‘That’s right. If you win, which of course you will, because I have the utmost faith in you, you will be given the sum of £2 million. You may have this transferred into a bank account. You may have it in cash, in gold, in diamonds or in stock. The point is that if you agree to be my champion then you can be £2 million the richer. Do we have a deal?’

Abbot took a deep breath and looked away. That security guy was still lounging by the tree. Light glanced off the lenses of a pair of binoculars. The lawnmower had stopped. Abbott hadn’t even noticed the sound drop, but it was now stationary and the driver stood by it, the assault rifle in his arms. Were they waiting? Waiting for a sign perhaps? Why did Abbott get the idea that anything less than complete assent would see him carted out feet first?

‘Yes,’ he said, at last, ‘we do have a deal.’ Because I have no choice, he thought. And because of the money. A hell of a lot of money. A life-changing sum. The kind of money you could use to get yourself back on the tracks. ‘Peter tells me that you object to some of Doyle’s business practices.’

‘I’ve said nothing to Peter either way,’ said Abbott, sensing that he was being tested. Sensing, again, that McGregor’s position here was different to what he had previously assumed.

‘Peter has a nose for these things.’

Abbott decided to go along, see where this particular road took them. ‘Well, then, yes, I do.’

McGregor had returned, was lingering close by. ‘Peter,’ called Lady Norton, and he approached them. ‘You were right,’ she said to him. ‘We may have found our man in more ways than one.’

Chapter 31

CHAPTER 31

‘And what exactly does that mean?’ asked Abbott.

There was something going on here. Something above and beyond sounding him out for the death match.

‘Doyle, Mr Abbott,’ Lady Norton went on to say. ‘He is a blemish. A greasy fingerprint on an otherwise gleaming window. He and his organisation are the trailer park on the edge of town. My late husband had an unfortunate case of blindness where they were concerned. Misplaced loyalty and nostalgia, no doubt. But I have no such qualms. I consider him, his wife, their awful child and all those awful nieces and nephews to be a throwback to a past I would rather forget. Whatever happens concerning the outcome of the game it is my most fervent wish that this company should move forward without Doyle hanging on to its coattails, taking our retainer, trading on our name. They are a loathsome cancer on our business, and I would like that cancer cut out.’

Abbott looked at her. ‘And I’m just the man to do it?’

‘You are. And you would be handsomely paid.’

‘Stop Doyle? That’s what you want?’