Which meant only one pair of eyes on Clark and the mark. McNab’s guts twisted. Two minders weren’t enough. They should have had another one inside. He should be in there.

As he made to exit the car, intent on bringing this sting to completion, his mobile rang. Glancing at the screen, he saw Jack Winters’s name come up.

What a fucking time to call. He hesitated before pressing the dismiss button. Whatever Winters had to say, it could wait until he got Janice out of there.

Suddenly the worried voice was back in his ear. ‘Sir, Willis is no longer in view. I repeat, we have lost Willis.’

McNab cursed under his breath.

So Willis was making a run for it, but not, it seemed, via the front door.

Reconnaissance had indicated the back exit from the club led onto a narrow alley with only one way out, and that was directly across from where he had chosen to park.

He got back on the comms. ‘Tell them to stay with Clark. Repeat, stay with Clark. I’m coming in.’

McNab jumped out of the vehicle and, walking casually, crossed the road as though he was bound for the entrance before ducking into the side alley. Narrow, a stone wall forming the outside, only a corner light broke the darkness.

Breaking into a run, he reached the corner and made the ninety-degree turn to find Willis leaning against the wall next to the fire exit, apparently having a leisurely fag.

McNab hesitated. It didn’t look as though Willis had any intention of running.

Spotting McNab’s figure under the light, Willis nodded, evidently unfazed by his sudden arrival, maybe even pleased by his appearance. ‘Evening, DS McNab.’

McNab’s brain was racing. What the hell was going on here? Even as he tried to work the scenario out, a voice in his ear demanded to be told what to do.

‘Get DS Clark out and arrest the mark. I have Willis. Repeat, I have Willis.’

As he completed his command, he realized a figure had emerged alongside Willis.

Yards away now, McNab stopped in his tracks when he saw who it was. Only a psycho fucker would have put themselves in this position, he thought.

So that makes two of us.

The earpiece had gone silent, no doubt because his orders were being carried out, but the man before him wouldn’t have come alone, which meant the likelihood was that the team inside was already outnumbered.

‘Told you he was too clever for you,’ Willis said, his eyes shining with glee.

Hugo had sidestepped Willis and was walking towards McNab. He was fully clothed this time, no tanned torso gleaming with sweat, but the expression on his face was the one McNab remembered.

Even in the poor light, McNab could smell the eagerness to kill.

He could stand and fight, or he could flee.