‘Does that help you sleep better at night?’ asked Abbott.

‘What video?’ said Ross. ‘It wasn’t a dirty video, was it, Grandmama?’

Abbott looked along the line. They didn’t know, he realised, but – and this was maybe worse – nor did they care.

Lady Norton was regarding him icily as though she at once pitied and resented his hapless attempts to invoke family disapproval. ‘I do hope that you are not going to be any trouble, Green.’

‘I’ll play your game,’ he told her. ‘First, though, I need to see proof of life.’

‘We are referring to Mrs Oakley, are we? You seem awfully attached to her given that she is, as far as we can tell, happily married with two children.’

‘You’re right. I’m awfully attached to her. Which is why I won’t be doing any death matching until I know that she’s safe and well.’

Lady Norton nodded at Kilgore, who leaned forward on the table and nodded at the lawyer, who stood and raised his remote control.

Abbott noticed that his other hand shook slightly and that he disguised it by shoving it into his trouser pocket.

The screens flicked on. When Abbott had entered the room, they’d showed different images, now they showed just one. It was Tess. She sat on a sofa, unaware that she was being watched. Not far away stood a guard with an M-16.

‘Not good enough,’ said Abbott. ‘That could be anytime, anywhere. I need to see her.’

‘And how on earth do you expect that to happen? How do you know she’s even here?’

‘I think she’s here,’ said Abbott. ‘I think she’s here, and I want to see her, or the deal’s off.’

‘I do not appreciate being spoken to like this, Green,’ snapped Lady Norton. ‘There is no deal. There is simply you doing what you’re told if you want her to stay alive.’ Her colour was up, the carefully cultivated cut-glass accent slipping. Her family were looking on, fascinated.

‘I think I want this guy,’ smirked Ross. He turned to his companion. ‘Kennedy, is it too late to change our minds and have this guy instead?’

The man called Kennedy shot him an if-looks-could-kill glare but said nothing. To Lady Norton, Abbott said, ‘Call it what you want. But you’ve just hit the nail on the head. There’s no point in me doing it if I don’t know that she’s alive.’

Lady Norton turned her head to whisper into Kilgore’s ear. He nodded and left the room. For two minutes or so, Abbott stood watching the Norton clan watching him. The amusement of Ross, the barely restrained anger of Juliet, the curiosity of Clifford and Montana. Didn’t expect this, did you? Fireworks before the fireworks.

Kilgore returned. He motioned to List and Wilson, who hefted their weapons and then indicated Abbott to the door.