‘I would hope, Ty,’ he said, carefully enunciating each word, ‘that if you’re not just feeding us a line, if your boss is serious about a rapprochement, then it would extend to a lot more than simply coordinating deployments between your militia and the real military.’

If the old Marine Corps lawyer was trying to be elaborately offensive, McCutcheon wasn’t rising to the bait. He absorbed any insult and waited for Musso to continue.

‘Because, Ty, I don’t think I need to list my grievances with your administration. You would be well aware of them. Even disregarding the way you run things in the Hood, there is the matter of the security situation within the Mandate, which we very foolishly handed over to you. There’s the matter of the federal–state accords, the revenue-sharing deals, the contracts and treaties you’ve been signing ultra vires with foreign corporations and powers, and . . . Well, I’m sorry – I said I wasn’t going to list my grievances, but there, I went and did it anyway. Because they are grievances, Ty. Real and legitimate grievances. And I’m disinclined to trade favours over them, just because Blackstone has his pantaloons in a twist over Roberto.’

McCutcheon made an effort to interject but Musso waved him off.

‘The President takes the security of the nation very seriously. If he thinks there’s a threat from Morales, he will crush him like a bug. I guarantee that. But security doesn’t come from guns alone. The only thing that comes from the barrel of a gun is a fucking bullet, not security. If this country is ever to be secure again, it won’t be because of a president tossing a couple of regiments here and there, or moving the Lincoln out of the Pacific and into the Caribbean and the Atlantic. It will be because we all decide to work together to make ourselves strong again. Do you think we can do that, Ty? Do you think we can get past everything that happened in the last few years and work together?’

Caitlin took a sip from her single malt and regarded McCutcheon with a neutral expression. There was a reason why Blackstone had sent him into the enemy camp. He didn’t disappoint.

‘Can we kiss and make up? Fuck yes! We might have differences of opinion, but our interests are the same at heart. We just want the best for the country. Honest Injun now – if you can take just a couple of steps towards us, I know Jackson Blackstone will meet you halfway, sir.’

The moment hung suspended while everybody waited on Tusk Musso’s response. Caitlin could feel the sense of relief through her pores when he nodded and growled, ‘Okay then. Let’s try.’