Perhaps Bernard Dubois could have another go at finding out. Getting into the car, Ben pulled out his burner phone and dialled the Institute’s number again, but the offices were now closed and all he got was a voicemail message asking him to leave his name and number. He put the burner away and checked his other phone, with a pang of annoyance that Ken Keegan in London hadn’t yet been in touch with a contact for Tyler Roth. Blocked at every damned turn.

He was about to put that phone away too when it started burring in his hand. It was Thierry, calling from the safehouse.

‘Got something here to show you, chief.’

Ben was surprised. ‘You finished working on the audio already?’

‘Not quite done there. I’ve uploaded the video file to the laptop and grabbed the software I need from the web. The audio cleanup might take me a while. But the other thing you asked for is ready to rock.’

‘Fast work.’

‘That’s why you pay me the big bucks.’

‘I’m on my way.’

Chapter 17

Back at the safehouse, Thierry proudly showed Ben what he’d cooked up for him. And as far as Ben could tell, it was indistinguishable from the real thing. The master forger had proved his worth yet again.

The laminated ID card featured a red, white and blue diagonal stripe across one corner, across its centre the official header of the French Ministry of the Interior and the words DIRECTION GENERALE DE LA POLICE NATIONALE. The mugshot of Ben in suit, tie and slicked-back hair had been snapped earlier with a phone camera and artfully fiddled to look like a passport photo. For the purposes of the fake police ID his new name was Inspector Jacques Dardenne. Ben had come up with the name off the top of his head and wasn’t sure that he liked it, but it would do fine.

‘If I’d had more time I might have been able to rustle you up a proper badge,’ Thierry said ruefully. ‘The card alone will only get you so far.’

‘This is excellent, Thierry. More than enough for what I need.’

‘I’m not even going to ask what you want it for.’

‘You never asked me before.’

‘And that’s the way I like it.’