More nervous than he’d ever been in his life, Shallicker picked the case up.

‘Leave that,’ Benny B said. ‘Frank may not know it yet, but he’s actually going nowhere.’

‘Can’t leave it on the street, Ben … there’s a piece inside.’

‘Speaking of which … arms up.’

Shallicker leaned against the Audi, hands outspread. One of Benny’s goons made a quick search of his upper body, extricating the Colt Cobra from his shoulder-holster, and then searching his pockets, taking charge of the keys to the Bentley. Another one picked up the suitcase.

‘Okay,’ Benny said. ‘You’re good to go.’

Shallicker climbed into the front passenger seat, back and shoulders tense as hardboard, especially when he sensed Benny and two of his men climb in behind. Doors slammed.

‘Don’t be too worried,’ Benny said. ‘We just want to know what’s going on.’

Shallicker shrugged again. ‘Frank discharged himself and he’s going away for a few days to recover. What’s the big deal?’

‘The big deal,’ Bill Pentecost’s voice sounded from the dash, ‘is that first he ordered a hit on a high-level affiliate of ours without running it by the board!’

Shallicker initially jumped on hearing the voice, but then realised that Wild Bill was at the other end of a phone somewhere.

‘Don’t tell me you were involved in that, Michael?’ the Chairman said, in the kind of disappointed tone that indicated he already knew the answer.

‘Look, Bill …’ Shallicker held his hands up as though the guy was there in front of him. ‘I’ve already said … I just do what I’m told.’

‘In that case do what you’re told now,’ Pentecost retorted. ‘Give us the skinny. What’s going on and where’s Frank? It may be that he had a perfectly good reason to wipe out the Ripsaw Man. I mean, it’s a shame such a talented associate is gone. But if it had to happen, it had to happen. The point is … I’d like to know why.’

‘I don’t know why exactly …’ Shallicker stiffened as a muzzle jabbed the back of his left shoulder. ‘But I think Frank was unimpressed by a job he did for us recently. Caused some collateral damage, left a paper trail for the cops to follow.’

‘And that’s the reason he’s gone into hiding?’ The voice sounded unconvinced.

‘He’s not gone into hiding.’

‘So it’s just a coincidence that he’s done a runner from hospital, that he’s not answering his mobile and that his minder is packing his bags for him?’

‘Frank’s aware that he’s breached protocol, Bill.’

‘If that’s all it is, he’s not the man of steel he once was. So, where is he?’

With a click, Benny B cocked the pistol.

‘All right, all right,’ Shallicker said hurriedly. ‘He’s got a safehouse. Down in Delamere Forest.’