‘The world would be a much better place without religion – is that what you’re saying?’

‘I’m saying people should be allowed to believe in anything they want. Hell, there are still people who believe the earth is flat, despite all the evidence to the contrary. But the moment that belief starts to impact on others …’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t know. I just want the world to be a nicer, friendlier place and it’s not, and it feels to me it’s religion that’s doing the damage. That and sex.’

Shepherd smiled. ‘Sex?’

‘Haven’t you noticed? The more relaxed a country is about sex, the less violent they are. The South Americans, they hardly ever go to war.’

‘Argentina? The Falklands?’

‘That was more of a misunderstanding than a war. But you know what I mean. If you’re a young guy in Libya or Iraq or Pakistan, your chances of getting laid outside marriage are slim to none. They cover their women from head to toe, for a start. So all that male testosterone is swilling around with nowhere to go. Of course they’re going to get ultra-violent.’

‘So we should be sending hookers to Iraq and Libya, not troops?’

‘I’m just saying, if these Islamic State guys got laid more often they wouldn’t be going around chopping off so many heads. If Khan had been getting regular sex with a fit bird in Bradford, I doubt he’d be in such a rush to go fighting in the desert.’

‘It’s an interesting theory,’ said Shepherd. ‘But if I were you I’d keep it to myself.’

‘Yeah, they took away our suggestions box years ago,’ said Shaw. He flicked away the remains of his cigarette. ‘I’ll get you your thumb drive and you can be on your way.’

They went back inside the container. Donoghue had the thumb drive ready and handed it to Shepherd, who thanked him and studied the main screen. The dust and smoke had pretty much dispersed. The roof and upper floor had been reduced to rubble but the ground floor was still standing. ‘No sign of any bodies?’ asked Shepherd.

‘Anything on the roof would have been vaporised, pretty much,’ said Morris. ‘If there was anyone on the ground floor, we won’t know until they start clearing up, and at the moment that’s not happening. They’re keeping their distance. Probably afraid we’ll let fly a second missile. We can hang around for a few hours but I won’t be holding my breath.’

‘Probably not worth it,’ Shepherd said. ‘Like you say, he’s either vaporised or well out of the area.’ He looked at his watch and flashed Shaw a tight smile. ‘I’ve got to be somewhere, anyway.’

‘A hot date?’ asked Shaw.

‘I wish,’ said Shepherd. He couldn’t tell Shaw he was heading off to kill someone and this time it was going to be up close and personal.