‘If that’s the case, make sure his instructions are obeyed.’

Sir Angus hesitated. ‘Of course,’ he said.

‘So what do I do when I get there?’ said Porter.

‘Your job is to get Katie Dartmouth out, alive, simple as that,’ said Sir Angus. ‘That’s what we’re paying you for, and I expect results.’

His fingers were still tapping nervously on the table. ‘This is the plan of action,’ he continued. ‘First, find out exactly what it is the buggers want. They say they want our boys out of Iraq, but that’s probably a front. There’ll be something else they will settle for. The PM has authorised us to offer them what he called “a fresh roadmap to peace in the Middle East”, whatever the hell that might mean. Frankly I think the only person who believes it is worth anyone pissing away time on peace talks is our beloved leader, but you never know, they might fall for it. Talk to them about that first. But if you aren’t getting anywhere, and I suspect you won’t, then I’m authorising you to offer them money. We’ll do what the French do, which is buy her release. Offer them ten million dollars for starters, but hint that we’d be prepared to go higher if it would help. Tell them they can negotiate directly with me via email. Or, if they prefer, they can talk to Jacques Papiasse. He’s a private banker in Luxembourg who the French use to pay ransoms for their hostages, and Hezbollah know him and trust him. He’s agreed to act for us, for the usual outrageous fee I might add, and if they want to, they can negotiate with him directly.’

‘Like I said earlier, it sounds like I’ll need a plan B,’ said Porter. ‘Because I can’t see them going for any of that bollocks. They’ve had more peace plans than I’ve bottles of vodka, and if they wanted money, they would have asked for it by now.’

‘Then this is where you go next,’ said Sir Angus. ‘There’s a man in Guantànamo Bay, a Hezbollah leader called Fouad Karem. He’s been there for a year. We’ve spoken to Washington, and they’ve agreed that they’ll let us swap him for Katie. Offer them that, and if they bite, then we can sort out the details of the exchange.’

‘And what happens when it’s Saturday morning?’ said Porter. ‘Three days’ time, and Katie’s execution is just hours away. None of these suggestions are working. They won’t negotiate, and they won’t delay, and they don’t give a toss about either of us. What the hell do I do then?’

Sir Angus leant forward, straight into Porter’s face. ‘I’ve sent a lot of men into the field since I started working for this outfit, and I’ve always given them one piece of advice,’ he said. ‘Don’t play the bloody hero. It isn’t worth it. You’ll probably end up dead, and get us all in the shit. But you know what, Mr Porter. This time round I might just suspend that. If it comes to Saturday morning, and nothing else is working, then play the hero. It’s a last resort, remember that, but if everything else fails, use your Regiment training to try and take the buggers out and get the girl out of there.’