Real-life detectives probably didn’t use terms like ‘ringleaders’, but it sounded good and had the right effect on Margot Segal. ‘My husband is a good man,’ she said. ‘We’ve been married for over thirty years. We’ve had our ups and downs but, well, he’s all I have.’

‘We know that, Margot,’ Ben replied. ‘And I truly don’t want anything bad to happen to him. That’s why I need your help to contact him. His office colleagues said he was travelling to some conference overseas. Do you know where he went?’

She looked puzzled at the mention of a conference. ‘He never said anything about that to me. He often travels, but I always know exactly where he is. Except this time. When he got back from his last overseas trip, to Libya, he said he had to go away again for a few days. He was all secretive. He seemed nervous. He never used to act that way but he often does, these days. This time even more so.’

‘Do you have any idea what he was nervous about?’

She shook her head. ‘None. I seldom know what his trips are about as I don’t know anything about archaeology. I asked him if something was wrong, but he just said not to worry, that everything would be fine, and he’d be home again soon. That was two days ago. I was going to call him on his mobile to check that he was all right, but I never got the chance because that’s when those men suddenly turned up and—’ Her eyes filled up with tears.

‘You often call him on his mobile when he’s away on business?’ Ben asked.

‘All the time. I know the number by heart.’

Ben took out his phone. ‘Then call him now.’

Chapter 44

Margot Segal dialled the number and pressed the phone to her ear. ‘What do I tell him?’ she asked Ben, anxiously.

‘Tell him the truth,’ Ben said. ‘I want him to hear your voice and to know that you’re safe. Then I’d like to talk to him.’

She nodded. Waited for her husband to pick up. After a few more rings she whispered to Ben, ‘It’s gone to voicemail.’

‘Leave a message.’

She nodded again. After the prompter bleep she said in a voice hoarse with emotion, ‘Chéri, it’s me. I don’t know where you are, but I wanted to tell you that I’m all right. I’m safe. Please call me back. I so badly want to hear your voice.’

Her words were straight from the heart and touchingly sincere. She ended the call and passed the phone back to Ben. ‘What do we do now?’

‘Now we wait for him to call back.’

‘What if he doesn’t?’

Ben thought, If he doesn’t, it means he’s probably dead already. ‘Let’s just wait and see.’