If the two men were unnerved by the dog, they didn’t show it. The one who’d spoken spoke again, putting on a smile that looked incongruous on his face. ‘Lovely day, isn’t it?’

Ben didn’t reply. It was clear they knew exactly who he was. And the way they moved, the way they held themselves, the confident air with which they approached: everything about them revealed to Ben exactly who they were, too. In that same moment he knew they must have been watching Le Val and followed him here for a particular reason. Which spoke of a high degree of organisation, and a fair level of skill to have been able to shadow him unnoticed. Ben’s sixth sense in these matters had been unusually sharp even before it had been honed to a razor edge by his years of military training and experience.

And that told him, as loud and clear as though they’d read him out a list of credentials, that these two guys had been through some of the same kind of training he had. Operators, and still in the business by all accounts.

They came within four steps and halted, standing three feet apart, making a triangle with Ben as he stood very still next to his vehicle and watched them closely.

‘You haven’t followed me all the way to Valognes to talk about the weather,’ he said, breaking his silence. ‘So what do you want?’

‘To take you for a little trip,’ said the one who’d spoken before. The other just stared.

‘Too late,’ Ben said. ‘Just been on one. Now my shopping’s done and I’m going home.’

‘You can make this easy on yourself,’ the man said. ‘We have instructions. We’re required to carry them out.’

‘I can make it easy on you, too,’ Ben said. ‘By pretending that I didn’t see you. So turn around and walk away, while the going’s good.’

The man shook his head. ‘Not an option, I’m afraid.’

‘Don’t be like that,’ said the other. ‘We’re not looking for trouble.’

‘Tell that to the dog,’ Ben replied. Storm was eyeing them unblinkingly. A low rumble was coming from deep in his chest, like distant thunder. One false move, and he was ready to fly at them.

‘Nice doggie,’ said the first man. ‘What’s his name?’

‘I wouldn’t get too close, if I were you.’

‘Just making friends,’ the man said.

‘A trip to where?’ Ben asked.

‘London.’

‘Can’t say I was planning on visiting the place any time soon.’

The man shrugged. ‘Not our problem. Orders.’

‘Whose?’

The man pointed a finger at the sky. ‘Doesn’t get much higher. They’re very keen to see you, Major.’

‘They could have saved you a journey,’ Ben said. ‘I’m not interested.’

‘Colonel Carstairs would be disappointed to hear that,’ the man said.