‘We’re not making it up.’ Mallet gestured to Bowman. ‘In fact, Josh was the one who ran to your brother’s aid. He heard Freddie’s confession. Ask him if you don’t believe us.’

‘Bollocks.’

‘It’s the truth,’ Bowman insisted. ‘The Russians got to your brother. Freddie said so himself. Those were his last words. He wanted me to warn you, before you walked into a trap.’

Lang shook his head angrily. ‘It don’t make sense.’

‘We’re just telling you how it is, Davey.’

‘But if they poisoned Freddie, why haven’t I heard nothing?’ Lang jerked his head at the TV. ‘That story is all over the news, but no one’s talking about my brother.’

‘We’ve withheld the victim’s identity,’ the Voice said. ‘We thought you’d want to know from us first.’

‘This isn’t a game,’ Bowman said sincerely. ‘Your brother’s seriously ill, David.’

Lang drew his gaze back to the solemn-faced figures at the table. He saw the sober look in Bowman’s pale grey eyes, and something in him seemed to break. He looked away and fell silent. His lips began to tremble as he stared out of the balcony windows, beyond the terrace, at the forest of ugly high-rise apartments and skyscrapers. The white specks of cruise ships drifted lazily across the rim of the horizon.

‘How is he?’ he asked quietly.

‘There’s no point sugar-coating it,’ Mallet replied bluntly. ‘Freddie’s going to die. It’s going to be a fucking horrible death, he’ll be in a great deal of pain, and you’re next on the Russians’ hit list.’

Lang searched the horizon, squinting, as if looking for answers. ‘It can’t be . . . Why would they do it?’

Mallet said, ‘It’s over, Davey. Your best bet is to come clean and tell us what’s going on.’

Lang stared at the skyline for a few moments. When he slanted his gaze back to the table, the hard lines had returned to his face.

‘Forget it. I ain’t talking to the likes of you.’

‘Don’t be a fool,’ the Voice said over the laptop speaker. ‘The Russians are double-crossing you. They managed to get to your brother at a royal wedding party. They’ll kill you too, if they get the chance. Do you really think they’ll let you walk away from this thing alive? If you tell us what you know, we can help you.’

‘I don’t need your help. I’m a big boy, I’ve made plenty of enemies in my time. I can take care of myself.’

‘We’re doing you a favour, you thick bastard,’ Mallet hissed.

‘You won’t be safe in Monte Carlo,’ said the Voice. ‘The Russians have the run of the principality. They’ll hunt you down and kill you. We can protect you, David.’