‘You mean how powerful you are,’ Jameson said, amazed at how his feelings towards this woman had changed so drastically in the space of one conversation. ‘So why do you bring people in here? … Because you do, don’t you?’

Jameson watched Seraphine’s brow furrow and then relax. ‘What makes you think that?’

He pondered the pros and cons of mentioning Lana’s pendant.

Bloom responded for him. ‘I expect he’s referring to the set-up. He’s observant about that kind of thing.’ She tapped the base of her chair with the palms of her hands. ‘These are heavy oak. They were brought here for more than one gathering.’

‘Some meetings require absolute privacy.’

‘I’ve been in the sort of meetings that require absolute privacy,’ said Jameson. ‘What do you do to people in here?’

‘Oh, we’re people now, are we? Not psychos or monsters?’

He ignored her. ‘You bring your players here? Players like Lana? Was Lana here?’

‘This has been a lot of fun, Marcus, darling, but now I have what I need’ – Seraphine gestured to Bloom – ‘I no longer need you.’

‘What are you planning to do with him?’ asked Bloom. ‘I take it you won’t just let him go.’

Jameson tried to catch Bloom’s eye, but she wouldn’t look his way. Was she really going to sit there and let this crazy woman do whatever she wanted?

‘Don’t worry. It won’t hurt,’ said Seraphine.

Bloom nodded as if that made it all right. ‘I am impressed with your game’s elegance and its scale,’ she said. ‘But surely you can’t have managed all this on your own?’

‘I’m not on my own,’ Seraphine said, looking around the room.

‘But the technology alone must have cost a fortune.’

‘You could say I’m independently wealthy. You know how easy it is for us to take their money, don’t you, Augusta?’

The smile Bloom gave her protégée turned Jameson’s stomach.

‘Fascinating,’ said Bloom. ‘And you profile them by their online activity?’

‘It couldn’t be easier, what with the popularity of social media today. Everyone is so desperate to reveal themselves and to be seen. It’s quite tragic, really. But that’s just the beginning. We then have to test if they’re worthy.’

‘How do you test them? How do you find out who’s worthy?’ Jameson said. He figured it was incumbent on him to get some answers, even if the chances of walking out of here alive were looking slim.