‘There’s a child’s life at stake here. I’m not prepared to take any chances. We can have Krebs moved out of the prison population tonight. We’ll say she’s been taken to hospital with acute appendicitis. That should give us some leeway in case we get into a hostage situation out at the farm. I want to move in on them as soon as it’s dark.’

Petra was puce with fury. ‘You were the one who was so adamant that we had to give way to Europol and the Brits on this operation. Now you want to grab the glory back.’

Plesch glared at her coldly. ‘I’d have thought that would have appealed to someone as ambitious as you, Petra.’

She felt her hands bunch into fists. ‘I admit I wanted to be the one to close Radecki down. But not at the risk of someone else’s operation. Someone else’s life.’

‘Jordan is at no risk from our operation. However we don’t know if that’s the case where Tanja Krebs is concerned. For all you know, Krasic may have left instructions to dispose of the kid if anything happens to him and Radecki.’

‘Why would he do that?’ Petra raged. ‘If they’re locked up, all the more reason why they need an insurance policy. You’re using anything you can to justify what you want to do.’

Plesch slammed the flat of her hand down on the desk. ‘Enough! You’re forgetting yourself, Becker. I’m in charge of this unit. If you want to stay a part of it, you have to learn where discussion ends and insubordination begins.’

Petra bit down hard on her anger. Giving way to her murderous fury now wouldn’t solve anything. ‘Yes, ma’am,’ she forced out.

They glowered at each other across the desk. When Plesch spoke, she had miraculously managed to find a conversational tone again. ‘I take it you want to be part of this operation?’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘OK. I’ve got a team coming in from Special Ops to lead the assault on the farmhouse. You’ll be in joint command on the ground. I also want you to go and see Krebs and tell her what’s happening. We need her co-operation, and I think you’re the person to make sure we get it. So, have a briefing with the Special Ops guys, then get yourself over to the jail to talk to Krebs. They’re moving her to the hospital wing in an hour.’

‘Very good, ma’am.’ Petra turned on her heel and walked to the door.

‘Petra?’ Plesch said as she turned the handle.

Petra swung back to face her. ‘Yes?’

‘Trust me, this makes sense.’

The look she gave Plesch said she didn’t believe a word of it. But all Petra said was, ‘If you say so, ma’am.’ Then she was gone.