‘Is there something I can do for you, Miss Julianne?’ Shah asked. ‘I still regard myself as being in your debt.’

‘Oh, don’t be silly. It’s me who owes you. We would not have made it without you and your men. And I’m afraid I have to call on your grace and favour again. I’m in a spot of bother, Shah, and it might be something that affects you, eventually. And maybe the Rhino too. Did he make it up to Darwin? I know he was headed there and wondered if you might have been in contact.’

There was a slight pause before the former Gurkha answered.

‘The Rhino, yes, he is up here. I have seen him once or twice. But he is a proud man, Miss Julianne, and he keeps his problems to himself. I would very much like to help him, and you if you are in need. But I cannot say that Mr Ross will want our help.’

Julianne gazed for a moment out of the hotel window. Julia Black had booked a room on the executive level, for the added security, rather than for the extra luxury. The elevation afforded her sweeping views across the city and out towards the coast.

‘Well, he’s going to need our help,’ she said. ‘And I’m going to need yours, Shah. Someone’s trying to kill me.’

‘Fascinating,’ said the soldier turned businessman. ‘Somebody is trying to kill me as well.’

There was silence between them for two heartbeats.

‘Oh, I’m sorry, Shah. I fear I may have dragged you into something awful.’

His laughter was unexpected but reassuring.

‘Miss Julianne, nobody drags me anywhere. Except my wife down to the shops during the sales. I apologise that I cannot stay long on the phone to discuss this with you now. I really do have some pressing matters to attend to here. But I wonder how quickly you might get to Darwin.’

‘Not quickly at all, unfortunately,’ she admitted. ‘My resources aren’t what they were.’

She hated having to talk with Shah like this, as if he were a mark. It spoke well of the man that he recognised what she was doing but did not hold it against her.

‘Nonsense,’ he said. ‘I shall organise a ticket for you on the next available flight. You are in Brisbane yes? And travelling incognito? As Ms Julianne Black?’

‘Julia. For now,’ she said. ‘I’ll probably need another ID in a couple of days. It’s Cesky, if you remember him, from Acapulco. The guy we didn’t let on the boat. The vengeful prick just won’t give it up. He’s had a couple of goes at both the Rhino and me back Stateside. And I think he’s found us over here now, too.’

‘I see,’ said Shah, sounding preoccupied. ‘It is settled, then,’ he said. ‘I shall organise you transport as soon as possible.’