‘Now you got what you wanted. Good night.’ The call ended abruptly, leaving Tadeusz feeling less uneasy than he had ten minutes previously. What he didn’t know was that he’d just been talking to one of Morgan’s undercover operatives, briefed to give Caroline Jackson as vivid a reality as possible.

Tadeusz had sat through the third act, brooding over his course of action. As The Cunning Little Vixen drew to a close, he came to a decision. He had to see the virtual reappearance of Katerina as a good omen. He’d go with his gut reaction and see what she had to offer him.

In the cold light of morning, the decision still felt like a good one. He wished he’d been able to talk it over with Darko, but his right-hand man wasn’t due back from Belgrade until that afternoon. And this was too important to entrust to telephones. He’d have to rely on his own intuition. He reached for the phone and dialled the number on the card she’d given him.

‘Hello?’ Her voice was already familiar.

‘Good morning, Caroline. It’s Tadeusz here.’

‘Good to hear from you.’

She sounded determined not to show any enthusiasm that might not be matched on his side. ‘I wondered if you might be free for lunch?’ he asked.

‘That rather depends.’

‘On what?’

‘Whether it’s business or pleasure on the agenda,’ she said coolly.

‘I suspect that, with you, business would always be one sort of pleasure or another,’ he said, an undertone of amusement in his voice. He was surprised by how at ease he felt flirting gently with her.

‘You didn’t answer my question.’

‘I think we may be able to do business,’ he said. ‘But first, we have to get to know each other a little better. You see, I only deal with people when my instincts tell me they’re reliable.’

‘Really?’ she asked, sounding incredulous. ‘And you still chose Colin?’

His source had been right. She was smart. ‘If that was such a bad decision, then by your own admission, the condemnation falls equally on your shoulders, Caroline,’ he pointed out.

‘Touché,’ she said.

‘So, will we have lunch?’

‘If you can make it earlier rather than later. I have some important calls to make this afternoon.’

‘How is noon for you?’

‘I can do that.’

‘I’ll send the car for you at eleven forty-five. I look forward to it.’

‘Thanks, but I’ve got to go out this morning. I don’t know where I’ll be at eleven forty-five. Just tell me where to be, and I’ll get there for noon.’

He named the restaurant and gave her the address. ‘I look forward to seeing you,’ he added.