‘Would I, Auntie?’ Harry charmed, smiling guiltily as he dashed round the counter and gave Kirsten a goodbye kiss. ‘Love you, gotta dash.’

Harry wondered why Ellie had called him in a late-night panic as his Mini shot down the Beltway, with the sun low on the horizon and barely a car in sight. Ellie had made the midnight call with a bawling toddler on his lap. He’d refused to go into detail, but he told Harry to make sure he was on time and that it was regarding a business deal that would make all our lives easier.

Huddy’s was a popular diner, close enough to McCarran International Airport to be populated with the high-vis jackets worn by aircraft mechanics, ground staff and in-flight caterers. Harry had to circle twice to find an empty bay, something that hadn’t troubled the huge Rolls-Royce Phantom blocking three disabled spots in front of the main entrance.

Harry’s morning appetite was tempered by angst as he pushed through bodies queuing for breakfast bagels and take-out coffee. The air was dense with talk and hissing deep-fat fryers as he cut between busy tables, his youth and Queensbridge Academy blazer drawing glances as he picked out Ellie’s thin white shirt, yellow tie and shocking dispersion of red hair. An older, somehow familiar man sat facing him.

Harry wasn’t late, but empty breakfast plates and half-drunk coffee mugs suggested that he hadn’t been invited to join from the start.

‘Here’s my boy wonder,’ Ellie said, sliding into the booth to make space.

Harry felt like he’d been kicked as he linked the man to the Rolls out front. I’m gonna open my eyes and Kirsten will shake me awake.

‘Jay Janssen Senior,’ he said, stretching out to shake Harry’s hand. ‘Heard you’re a young mover and shaker, Smirnov.’

Harry felt queasy, crunched by a big old hand as he settled on the bench. Janssen was seventy-six, sporting a denim shirt and bolo tie, his ink-blue cowboy hat on the table beside him.

‘I … Umm, hello,’ Harry said, realising that Ellie knew nothing about Earl’s accident, or Man Bun’s visit.

‘I admire someone like you,’ Jay told Harry. ‘World’s full of kids expecting everything on a plate, my two boys included. When I was your age, I was buying and selling cars. Making more money than my old man by fourteen. School was a drag, so I stopped going. When my pa whipped me and made me go back, I got myself expelled.’

Harry smiled uneasily. He sensed he was being softened up. Ellie must have told Jay that he was earning good money and didn’t like school.

‘You can relate to that, can’t you?’ Ellie asked.

Harry looked over at Ellie as he noticed the two hulking figures at the table behind. Apparently, the elderly tycoon had too many enemies to go out unaccompanied.