‘I mean put an end to him for good,’ she said.

‘What sort of end?’

‘Cut off the head.’

‘You’re asking me to kill Raymond Doyle?’

‘That’s exactly what I’m fucking asking you, Alex.’

Abbott couldn’t help but smile as the mask dropped a little more. He was remembering what Doyle had told him about the information in the safe – information that could put Lady Norton away for a long time. All that stuff about Doyle being the trailer park on the edge of town was one thing, but what was the real reason she wanted him dead? Because of what he knew?

One thing was for sure. Abbott needed to see what was in that safe.

‘What’s in it for me?’ he asked.

‘Well, there is the pleasure of dismantling the people-trafficking operation,’ she said, ‘would you like to do that?’ It struck him that she hadn’t mentioned that up until now. Just killing Doyle. She continued, ‘Not only that but I’m willing to pay you an extra £1 million for carrying out this job. That’s £1 million on top of what you stand to earn during the game. Same as before. You can choose your currency. What do you say, Mr Abbott?’

‘I’d say that I’m not entirely comfortable about being used like I’m some kind of one-stop shop for all your people-killing needs.’

‘I can see that. But something also tells me that there is a little of the righteous avenger about you, Mr Abbott. Something tells me that you’d like nothing better than to strike a blow at Doyle. For me, they represent my family’s last ties with a history that I would prefer to forget. Cut Doyle away from the Nortons and my family can be legitimate for perhaps the first time.’

‘You have all this,’ he gestured. ‘You have a title. You still want to be legitimate?’

‘I refer you to our previous conversation.’

‘OK, but you know that ordering a hit isn’t exactly “going legitimate”?’

‘A last unfortunate visit to the dark side before the new dawn.’

‘I’ll need time.’

‘Of course. Take as much as you need. Within reason, of course.’

‘I mean that I won’t be able to return to work. Doyle is going to wonder what’s going on.’

‘We’ll smooth things over with Doyle,’ said Lady Norton. ‘We brought you into his orbit and now we’re having you back, simple as that.’

Abbott looked away. ‘Don’t think I’ve ever been poached before. Fried a few times. Scrambled lots.’ He smiled. ‘But never poached.’

‘Will you be going back to Derby?’

‘Not right away. There are things I need to do first.’

‘Such as?’

‘Getting a team together.’

‘Actually, on second thoughts . . .’ She held up her hands. ‘I don’t need or want to know how you intend to go about it.’

‘Eminently sensible.’