Kate couldn’t think of a worse time or place to be discussing this. ‘I’m not an expert, but, to me, there’s no doubt that it’s him. The entire thing is shot with very high- quality hidden cameras. He enters the room. Three very younglooking girls dressed in high leather boots and short skirts get up from a sofa in the corner. An old woman, who is clearly the madam, promises him that two of the girls are virgins and the other still very young. He takes a packet of what looks like cocaine from his pocket and encourages them to snort it first, before doing so himself with a rolled-up twenty-dollar bill. He asks them to undress and to . . . well, to pleasure each other, which they do not very convincingly. He is clearly no newcomer to this kind of scenario and he directs them to do a series of specific things to each other.

‘Then he stands, unbuckles his belt and comes to the bed. He has removed his underwear, but keeps his shirt and socks on. The girls then pleasure him, before he has intercourse with each of them in turn – in the missionary position. All three girls appear to be crying as he enters them. Afterwards, one is still shedding tears and he instructs the others to “tell her to shut up”. He adds that all three will “eat well tonight”, then dresses and departs.’

There was a long silence. Sir Alan had his back to them. He was staring out across the rooftops, which were just shapes in the darkness. ‘You watched the whole thing?’

‘Yes, sir. It was unbearably sordid.’

‘And you are absolutely one hundred per cent certain it was him?’

‘Yes. It was the way he talked, the way he moved . . .’

‘It could not have been faked?’

Kate hesitated. Had she been too quick to believe what had appeared to be the evidence of her own eyes? ‘It’s real – it has to be,’ she said. ‘And it is definitely him.’

Sir Alan looked like a man trying to hide frustration, anger or both. ‘What arrangements did you make?’

‘He and his father want a letter from the foreign secretary guaranteeing protection, free travel in Europe and America, and the ability to enjoy their assets in the West unhindered, which I promised they would have tomorrow. They will assemble in Tbilisi, where Igor’s family were originally from, or a home they have in Kazbegi, close to the border, by the end of the week. They want a private plane to fly them direct to London, so that they do not have to pass through the main airport terminal, which he said was watched by the Russians. They also promised to bring with them evidence of the cash they have paid to Ryan – more than thirty million pounds in all.’

‘The foreign secretary wants to see us tomorrow morning at her London house,’ Julie said. ‘Just Kate and me.’