‘You speak French?’ asked Bowman.

Webb laughed and said, ‘My mother’s side of the family is from Martinique. It’s all I spoke around my grandparents.’

‘What’s our story?’

Mallet said, ‘You’ll claim to have urgent legal documents that need to be countersigned by David Lang,’ Mallet said. ‘Six have drawn up a couple of ID cards, in case you get arrested. That should get you past the front desk.’

‘Won’t Lang get suspicious?’

‘Six doesn’t think so.’

‘I don’t care what they think,’ Bowman said. ‘It’s my neck on the line, not theirs.’

‘And mine,’ Webb added.

Mallet sighed irritably. ‘It won’t be a problem. Lang likes to think of himself as a reputable businessman. That’s why he’s pumped his money into hotels, casinos, mining companies. All that legit money comes with paperwork. This won’t strike him as unusual.’

‘What’s the plan once we’re inside?’

‘You’ll subdue Lang and Seguma and clear the apartment. Patrick will watch over them. Meanwhile, you’ll change into Lang’s clothes and head down to the underground car park. There’s a private lift, so no one will see you entering or leaving. Lang keeps a Range Rover down there. We’ll give you the licence plate, so you’ll know which one to look for. You’ll take his wagon out for a spin,’ he added, tracing a finger south along the main road, ‘drive down as far as this roundabout, swing round and head north again to pick me and Alex up. That way, no one will see us entering the building.’

‘Why me?’ asked Bowman.

‘You’re roughly the same build as Lang. You could almost pass as his third twin. There are cameras in the underground parking facility. When the security staff see you getting behind the wheel, they’ll naturally assume it’s Lang popping out for a pack of ciggies.

‘Once we’re inside,’ Mallet added, ‘we’ll take the lift back up to Lang’s apartment and question him. I’ll be leading the interrogation.’

‘What about Tiny?’ Bowman asked.

‘He’ll wait in the car. Keep an eye on the entrance to the block. That’s the plan. But knowing Tiny, he’ll probably pass the time eyeing up the local talent and wishing he was taller than an elf.’

‘Size ain’t everything, John.’

‘Fuck me, is that the line you use on women? No wonder you can’t get laid.’

Casey gave them both an eye-roll and said, ‘If someone shows up – one of Lang’s associates, or the police – Keith will let you know. That’ll give you a few minutes’ warning to get out.’

Bowman said, ‘What’s the exfiltration plan?’