‘You’ve been hoodwinked, sir. The Russians promised you a cosy retirement, but they’re lying through their back teeth. They’ve poisoned your associate’s brother. They even attempted to assassinate you in London.’

Seguma’s eyes narrowed, pulling his eyebrows together. ‘Someone tried to kill my double?’

‘It was kept out of the news. The police arrested an assassin near the wedding venue. He’s from Karatandu, but it looks like he was trained up and funded by the Russians.’

‘But why would they kill me? We had a deal.’

‘You’re one of the longest-serving leaders in Africa,’ Mallet said. ‘The last thing the Russians want is you making noises in the background, stirring things up. It could cause problems for the new man.’

‘But I promised them I would stay out of politics. I gave them my word.’

Mallet rooted through his pockets and pulled out a packet of smokes. ‘That doesn’t matter,’ he replied as he jammed a cigarette between his teeth and searched for a lighter. ‘The Russians will tell you whatever you want to hear, sir. But it’s safer if they scrub you out of existence.’

He patted himself down, found a lighter in his jacket and sparked up. Then he said, ‘We’re about to go live on a call with a senior officer at MI6. The British are going to make you an offer.’

Seguma’s expression tightened. ‘What offer?’

‘Something better than the one you had on the table from Russia.’ Mallet blew out smoke, looked round and tapped ash into a glass ashtray. ‘One that doesn’t end with you getting a bullet in the back of the head.’

The cigarette dangled from Mallet’s lips as he swiped a finger across the laptop touchpad. He pressed a key, the same musical ringtone filled the room, and a moment later the voice of the anonymous MI6 officer came over the speaker from six hundred miles away.

‘John? Is everyone present?’

‘We’re all here, ma’am.’

‘Have you explained the situation to Mr Seguma?’

‘I’ve told him what’s really going on, aye.’

The Voice said, ‘Mr Seguma, I’m afraid I’m going to have to make this very quick, because we don’t have a lot of time. In less than two hours, the Russians will realise that the meeting is off and initiate a military coup d’état. I’m sure you appreciate the urgency of the situation.’

‘Who am I speaking to?’ Seguma demanded. ‘Give me your name.’

‘That doesn’t concern you, Mr President. All you need to know is that I am speaking to you on behalf of the British government. I’ve been authorised to make you an offer.’

Seguma laughed mirthlessly. ‘Now you want to help me? Now, of all times? Surely this is a joke.’

‘We’re trying to help you out of this situation, Mr President.’