‘I believe Mahmud is not only an associate but part of their hierarchy,’ Jax continued. ‘He was third in line when it came to the introductions. While, according to Islamic custom, that may have been because of his age, a subsequent exchange led me to believe it was more about his standing in the group. Speaking in Arabic, he cut over the top of the group and issued an order, which was obeyed. They were all subservient to the demand, if not to him.’

Clarke didn’t look up from the notepad he was scrawling on. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘What about the others?’

‘Khalil thinks I am his mate,’ Jax said. ‘He trusts me and has become the facilitator you predicted he would be. I believe Bashir is the group’s recruiter and that he is in the process of recruiting me. Based on standard M.O., he is currently in the first phase: offering protection and companionship, showing kindness; he has made no attempt to make me subservient yet or spoken about a conversion to Islam. His profile matches that of an extremist. He uses religious rhetoric to reinforce or condemn behaviours within the group. He often misquotes the Quran, on purpose I believe, to manipulate others and align them to him and his agenda. I have heard him recite several inciteful verses, all known to be used by extremists.’

Jax had to stop to make sure Clarke was actually listening, as there hadn’t been a nod or raised brow from the agent to acknowledge anything he had said.

‘Continue,’ Clarke said.

‘That Halim . . .’ Jax went on. ‘I was going to say he is proving a problem, but, really, he is probably the most telling of the lot. He doesn’t like me one bit. He has told the others not to trust me, but I think it is more about him than me. He is unsure of his place, maybe having a crack at me just to see if the others will act on his advice. And they haven’t. They’ve dismissed him. I don’t believe he is their 3IC from what I have seen, but I haven’t even collected enough observational data to establish a baseline. Given his personality profile and what I have observed, I believe there could be an opportunity to turn Halim down the track. I would suggest that we come up with a strategy to further alienate him from the group. A few more knocks to his ego. That sort of thing.’

Again, Jax waited for an acknowledgement. Nothing was forthcoming, so he forged on. ‘They have no idea that I understand Arabic,’ he said. ‘And they’ve been talking about a “mission’.’

He peered at Clarke. Pupils not dilated. Brows not raised. Not a single physiological sign of interest. His mind was elsewhere.