‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean that Aryo told you these lies three years ago. So this whole thing – this whole set-up – it’s been ready to go for that long. So why hasn’t anyone come after Knowles? Why has the story never come out?’

‘Because it’s a threat, that’s why.’

Grace looked at Dempsey, puzzled.

‘What?’

‘This wasn’t done in order to get rid of Knowles. This was done to control him.’

‘Blackmail . . .’

‘Exactly.’ Dempsey nodded. ‘Using a story that isn’t true. And one which will never do him any harm provided he does as he’s told. But one that can be brought to life with a single phone call to Blackspear.’

‘Jesus Christ.’

‘You said it,’ Dempsey agreed. ‘This lot weren’t interested in bringing down a president; they did this to own a president. The question is, if it isn’t even true, how’ve they got him to go along with it? They must have something more compelling than some fake witnesses.’

Dempsey turned to Shah.

‘When you left Tootkai did you notice anything? Any unusual activity?’

‘No. What are you thinking may have happened?’

‘I’m thinking that our arrival in Afghanistan will have reached the White House by now. It was always going to; I knew it put us against the clock. But if a single phone call can put this whole thing in motion . . .’

‘Then they could already have pressed “go” on the set-up,’ Grace concluded.

‘Exactly. For all we know, Blackspear could already be moving the fake victims and witnesses into place.’

‘So what do we do?’

‘We get to Tootkai as soon as we can. And we find Aryo.’

‘Aryo?’ Shah asked.

‘You said he was your tribesman. A brother. I know what that means, Jangi. It means he was a fighter, just like you. Not a man to be intimidated by anyone.’

‘That would be a fair description.’

‘A man like that, he didn’t lie to you because someone threatened him. There had to have been something else. He must have been paid to tell you this story.’

Shah nodded.

‘I reached the same conclusion.’

‘Which means he’ll have details on who paid him. Information we can use that proves this is a set-up.’ Dempsey looked at Shah for confirmation. ‘He might even have some sort of solid evidence.’

‘He knows enough that he can help,’ Shah agreed. ‘Real evidence? I do not know. But it is possible. Aryo has never been a fool.’

‘Either way, he’s the only witness we’ve got. And we can’t use what he said to Jangi under coercion. Only his direct evidence will do.’

‘And you think he’ll talk?’ Grace asked. ‘Without being, you know . . .’

‘I haven’t got a clue what he’ll do. But what else do we have?’

Dempsey was right, Grace realised. If what Shah had told them was true, the presidency of the United States had been hijacked.

And their only chance of proving it was in Tootkai.