He walked Kate down the path from the front door to the garden gate. She kissed him lightly on the cheek and squeezed his hand, then got into her taxi and was driven away.

From the bathroom window, Maria watched her go.

Christopher walked slowly back up the path to the front door, oblivious to the figure in the upstairs window. He climbed the stairs to his study and quietly closed the door. What to do now?

‘So let’s get this straight shall we?’ Gary was pacing the office. ‘We know Mr Tan is going back to China the day after tomorrow, yes?’

Sarah ran her finger down a sheet of paper that lay in front of her on her desk. ‘Yes, he’s booked on the British Airways sixteen-forty flight from Heathrow, Terminal Four. Flight number zero three nine.’

Gary cocked his head on one side and spoke almost in parenthesis, ‘Isn’t intelligence wonderful?’ He hoped she would notice the double meaning. Then he continued, ‘Except that he won’t get on it.’

‘Not if everything goes according to plan,’ confirmed Sarah.

‘So he’s expecting me at three p.m. in the Savoy?’

‘He’s agreed to meet Dr Wilson, a Harley Street specialist, to discuss a regular supply of organs for his clinic.’

‘But he wants money there and then?’

‘It’s his way of making sure that the doctor is serious. Otherwise he could end up supplying organs and not getting his money. Except that if he didn’t get his money, I’m sure he has a few heavies who could be relied on to apply pressure.’

‘You know, considering that we had so little information a week ago, it’s amazing what we’ve got now.’

‘Why do you think Ben Atkinson’s gone down with flu?’ asked Sarah.

‘Overwork?’

‘Exactly.’

‘So what does Mr Tan know about me–I mean about Dr Wilson?’

‘He knows that Dr Wilson is a respected practitioner who’s forty-nine, accomplished in his job and runs a thriving clinic.’

‘Does he know what he looks like?’

‘No. He hasn’t met him. He’s met one of his colleagues.’

‘When was this?’ asked Gary.

‘Yesterday. Ben managed to get a guy into one of the clinics. They’d had an approach from organ vendors before and declined any involvement, but we managed to persuade them to call Mr Tan and arrange an appointment.’

‘He’s good, Ben, isn’t he? Shame about his health.’

‘Don’t be unkind.’

Gary looked suitably chastened. ‘So I just go in and meet Mr Tan and strike up a conversation? Ask him what he can supply?’