‘We make this fast,’ I said. ‘Across the quay, into the boat and away. And we do it now.’

We came out of the boathouse at a dead run, expecting at any moment to hear a shout of alarm. We tumbled into the boat and I snatched loose the painter from the mooring ring, but held on because now that we were below the level of the quay we could not be seen anyway. I didn’t want to push straight out because that would bring us into the circle of illumination from the lights on the quay. The drill this time was to move parallel with the quay wall and into the darkness beyond, and only then to head for the house.

I didn’t want to fire up the engine so I used a paddle I found on the bottom boards. It took us a fair while but we got to the house at last and I moored. Then I called softly, ‘Kemp here. Hold your fire, John.’

‘All right, sir.’

When I went into the house I found I was wringing with sweat.

III

John showed me where the butler’s pantry was and I picked up the telephone, wondering if this was going to work. I grinned when I heard the dialling tone and hastily spun out Hanna’s number. His telephone rang once and was picked up; he must have had his hand poised and ready to grab. ‘Hanna. That you, Kemp?’

‘Here I am,’ I said, almost cheerfully.

‘LH713 took off,’ he said. ‘It’s a Boeing 707 and it’s still on radar. They’re raising the pilot by radio, ordering him to turn back.’

‘That might not work,’ I said. ‘Haslam and Philips are on board. They’ll know something’s up if the plane changes course suddenly.’

‘It’s a chance we have to take. How many do you estimate are in that gang at El Cerco?’

‘How the hell would I know? I’ve spotted five and two of those are now dead. All strangers, apart from Mrs Haslam. There are sure to be guards on the gates and maybe more at the airstrip. For twelve million dollars, Bette Haslam could recruit a bloody army.’

‘I’ve got boats out, which will come into El Cerco from the sea. I’ve raised a couple of helicopters to ferry men across the island to reinforce the police from North End. They’ll seal off the landward side of El Cerco. But all this takes time. Is everything quiet at the house?’

I told him of Blackbeard and friend, and said, ‘I think the younger one could be called Terry.’

‘When Mrs Haslam turns up missing, they might come looking for her,’ he predicted. ‘You’d better be ready for them.’

‘I’m as ready as I’ll ever be right now.’