‘You’re right,’ Ben told him. ‘They sent me here to kill you.’

Wolf pulled a sour face. ‘Looks like everyone’s out hunting for me these days. Nice to know I’m so popular.’

‘But if I wanted you dead, all I had to do was let Captain Hook there do it for me. He had you cold.’ Ben motioned the barrel of the gun towards the dead man.

Wolf allowed himself a dark smile, a glint of gold catching the moonlight. ‘Must be getting slow in my old age. Then why didn’t you?’

Ben shrugged. ‘I’m still trying to figure that one out myself. Maybe it’s because you were one of my guys, back in the day. Or maybe it’s because I’m just a big softy at heart.’

Wolf pointed at the body. ‘Tell that to him.’

‘When I shoot someone, I like to think that they had it coming. He doesn’t strike me as the friendly type.’

‘So you don’t think I have it coming?’

‘Do you?’

Wolf shrugged. ‘Does it matter what I think?’

‘I don’t know what you’ve done to piss these people off so badly,’ Ben replied. ‘I don’t even know who they are.’

‘The gypsies?’

‘Not them. The other guys.’

Wolf said, ‘They’re bad people.’

‘You’re no angel yourself, Jaden.’

‘Trust me. Next to them, I’m a saint.’ Wolf shook his head and sighed. ‘I’m done with them. Finished. Should have got out a long time ago.’

‘Wisdom sometimes comes a little late. They’re obviously not so keen on letting you just walk away.’

‘How much did they pay you?’

Ben shook his head. ‘That’s a hell of a thing to say to me.’

‘But you still took the job.’

Ben said, ‘I had to.’

‘Then why don’t you finish it? You got me. I’m a sitting duck.’

‘Because there has to be some other way,’ Ben said. ‘It can’t go like this.’

‘Prove it. Put the pistol down.’

Ben put it down.

Wolf said, ‘Now kick it away.’

Ben kicked it away. The pistol tumbled over the lip of the ledge. He heard it clatter down the slope, well out of reach.

Wolf nodded. Another glint of gold caught the moonlight. ‘Nice one, Major.’ He took a fast step back towards the rifle and scooped it up. ‘Self-preservation,’ he said. ‘The strongest and oldest instinct we have. I learned that a long time ago.’

‘I know you did,’ Ben said. ‘From me. So if you’re going to shoot me, shoot. Make it quick.’

Wolf raised the rifle to his shoulder and took careful aim at Ben through the scope. His finger was on the trigger and his hold was steady. There was no way he could miss. Ben stood there ready to take it. A chill settled over him. If he’d failed, he deserved what he had coming now.