Bill opened the cabin door and folded it down. ‘Thank you for flying Air Deniable, we hope you enjoyed your flight. Please have a safe onward journey,’ he said in a slightly tinny voice, mimicking a pilot’s patter.

Tom stood and shook hands with the American agent. ‘Thanks, Bill.’

‘Stay safe and stay in touch with Pet; she has your back.’

Tom descended the steps, which Bill immediately closed behind him. The aircraft note changed, and it lurched off again. Clearly there was no waiting for a return take off slot either.

Tom noticed the difference in air temperature compared to London. He estimated that it was about ten degrees Centigrade, making a mental note of the clothing he would require given the altitude up in the Cairngorms.

He strode across the pan towards the familiar terminal. There wouldn’t be any Customs or Border Force activity, given that it was a non-domestic flight, but he was aware of the multiple CCTV cameras that would be tracking him.

As he approached the door, he heard a familiar voice shout, ‘Tom!’ He turned to the source of the greeting to see the large frame of Donnie, dressed in orange flight overalls, walking towards him. He was a tall man, well over six feet, and of powerful yet lean build. He had short, grey hair and humorous blue eyes, a smile never far from his mouth. He was a big character who had never quite pulled off being a Major in the Royal Marines, remaining close to the NCOs and Marines despite his rank.

‘Good to see you, Donnie,’ Tom said as they hugged.

‘Come on, man. Helicopter’s warmed up and ready to go.’

Tom followed Donnie to a waiting Ford Mondeo airfield maintenance vehicle with a flashing orange strobe light on the top. They got in and set off towards the nearby helicopter pan, where a red and white liveried helicopter sat waiting with two crew members stood by. The logo ‘Coastguard Rescue’ was emblazoned on the helicopter’s flanks. Tom recognised it as a Sikorsky S-92, almost identical to the US Black Hawk helicopter used in many Special Forces deployments. It was now used by a civilian firm to perform the role that was traditionally performed by the RAF and Navy. Most of the pilots, like Donnie, were ex-military.

As he drove, Donnie said, ‘Go on then, I need to know something before I send a multimillion-pound aircraft on a taxi mission. I have enough influence to get this done without too many questions, but I at least need a clue.’

‘I’ll tell you, Donnie, because I trust you, but we cannot go to the police. You’ll have to trust me on that one. Cameron and Shona are being held hostage up at the cottage by armed Serbian gangsters. It’s because of something I’ve done in my work; they’ve got them to get to me and some evidence I have.’