She shrank back as Ball Cap reached past her to grab the door handle, but paused like that. ‘In and out. I say this takes half an hour tops. Any longer, bad news. Do I need to remind you of what happens if you run or anything? Do I?’

She shook her head. ‘I won’t run. I want my little lady.’

He opened the door. And that was it. She got out. Free. She looked around, seeking the van she had seen yesterday. But Josie was probably miles away in case she called the police. With no other choice – not that she would have taken another – she virtually ran down the side road, and out into a blizzard of pedestrians on the Strand in Westminster, London.

Jefferson’s was down a nondescript side street off the major London thoroughfare, tucked nicely away because it didn’t need or wish to advertise. The kind of people who banked there went looking for it.

The perks of banking here included access to executive lounges in hundreds of airports, major discounts on fine wines across the city, and a Breitling watch with personal locator beacon, because clients of Jefferson’s didn’t holiday in Blackpool. And since many were international and didn’t keep to British working hours, there was a concierge in reception twenty-four hours a day.

Anna swiped in with the keycard from her father’s garage. Ahead, across a marble floor, the white-suited concierge rose from behind his desk and straightened his tie with a smile. She started towards him, telling herself that she needn’t worry about her demeanour, because often the rich were quirky, and this guy was paid not to ask questions about—

He lost that smile in the quarter-second before she heard a bang behind her.

She whirled to see a man at the door, having just caught it before closing. Dishevelled, anxious, with distressed eyes and rapid breathing.

‘Nick. My God, what—’

He rushed in and grabbed her arm.

‘Ma’am, do you know this man?’

Over her shock, she turned to the concierge, who was walking around his desk.

‘Yes,’ she said. ‘It’s fine. Thank you.’

He didn’t look like he believed this, but he was paid not to ask questions of the quirky rich. The guy simply nodded as Nick guided Anna down a short corridor bearing the toilets. He pushed open the door of the Gents and virtually dragged her inside.

Still in shock, she didn’t manage to form a question until they were in a cubicle and the door was locked.

‘How did you know?’

He seemed calmer now they were alone. ‘It is revenge?’

‘You can’t be here, Nick. This will ruin things. How did you know where I was?’

The panic came back into his face. ‘Do you know where Josie is? Was she ever at the scrapyard?’