‘Not much. He’s just a run-of-the-mill people-trafficker, so far as we know. No links to terrorism.’

‘Do the Americans know about him?’

‘We haven’t checked with them yet.’

‘Yet?’

‘We don’t go running to the Americans every time we get a piece of intel. This is exclusive to us and we’d like to keep it that way.’

‘Sure, but the Americans have way more intel on what’s going on in Turkey and Syria than we do. It would be handy to know if Yusuf is naughty or nice.’

‘Well, yes, but it’s the quality of the intel that matters at the end of the day, not the source.’

‘I’m more concerned about my safety, frankly,’ said Shepherd.

‘Turkey isn’t a war zone.’

‘It’s right next to one,’ said Shepherd. ‘How do we know Yusuf isn’t part of some greater plan to put an MI5 officer in an orange jumpsuit and behead him on YouTube?’

‘Shuttleworth said he seemed kosher.’ He grinned. ‘Well, not kosher obviously. But there were no red flags.’

‘Shuttleworth?’

‘Our man in the embassy. Derek Shuttleworth. He interviewed him, covered the basics, and now it’s time for us to take over.’ He took a drag on his cigar and flicked more ash. ‘We can give you protection out there, I’m sure.’

‘Bodyguards?’

‘Army, if you prefer. Just let me know what you need.’

‘First sign of anything and I’m out,’ said Shepherd.

‘Absolutely. Wouldn’t have it any other way,’ said Willoughby-Brown. ‘Your safety is paramount, as always.’

Shepherd didn’t reply. He doubted that his personal safety was of the slightest interest to Willoughby-Brown.

‘So we’re good?’ asked Willoughby-Brown.

‘When?’

‘Soon as.’

‘There’s a boxing do tonight. Black tie. Marty will be there.’

‘What about Tommy?’

‘No one’s mentioned it, but they never do. He flies in and out, like the Scarlet Pimpernel. But he’s a big boxing fan so my guess is that he’ll be there.’

‘So, fly tomorrow. I’ll get you on the BA flight, direct. It’s less than four hours. Leave in the morning and you’ll be in Suruç before dark.’

‘Get me a stopover. Schiphol, Frankfurt or Paris.’

‘Because?’

‘Because if I’m being tailed it’ll be that much harder to follow me.’

‘If that’s what you want.’

‘Yes, it’s what I want, Jeremy,’ said Shepherd.

He shrugged. ‘So mote it be.’

Shepherd frowned. It was a strange expression for the man to use. ‘So mote it be’ was a phrase Freemasons used at the end of prayers instead of ‘amen’. Was Willoughby-Brown a Freemason? A lot of police officers were but he hadn’t come across it in the security services.

‘I’ll get the flights fixed. And what about tonight? Do you need any equipment?’

Shepherd shook his head. ‘It’s social.’

Omar Hassan arrived at the family garage just after lunch. As always, it was busy, with his three brothers hard at work. ‘Where’ve you been?’ asked Zack, the eldest, who was in charge when their father wasn’t there.