‘I’m hoping Mike has some resource that can get me to their house quickly. I can watch without being expected and then figure out a way to take the gunmen out. If I was going to drive up there, it would take at least ten hours; but a flight is just over an hour. It would give me the element of surprise I badly need.’

‘You only have the Sig, and you can’t take that on a flight.’

‘I’ll improvise; I’m good at that.’

The sat-phone buzzed.

‘Mike?’

‘Where are you?’

‘Islington, in a car with blue lights and a siren.’

‘Okay. Get yourself to RAF Northolt, go to the main gate and get Pet to take the car away. You’re expected. There’s a jet ready to take you on a priority flight path to Inverness airport; it’ll take less than an hour. You have some photo ID?

‘A driving licence in my cover name.’

‘Okay. You’ll need to show that. You can’t take any weapons through the gate or on the flight so lose whatever you have. I’ve arranged for a tactical package to be made available for you. I know I said I couldn’t give you any equipment, but this has gone up to a level where I am gonna pull some strings. My representative on the flight has access to some irregular resources that we tend to reserve for special circumstances. I think we can call this a special circumstance, Tom. Use the flight to acquaint yourself with the contents. It’s nothing you’ve not seen before, but my representative on the flight can answer any questions. Sorry, my friend, I can’t give you any manpower on the ground.’

‘That’s no problem, Mike. You’re doing more than I expected. Thanks, man,’ he said, the gratitude heartfelt in his voice.

‘We can get you to the airport, but after that it’s over to you.’

‘That’ll be enough. I’ve another favour to call in elsewhere.’

‘I want you to stay in constant contact with Pet: there’s a communications kit in the tactical package. We may also be able to offer some real-time support, technically. I may be able to divert a satellite or two.’

‘I will, Mike, and thanks.’

‘Best of luck, man.’ And he was gone.

Tom looked at his watch, it was 1645 hours. Branko would be expecting him to hand over the SD card in eighteen-and-a-quarter hours.

‘We will need to secrete my phone somewhere en route and leave it switched on. I don’t want them seeing it close to the RAF base. I know a place, but you’ll need to retrieve it as quick as you can after you’ve dropped me off, in case he calls. I think we are safe for an hour or two, though.’