Seven shadows loomed up behind her. ‘They’ve stopped just ahead. About fifty yards,’ Petra said in a low voice. ‘We need to check it out. Let’s fan out and come at it front and side. If we’re sure they’ve got Tony in there, I go in first. Special Ops behind me. Shark, you stay outside, cover our backs. Is everybody cool with that?’

The Special Ops commander grinned, his teeth flashing white. ‘Sounds solid. I’ll take the front with you. You two, come up on the left. And you, go with The Shark round on the right. We’ll link up at the front if it’s all clear.’

‘We’re coming with you,’ Morgan said.

‘I don’t think so,’ Petra said firmly.

‘Look, I don’t know what the fuck Tony Hill is doing in the middle of my operation, but he’s a British citizen, and I am not taking a back seat here. I’d stake my pension that I’ve done a lot more operations like this than you have, Detective Becker.’

‘Have you got a gun?’ Petra demanded.

‘No.’

‘Then you’re a liability.’

‘I’ll stay well back.’

‘We’re wasting time here,’ the Special Ops commander muttered. ‘Let him come. If he gets shot, it’s not our responsibility.’

Petra threw her hands up in the air. ‘Fine. You come with us, but the desk jockey’ – she pointed at Gandle – ‘goes with The Shark.’

Morgan nodded. ‘OK. So let’s do it.’

Someone yanked one end of the tarpaulin, spilling Tony on to the hard concrete floor. He felt his skin abrade as he skidded off the tarp, but he lay still, apart from his eyes blinking in the sudden light. He didn’t have the energy for more. Radecki was standing in front of him, arms folded, legs apart.

‘You lied to me,’ he said conversationally. ‘Please take that rag out of his mouth, Darko.’

Krasic leaned down and jerked Tony’s underpants from his mouth. He’d become so dehydrated that he felt pieces of skin rip off with them. His tongue felt like a giant salami lying dead in his mouth. Even if he’d had anything to say, he doubted he could manage it.

‘It was a good lie,’ Radecki continued. ‘Part of me almost believed it. I admit, I wanted to believe it. She’s a beautiful woman. Well, I should say, she used to be a beautiful woman. I don’t think her looks are going to work so well for her in the future.’

Tony tried not to show the pain Radecki’s words gave him. He kept his gaze level, his eyes unflinchingly on the other man’s face.