‘Agent Reynolds?’ said Nightingale.

‘Sir?’

‘Could you liaise with DCI Seawoll, who is Gold Commander on this op.’ Nightingale’s voice had got very precise and clipped. ‘I trust you’ve informed CTC?’

‘Kittredge was with me for the interview, sir,’ she said.

‘Good,’ said Nightingale. ‘That should speed things up. Is there anything further your people can contribute?’

‘I’m afraid not sir,’ said Kimberley. ‘Although there may be more intelligence forthcoming.’

‘Very good,’ said Nightingale. ‘Carry on, Agent Reynolds, and keep us apprised.’

‘American intelligence,’ said Guleed once the phone was safely off.

‘Forewarned is forearmed,’ said Nightingale.

I asked if it wouldn’t be better to cut our losses and grab Reynard, Lady Helena and Caroline before the situation got more complicated. As a rule, the more complex a situation gets the more likely the wheels are to come off. This is why the police strategy with large crowds is to pin them in place until everyone’s too desperate for the loo to cause trouble.

‘No,’ said Nightingale. ‘We’re going to adopt a flexible doctrine. If we spot the Americans we’ll see if CTC can’t round them up without disturbing our principals. If Reynard leads us to his hiding place and Martin Chorley makes an appearance, we shall deal with that mob while CTC fends off the Americans.’

‘Flexible.’ I said. ‘Meaning we’re making it up as we go along.’

‘Quite,’ said Nightingale.

There was a click on the Airwave – it was Kubat.

‘They’re heading for the door,’ he said.

‘Hand off to Banana Car,’ said Nightingale. ‘Banana Car, stay in position and tell me where they go.’

The answer was south – towards Piccadilly and Green Park.

Suddenly Nightingale was pulling out of our parking space and accelerating fast enough to push us back hard into our seats. He swung a sudden left into Half Moon Street while simultaneously ordering Banana Car to shift position to the Bomber Command memorial and await further instructions, Charlie Car was to drop two of its watchers off on the Knightsbridge side of Hyde Park Corner.

‘And drive carefully,’ said Nightingale. ‘I don’t want you drawing attention to yourselves.’

I hung on grimly to the door handle as he braked hard just short of the corner with Piccadilly and wished he’d take his own advice. We pulled into an insanely unlikely free parking spot and Nightingale looked over and told me to cross Piccadilly and take a position inside the park gate.

‘Get yourself twenty yards behind the targets and follow them,’ he said. ‘Guleed and I will follow ten yards behind you.’

‘The targets all know him,’ said Guleed.

‘They know Peter Grant the dashing constable about town,’ said Nightingale. ‘In his sweat top they’ll take him for an averagely delinquent youth.’ He stabbed a finger in the direction of the park. ‘Off you go – we’ll be right behind you.’