Mickey watched as the gang boss paced slowly backwards. Gestured with the MP7’s barrel.

‘Far enough. There’s about twenty-five rounds left in this thing. Take one step towards me and you’ll get them all in the face. Turn to run, I’ll put them all in your back. Don’t think for one second I won’t do it.’

He bent, reaching one-handed into the case and pulling out a passport. Flipped it open and held it up to view, one eye on Joe.

‘Nice work. Even looks right. But then it would, wouldn’t it? Man like you, money to burn.’

‘Ha fucking ha.’

The look on Joe’s face murderous, on being reminded of the events that had led to his fall from power.

‘Where were you going, I wonder? Let’s have a look.’ Mickey flicked the passport pages one handed.

‘Is this a visa for Qatar? And open-ended from the look of it. And Qatar with no UK extradition treaty. Good choice. And how much money were you taking for travel expenses?’

Joe, recovering from the shock of a bullet taking the top centimetre of his ear off, started negotiating again.

‘Ten million. Bitcoin and diamonds. Plus a hundred k’s worth of credit cards. Leave me the passport and the cards, you can have the rest. It’s only travelling money, but there’s enough to make you a rich man.’

‘And you’ve got how much offshore? Twenty million? Fifty?’

The gangster shook his head in amusement.

‘What do you think? I’ve been getting ready for this since the day I succeeded my old man. He always had an escape plan; I just made it better. A lot better.’

‘I bet. Except I heard what you were telling your dead goon over there. I let you get away, forty-eight hours from now you’ll be hiring hit men. My name on the contract. Perhaps you just need to die here.’

He’d already guessed exactly what Joe’s negotiating position would be.

‘Maybe. But I’ve still got your wife. You want her to live, you let me go.’

‘So what’s the deal?’

‘You release me, I release her. You keep the ten mil, I keep the passport and credit cards. Her life for mine, and enough money to mint you for life. And my word that I’ll leave you in peace.’

‘Your word? Bit of a devalued currency.’

Joe shrugged. Grinned wolfishly. Pushing hard. ‘It’s the only deal I have for you. And a very reasonable offer, I’d say. Take it or don’t take it.’

Mickey shook his head. ‘Not good enough. Free her now. Have the men holding her give her the phone you call to give the order. When I know she’s away clean, I’ll give you the car keys, passport and credit cards. Want to know why you’re going to accept that?’

Joe shrugged. ‘Go on.’