“Right. Then wait here. If anyone comes through the garden door, shoot them. If anyone comes through the other door, it’ll be either me and Olga, or the bad guys. I’ll knock first. Back in a second.”

Miriam dashed for the hall and took the stairs two at a time. “Zone two breach,” the burglar alarm chirped in her ear. Zone two was the east wall of the garden. “Olga?” she called.

“Here.” Olga stepped out onto the landing. Her goggles made her look like a tall, angular insect—a mantis, perhaps.

“Come on. We’ve got visitors.”

“Where do you want to hold out?”

“In the scullery passage and kitchen—the only direct way in is via the front window, and there are fun surprises waiting for them in the morning room and dining room.”

“Right.” Olga hurried downstairs, a machine pistol clutched in one hand.

“Brill,” Miriam called, “we’re coming in.” She remembered to knock.

Once in the kitchen she passed Brill a walkie-talkie with hands-free kit.

“Put this in a pocket and stick the headphone in. Good. Olga? You too.” She hit the transmit button. “Can you both hear me?”

Two nods. “Great. We’ve—”

“Attention. Zone four breach.”

“—That’s the living room. Wait for it, dammit!”

“Attention. Zone five breach.”

“Dining room,” Miriam whispered. “Right. Let’s go.”

“Let’s—what?”

She switched her set to a different channel and pressed the transmit button.

“Attention. Zone four smoke release. Attention. Zone five smoke release. Attention. Zone six smoke release.”

“What—”

“Smoke bombs. Come on, the doors are locked on the hall side and I had the frames reinforced. We’ve got them bottled up, unless they’ve got demolition charges. Here.” Miriam passed Brill a pair of handcuffs. “Let’s go. Remember, we want to get the ringleader alive—but I don’t want either of you to take any risks.”

Miriam led them into the octagonal hallway. There was a muffled thump from the day room door, and a sound of coughing. She waved Olga to one side, then prepared to open the door. “Switch your goggles on,” she said, and killed the lights.