‘But Troy said Jarvis has them,’ Callie insisted, looking devastated. ‘It can’t be Jon. He’s one of my best friends. He wouldn’t do this.’

‘Hellsake! Callie, I admire your loyalty, but the facts speak for themselves,’ I reminded her. ‘And Troy gave us the letter J only.’

‘Are you able to track Jarvis’s whereabouts in the same way?’

Reluctantly, I shook my head.

‘So Jarvis might’ve been there at some point this evening as well. Maybe Jon followed him,’ said Callie.

‘Which is why I’m going to assume they’re both guilty until I know otherwise.’

Grudgingly, Callie nodded.

‘If Libby and Troy have been stashed in Lusaka Green, then my people will find them. We’ll know one way or another before Jon gets here. And, if it is him, then knowing he had Libby and Troy gives us an edge. For the first time, we’ll be one step ahead of him. If he’s up to his neck in this, we need to find out whether he’s working alone or with Eva.’

‘That’s one helluva lot of “ifs”. I hope you have a massive apology ready and waiting when you find out that you’re wrong about Jon.’

‘I’ll kiss his feet if I’m wrong, but if I’m right …’

Callie shook her head, unwilling to believe her friend could have anything to do with Troy’s disappearance. I stepped away from her to make a phone call.

‘What if the address at Lusaka Green is perfectly innocent?’ Callie called after me.

If Callie were to send just a fraction of the faith she had in her colleague my way, I’d be a very happy man. ‘Callie, if Lusaka Green is a red herring, then we’re no worse off, are we?’

She nodded, again reluctantly. I got on with my phone call. Lowering my voice, I launched in the moment Jade answered her phone. ‘Jade, I want you to send an armed response unit to the address I’m about to text you. I believe there are two kidnap victims being held at that address – and one of them is my daughter.’

‘Oh my days! Your daughter? Yes, sir. At once.’ After her initial outburst, the calm, collected, ultimate professional Jade took over.

‘Once they’ve secured the building, let me know immediately if they find anyone,’ I said.

‘Yes, sir. Of course. I won’t let you down.’