You can have whatever you need – my private funds.

‘Your fee would be two per cent of the ransom demand,’ he said. ‘Five per cent if we get her back alive. Cash.’

Carr didn’t bat an eyelid.

‘Wait one,’ he said.

He dialled a number on his mobile.

‘Daisy?’ he said. ‘It’s John, upstairs. Listen, I’m sorry, sweetheart, but something’s come up. I can’t make Odette’s. Another time. But if you want to come up in an hour I’ll chuck a pizza in the oven?’

He chuckled.

‘I’ll see you then,’ he said.

He ended the call and looked at Nicholls.

‘Two per cent and five per cent?’ he said. ‘Nah. Three, and six.’

‘Three and six it is,’ said Nicholls.

‘Did I say three and six?’ said Carr. ‘I meant four and seven.’

Nicholls looked at him. ‘Seven per cent of twenty-five million dollars is one-and-three-quarter million,’ he said.

‘You obviously got a maths GCSE,’ said Carr, with a smile.

‘It’s a lot of money.’

‘Aye. And how much would it cost for you to put your balls on the line and go out there to get her back?’

Nicholls sat forward.

‘Any chance of a cup of tea?’ he said. ‘Or perhaps something stronger?’

Carr stood up and padded out of the living room – surprisingly light on his feet, for a man of more than 210lbs in weight and six feet two inches in height.

He was back with two tumblers of scotch in a few moments, a single ice cube in each.

Nicholls took a sip and nodded appreciatively.

‘Macallan Estate Reserve,’ said Carr, placing the bottle and an ice caddy on the coffee table between them. ‘Accept no substitute.’

‘Okay,’ said Nicholls. ‘Four and seven per cent it is.’

‘That’s just me,’ said Carr. ‘You’d also need to sort out my team – a hundred-and-fifty grand apiece for going, double if we succeed. And a million for death-in-service. Agreed?’

‘Agreed,’ said Nicholls.

‘This is starting to sound interesting,’ said Carr. ‘So what’s your plan?’

‘There’s the thing,’ said Nicholls, with an awkward smile. ‘I haven’t got one yet. All I’ve got so far is a few thoughts.’

‘I’ve never known anyone from Six have more than a few thoughts,’ said Carr, with a wide grin. ‘Tell me what they are.’

‘It seemed to me,’ said Nicholls, suddenly feeling hesitant, ‘that we might be able to insert a small team, people with the necessary skills and familiarity with the area.’

Carr nodded. ‘Insert them how?’ he said.

‘My idea was to fly them into Egypt,’ said Nicholls. ‘Obviously with a suitable cover story – I thought just four mates, over for a beach holiday in Sharm El Sheikh.’

Carr picked at his teeth.