It was a roll of the dice. The longer it took for Segal to respond, if he ever did, the harder it would be for Ben to keep up the pretence with his wife. He was prepared to give it a few hours, but after that he’d have no choice but to bite the bullet and pass her over to the real cops, for her own safety. And that would throw a spanner in the works of his plan.

But Ben didn’t have to wait long. They were still sitting in the bedroom when, two minutes after Margot had left her message, the phone rang. The caller ID on the screen was the same number she’d dialled. He handed the phone to her. ‘It’s him.’

She sounded breathless as she answered the call. ‘Julien?’ Then, at the sound of his voice, she burst into tears. ‘Yes, it’s me, Chéri. I’m safe. I’m all right. Inspector Dardenne and his friend from the FBI rescued me … Yes, I’m here with them. In protective custody … Yes, they’re here with me now.’

Ben held out his hand for the phone. She hesitated, then passed it to him. He stood up and left the bedroom, closing the door behind him. In the apartment’s small living room Roth was lounging idly on the armchair with his eyes closed.

‘Margot? Margot? Are you there?’ Julien Segal sounded agitated and confused on the other end of the line.

Ben said quietly and calmly, ‘Monsieur Segal, my name is Ben Hope. You don’t know me, but I’d very much like to speak with you. Are you alone? Can we talk?’

After a long beat Segal replied, on the edge of panic, ‘Yes, I’m alone. Are you the police? What’s this about the FBI? Where’s my wife?’

Ben glanced back at the bedroom door and kept his voice low. ‘She’s in good hands, Monsieur Segal. I promise you that. But we’re not the police, which you should be happy about. I only told her that as a way to convince her to call you.’

Segal sounded even more confused and flustered. ‘Then … who the hell are you?’

‘I’m the man who found Romy’s body,’ Ben said. ‘I know who killed her. I know that Nazim al-Kassar has been coercing you to do business with him. We can put a stop to that. Right here. Right now. But I need your help. Where are you?’

Silence on the phone. Ben could almost hear Segal’s brain churning furiously. After another long pause, Segal muttered, ‘I … I’m in Le Havre.’