I remembered Hanna’s parting words. When you’re at El Cerco, remember that pressure I mentioned. He must have known that Lord Hosmer was here and guessed what his line was likely to be.

I pushed a little. ‘Why am I needed back in London?’

‘I don’t know. Something Jolly’s in a flap about.’

I shrugged. ‘Jolly’s panics don’t usually amount to much. The last time he got his knickers in a twist, it was about someone stealing from the petty cash in the Edinburgh office.’

‘I should think you’d be glad to leave,’ said Hosmer irascibly. ‘Costello tells me you’ve been wounded yourself.’ He surveyed me. ‘It doesn’t show.’

‘Just a scratch,’ I said modestly.

‘Well, it doesn’t matter. I suggest you go back to London by the first flight tomorrow.’

The crunch had come. I either had to go meekly back to London or lay my contract on the line. It was a fine contract and I enjoyed my job. I was bloody good at it too, but I didn’t deceive myself into thinking I could walk away with no consequence. I might have been the best intelligence consultant outside Whitehall, but Hosmer had enough pull in the insurance world to blackball me from London to Hong Kong – both ways around the world. A lot of my kind of work depends on trust and once Hosmer dropped the acid I’d be history. He wouldn’t even have to tell the truth: a vague hint would be enough.

I said, ‘You know, I don’t think I have finished here. I’m still not satisfied with the manner of Salton’s death.’

He looked at me from under shaggy brows and, for the first time, I noticed he had boar’s eyes. A dangerous man to cross. ‘What the hell do you mean by that?’ he demanded. ‘You were satisfied enough to tell Jolly to draw a cheque.’

‘Some new evidence came in after I talked to Jolly.’

‘What evidence?’

‘A man called Roker came to see me.’

I waited for Hosmer to say something. He obliged. ‘Never heard of him.’

‘An American,’ I said. ‘He came from the Caribbean Banking Corporation – which, he informed me, is one-third owned by Western and Continental. Is that true?’

‘Near enough,’ said Hosmer. ‘We have a thirty per cent stake.’

‘He wanted me to quit. He tried to blackmail me first and when that failed he tried a bribe. Then he said he’d get me deported. I advised against it. I think he took my advice.’

‘You advised against it,’ said Hosmer heavily. ‘What form did your advice take?’

‘I said I’d blow the story to the British press, who would be delighted to climb in. I think he took the point.’ I hoped Hosmer also took the point.