‘Warning you,’ Miller said grimly. ‘It’s got to stop. Carry on like this and you’ll go too far and no one will be able to help you – just remember that.’

‘Oh, I will,’ Craig said, his smile still hooked firmly into place.

‘Good.’ Miller opened the door. ‘Tell Harriet I’m sorry, but I’ve suddenly lost my appetite.’

The door closed behind him. Craig’s smile disappeared instantly. He stood there staring into space for a while, then pulled down his goggles, re-lit the blow torch and started to work again.

Max Vernon walked to the fireplace and back to his desk again, restless as a caged tiger, and Carver and Stratton watched him anxiously.

‘This is serious,’ he said. ‘Don’t you stupid bastards realize that? One single scandal – that’s all you need in a prestige club like this and you’re finished. My God, did you see their faces? They’ll never come back.’

‘Maybe things aren’t as bad as you think, Mr Vernon,’ Carver ventured and Vernon turned on him.

‘You bloody fool, we’ve been living from day to day, waiting for things to build up. I’ve been using the take from the Flamingo to keep the betting shops running. Now what happens?’

He sat down behind his desk and poured himself a brandy. ‘Who’s done this to me – who?’

‘Maybe it was Chuck Lazer,’ Stratton suggested.

‘Do me a favour?’ Vernon drained his glass. ‘I know one thing. Whoever it is will wish he’d never been born before I’m through with him.’

He slammed his fist down hard on the desk and something dropped to the floor and rolled across the carpet. Vernon leaned over and frowned. ‘What was that?’

Stratton picked up the small steel disk and passed it over. ‘Search me, Mr Vernon. It fell off the desk when you hit it. Must have been underneath.’

Vernon stared down incredulously and then grabbed a paper knife and forced off the top. ‘I’ve seen one of these before,’ he said. ‘It’s an electronic gadget – a microphone and transmitter.’ His face was suddenly distorted with fury and he dropped the disk on the floor and ground his heel into it. ‘We’ve been wired for sound. Some bastard’s been listening in.’

He reached for the brandy bottle and paused, eyes narrowing. ‘Just a minute – Craig’s Managing Director of an electronics firm, isn’t he?’

Stratton nodded eagerly. ‘That’s right and his daughter was here tonight remember.’

‘So she was,’ Vernon said softly. ‘Plus that nosy copper, Miller. Come to think of it, that’s twice he’s stuck his nose into my business in one night. That won’t do – that won’t do at all.’

‘Do you want Ben and me to handle it?’ Stratton said.