Grey had someone in the room with him talking to the Port Authority. No boats had been logged for departure within the last hour, but that didn’t surprise Jameson. These weren’t the kind of people who followed the rules. ‘Where’s the TAPS?’ said Grey to his colleague. ‘Get me the captain. And I want a Wildcat out searching ASAP.’ He spoke back into the microphone: ‘You boys let me know what you see when you get there.’ And then he hung up.

‘TAPS?’ asked Jameson.

‘Towed Array Patrol Ship,’ said the team leader. ‘Part of our continuous at sea deterrent, maintained at readiness 365 days a year.’

‘Perfect. Let’s show these bastards who they’re playing with.’

83

Bello’s self-satisfied smile made him look truly evil.

‘Tell me then,’ he said.

‘There was only the girl. I never met her mother. She was alone and I felt sorry for her so I gave her some money when we docked and sent her to Julian. He was a good man. I knew he’d take her in.’

Bello said nothing.

‘And then, when the operation was complete, I arranged for her to come to the UK. I took her to the station, gave her more money and told her to go and make a new life. That’s the last I saw of her.’

‘You expect me to believe that.’

‘Well it’s the truth, so yes.’

‘Which station?’

‘London Waterloo.’

‘And where can she get to from this London Waterloo?’

‘Pretty much anywhere in the country. She could get a train, a bus, the underground or simply walk out on to the street.’

‘Why not just tell me that at the start? Why pretend to forget?’

Harry held the man’s gaze. ‘Because I don’t like you very much.’

Bello smiled again. ‘I want a list of every city and town she might have gone to.’

‘That could be every town and city in the UK.’

‘So be it.’ Bello looked at Seraphine. ‘You are from the UK. Help him.’

Abdul took a notebook from the desk drawer and handed it to Harry along with a pen.

‘You’re not serious?’ said Harry.

‘I will find her if it takes the rest of my living days. Alina is mine.’

He left, gesturing at Abdul to follow.

They locked the door behind them and Harry finally looked at Seraphine.

‘So you do remember?’ she asked.

Harry closed his eyes and tried not to think about what was happening to Sophie and Jake. ‘How did this guy get my children? Was that you?’ He opened his eyes again.

Seraphine looked at him for longer than was polite. ‘I don’t think you do remember.’

‘No?’

‘You lied. Risky. Ballsy.’

‘I told him what I think I’d have done.’

She pulled a chair up to the desk. ‘I didn’t lead him to your children. That was all you.’

‘The meeting in the cafe?’