Mallet stared silently at the speakerphone, as if deferring to a higher authority.

‘We don’t know,’ the Voice said. ‘Perhaps there’s a financial incentive. The Russians might have decided it’s in their interest to cut the middlemen out of the deal. Increase their profit margin.’

Casey said, ‘But the Russians must have known that if word leaked about Freddie’s death, his brother would call off the meeting. Why would they take the risk?’

‘We don’t have time for this sort of idle speculation,’ the Voice replied tonelessly. ‘Now, unless you have any more questions, I suggest you prepare to leave for Northolt. The next time we speak, I expect to hear David Lang on the other end.’

‘We’ll get the bastard,’ Mallet said. ‘Don’t worry about that.’

‘Make sure that you do,’ the Voice warned. ‘Whatever David Lang is planning with the Russians, we need to put a stop it. I don’t care what you do, or how you do it,’ she added. ‘Just get to Lang and make him talk. Before it’s too late.’

Eleven

Eleven

The line cut out. Mallet reached across the table and tapped a backlit button on the speakerphone, shutting the unit down. He checked his watch, then glanced round the room with his hard Glaswegian stare.

‘The Caravelle will be here in twenty minutes,’ he said. ‘Remember, this is a fastball operation. We’ll load up the wagon and then head straight to the airfield. The plane will be waiting for us on the pan, fuelled and ready to go. Any questions?’

Loader did a double-take. ‘You’re coming with us?’

‘Change of plan,’ Mallet replied.

‘It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it?’

‘We need boots on the ground. The original plan was for a five-man team. You’ve lost two guys. Josh will fill one slot. I’ll fill the other. If the other lads were here, I’d send them along. But they’re both tied up on a posting, so you’ve got me instead. Besides, I’m already up to speed. Unless you’ve got a problem with that?’

Loader held up his hands. ‘You won’t get any arguments from me, John. The more the merrier, as far as I’m concerned.’

‘Good.’ Mallet turned to the others. ‘The seventh dwarf approves, so we can all breathe a sigh of relief. How about the rest of you? Anyone have anything to add?’

Casey and Webb both shook their heads. Mallet looked round at Bowman and said, ‘There’s no time to go through the plan right now. We’ll update you fully en route to France. As soon as we’re in the air. Rat runs, equipment, procedures on capture.’

‘Capture?’

Mallet laughed. ‘When I say “capture”, I mean arrest. We might be driving to the target and get involved in a pile-up. Or a kid might run out in front of us and get hit.’