren’t worried about us... Are they?’