Alatas got to his feet and reached for the bottle of whisky.

‘Worst-case scenario, I can’t see him getting here for at least twenty-four hours. That’s ample time to salvage the gold and some of the opium.’ Refilling his glass, he gave her a smile. ‘You don’t even have to risk him interdicting your ship. I can fly you back to Jayapura with your share of the gold.’

‘While you depart with three tonnes of opium worth at least thirty million US dollars? I’d hardly call that fair.’

Alatas shrugged. ‘Assuming it’s there.’

‘Oh, it’s there, Kapten. Doctor Ford was very clear they never touched it.’

‘Sura, look around you. This operation has been awfully expensive. And don’t forget, we are sacrificing a quarter tonne of our share to expose your father’s dirty deal with Sir Julius.’

‘Oh, Kapten –’ she smiled mockingly – ‘just how much does your boss think the presidency of Indonesia is worth? I think Kopassus is doing very nicely indeed.’

His mouth became a thin line. ‘And I think you’re greedy.’

Sura shook her head. To live the rest of her life without constantly looking over her shoulder meant bulletproof identities, American and European addresses, expensive round-the-clock security.

‘Kapten, you do understand that there is no going back for me after this. My father will never stop seeking revenge, especially if he loses the presidency.’

Sura suddenly felt cold at the thought of his imminent arrival.

‘I hate to see a beautiful creature afraid.’ Alatas came over and put his hands around her slim waist. ‘Why not stay with me, Sura? I have a remote villa in Brunei no one knows about – you could live there like a queen. Let me keep you safe.’

She let Alatas nuzzle her neck. As his big hand slid up between her thighs, she pushed back, eliciting a small groan from him.

Yes, you’d like that, wouldn’t you – at least for a while? I’d be a campaign trophy, and then, when the shine wore off, you could put two neat bullets in my head, and no one would ever know.

Still, there was no harm in keeping Alatas keen. With her father on the warpath, only Kopassus had the muscle to delay him while she made her getaway.

Heavy squelching boots approached the tent, and Sura pulled away a split second before a rain-soaked Jaap appeared in the doorway.

‘Don’t you know how to knock?’ Alatas snapped.

Boerman’s eyes widened as he took in their body language.

‘What is it, Jaap?’ she asked quickly.

With a face like stone, he held out two gleaming ingots.

‘We’re inside the bullion store. And it’s all there.’

Chapter 36

Chapter 36

A drenched Nash crawled woodenly into the four-man tent and collapsed between Mia and Douglas, partially visible in the light thrown from the command post.

‘They’ve f-found it,’ he reported through chattering teeth. ‘Upper d-deck.’