Konrad and Malcolm walk stiffly down the concrete corridor and pause outside the door. Both of them covered in bruises with split lips, black eyes and swollen faces.

‘Ah,’ Roland says, rushing to the doorway on hearing their shuffling feet. ‘How did it go?’

‘How did it go,’ Konrad mutters, looking away.

‘Come in, chaps,’ Roland says, moving back into the room dominated by a huge rough-hewn wooden desk. ‘Safa Patel?’ he asks, staring from one to the other.

‘In her room,’ Malcolm says, wincing at the pain caused in his mouth when he speaks.

‘Really?’ Roland asks, his face showing genuine delight. ‘All three in one night. How marvellous! My, we have been busy, haven’t we?’

‘Some of us have,’ Konrad mutters again.

‘Yes,’ Roland says slowly while shaking his head as though not quite believing it. ‘So how did it go?’

‘Go?’ Malcolm asks, glancing at Konrad. ‘Well, we got her here.’

‘No no, did she put up a fight?’ Roland asks eagerly.

‘Seriously?’ Konrad asks. ‘Have you seen our faces?’

‘I have and it’s wonderful,’ Roland announces, then stops at the thunderous looks coming back. ‘I mean yes, yes of course I have and, er, well chaps. I am indebted to you. Indeed I am. I would have loved to have been there for Harry and Safa but, well, yes.’ He rocks back and forth on his heels, placing his hands behind his back to look serious and studied. ‘But all three!’ he booms again with a big smile. ‘So? Did Safa fight you did she?’

‘Yes,’ Malcolm replies flatly.

‘How much?’ Roland asks.

‘Loads,’ Konrad says as flatly as Malcolm.

‘Well now,’ Roland says, grinning at both of them. ‘Very well done, chaps.’

‘Boss,’ Malcolm says with a worried glance at Konrad. ‘Er, what you gonna do when they wake up?’

‘Pardon?’ Roland asks.

‘They ain’t gonna be happy are they?’ Malcolm says.

‘And we’ve already had the shit beaten out of us,’ Konrad adds.

‘You didn’t get your nose broke,’ Malcolm mutters.

‘You didn’t get your nose broke,’ Konrad mimics.

‘Twat,’ Malcolm huffs, then looks at Roland. ‘They’re hard as nails . . . we’ve kidnapped ’em, pumped ’em full of drugs and we really ain’t gonna stop ’em if all three go nuts.’

‘Nuts?’ Roland asks, smoothing his dark hair back.

Malcolm looks at Konrad, who looks back at Malcolm. ‘Have you thought this through?’ Konrad asks.

‘Of course I have,’ Roland replies brusquely. ‘But yes, I will admit there is an element of, er, well, winging it as we go . . .’

‘We?’ Konrad asks.

‘Hmmm,’ Roland says. ‘I was rather thinking they would wake up and I would explain what has happened and . . . well . . . that would be that . . . I mean, they are Harry Madden, Ben Ryder and Safa Patel and the program has matched them for honour and integrity as well as bravery and courage.’

‘No,’ Malcolm says quickly.

‘No?’ Roland asks.