‘You can start by telling us when your Demon Club pals are due to get together next,’ Wolf replied.

‘Surely you wouldn’t plan on—’ Dudley started, gaping at them.

‘That’s exactly what we plan on,’ Ben said. ‘So let’s have it.’

Dudley let out a long sigh. ‘Very well. The next date in our calendar is the evening of March twenty-ninth. It’s the most important event of the year for us.’

Wolf looked at Ben. ‘Jesus. That’s tomorrow night.’

‘Why’s it so important?’ Ben asked Dudley.

‘There are many key dates in our year,’ Dudley confessed. ‘The Spring Equinox. Halloween. Hexennacht, the night of the witches. Lupercalia, when we sacrifice a goat in honour of our Lord Satan. But March twenty-ninth is special because it marks the creation of the Ancient Order of Thoth by our founder in 1907.’

‘Aleister Crowley,’ Ben said. ‘Your Grand Master’s old mentor.’

‘That’s right.’ Dudley no longer seemed surprised that his captors knew so much.

‘So what entertainment have you got cooked up this time around?’ Wolf asked, still filming and recording every word. ‘Someone else’s daughter getting her throat cut?’

‘Every important gathering must involve a blood ritual,’ Dudley admitted. ‘The usual event is scheduled for tomorrow night, to take place on the lake. Afterwards a second ceremony is to be held. It’s kept very secret. Only the Grand Master and his closest entourage know what’s planned.’

‘This takes place on the lake too?’ Ben asked him.

Dudley shook his head. ‘No. Down beneath the house. In the crypts.’

‘Crypts?’

‘A network of tunnels,’ Dudley replied.

‘Like the ones that Francis Dashwood built at Medmenham Abbey.’

‘But more extensive,’ Dudley said. ‘Our founder established them over a century ago, and they were in poor condition by the time I was inducted into the Order. I was on the committee that oversaw their refurbishment, and I still have the plans. The tunnels are lined with concrete and extend far beneath Karswell Hall, right across the lake.’

‘That’s how the bastards bring their victim from the house onto the island,’ Wolf said. ‘The way they just appeared from the trees, like magic.’

Dudley nodded. ‘Yes. There are cells down there, where the sacrificial offerings are kept until the ceremony. As well as other special rooms devoted to certain purposes.’

Certain purposes. Ben could imagine what those might be. Or maybe he couldn’t imagine. Either way, he didn’t want to know.

‘Where are the plans? Here in your house?’

‘No, I have them on my phone.’

Ben reached down, searched Dudley’s pockets for the phone and found it. ‘So who else will be at this little party?’ he demanded.

‘Everyone will be present for the opening rite. Afterwards only the senior members will attend the ceremony in the crypts. The Inner Circle of the Order of Thoth. Thirteen initiates in all.’

‘Including Van Brakel?’