‘Why should they do that? They’ve earned these extras.’

‘They’ll be earning nothing if these foreign nuisances continue to encroach on our territory.’

‘I’m not pretending that isn’t an issue, Bill. But why take it out on the lads?’

‘Because the lads, as you call them, are not pulling their weight.’

McCracken pointed at the window. ‘The enemy’s out there, not in here.’

‘The enemy won’t meet us in open battle. Instead, he strikes us here, there, everywhere … whenever we aren’t looking. But we need to be looking, Frank. That’s my point. We need to be. All of us. If my own captains can’t do that, the men who take a fortune out of this company every year for their own private pleasures, what fucking use are they?’

‘Bill, come on … you know as well as I do that this is no straightforward war. Like you say, it’s slow encroachment … and it’s happening everywhere. It’s the way things are, it’s a new age of crime …’

‘And we don’t have a role any more. Is that what you’re saying?’

McCracken placed his whisky on the desk; he hadn’t touched a drop so far.

‘We need to negotiate,’ he said. ‘It won’t be difficult. Look … the Russians, the Mexicans, whoever it happens to be, they don’t want a major scrap any more than we do.’

‘So we should accept slavery?’

‘No … but how about an equal partnership? Look, Frank … this is happening the world over. Yeah, there are occasional flare-ups, but most firms are finding out that if they’re prepared to sit down at the table and talk with these guys, deals can be done.’

‘There’s a problem, though, Frank.’ Pentecost seated himself behind his desk. ‘You see, the Crew only exists as an entity if we’re considered to be rule-makers, not rule-takers. And to be honest, I’m surprised I have to remind you of this.’

‘How can we maintain that if we fall out among ourselves?’

‘We won’t be falling out among ourselves.’

‘Maybe not.’

‘Definitely not.’

‘How can you be sure?’

‘Because we took a vote on it.’

‘That vote was coerced.’

Pentecost’s eyebrows lifted. ‘Really?’

‘Okay, maybe not coerced. But the lads are all going home now, where they’ll sit and have a good think about it … and in a short while they’ll be steaming.’

Pentecost pondered this.

‘Come on, Bill,’ McCracken coaxed him. ‘You know this. You don’t need me to say it.’

‘If that’s the case, the only conclusion can be that even more stick is required.’

‘Bill … are you not listening to me?’

‘Frank … I think it’s you who’s not really listening to me. The way I see things, the lads have already had plenty carrot. A bit of stick too, I’ll admit. But evidently not nearly enough.’