Be a shame to come all this way and reduce the hostages to mince.

So device three was also on RC.

The moment West activated it, anyone who came out of that door was going to be shredded by 700 3.2mm steel ball-bearings, propelled outwards at 1,200 metres per second by 680g of C4.

That part of his job done, Fred quickly moved back to the team, gave Carr the thumbs-up, and took up position facing the villa.

Carr turned back to the servants’ quarters.

He moved slightly right, to get a better angle, and raised his Diemaco, looking at the small outbuilding through the scope.

To its right were three vehicles – a Hilux and a couple of Land Cruisers.

But what really caught his attention was the guard sitting outside the door on a chair, an AK47 held slack across his lap.

Completely oblivious – he looked like he was dozing.

Certainly hadn’t reacted to the shots.

So far, so lucky.

And that had to be where the girls were, thought Carr. No way they were guarding it for any other reason.

He looked over his left shoulder.

‘Psst,’ he said.

Kev McMullen looked at him.

Carr made a thumbs-down sign.

Enemy.

Then he indicated towards the servants’ quarters, and pointed first to himself and then to McMullen.

We’re going over there.

McMullen gave a thumbs-up.

Roger.

He passed the signal on to the others, and then the four of them were off and moving, as a group, staying close to the wall, using the extra darkness it created and the sound of the generator to move as stealthily and as quickly as they could.

En route, Carr placed Fred and Geordie down with their two Minimis, their role being to cover the main villa and the gate.

Both men lay prone, a few metres apart, weapons into their shoulders, 200-round drums fixed with others at their side, ready for a quick change.

The two weapons systems would be devastating at close range: 800rpm of 7.62mm flying around at 3,000 feet per second would really ruin anyone’s day.

Cautiously, as quietly as possible, Carr and McMullen moved behind the three vehicles and close to the far wall.

Phase 2 was over: they were inside the compound, with everyone in position.

Now to start Phase 3.

Find the women, and get out alive.

Chapter 96.

96.

INSIDE THE SERVANTS’ quarters, Charlotte Morgan lay on a thin, grey mattress against one wall.

She was still secured to the bedframe by a cable tie around one wrist, but her legs were free; early on, both women had been chained round the ankle, but the ball-ache of taking the chains on and off so that they could use the bucket toilet in the corner of the room had worn the guards down.

Charlotte stank of urine and sweat and filth, and her body was sore and emaciated from days of gastroenteritis, but she was in better condition than Martha Percival.