‘I set her a little test, you see. I knew she was hot to fuck me last night, but she held back. If you were telling the truth, I knew she’d come across if she thought that playing hard to get was going to cost her our little deal. But if you were lying, she could never fuck me, could she? Because then all her evidence would be tainted. If it ever came to court, my lawyer would destroy her.’ He unfolded his arms and thrust his hands in the pockets of his trousers. It was a strut, and Tony recognized it as such.

‘And so, I demonstrated to my own satisfaction that you were indeed lying.’ His mouth curved in a humourless smile. ‘But I fucked her anyway. I fucked her mouth, I fucked her cunt, I fucked her ass. You should be grateful that I’m going to kill you, because after what I did to her, you’d never want to go near her again.’

There was a sort of relief in the confirmation of his imminent death, Tony thought. At least he wouldn’t have to live with the guilt. He tried to speak, but nothing came out.

‘I think our guest needs some lubrication, Darko.’

Krasic disappeared, returning with a bottle of mineral water. He crouched down and grabbed Tony by the hair, pouring the freezing water over his face and into his open mouth. Tony spluttered and gagged, but his mouth was no longer agonizingly dry.

‘You were about to say something, Dr Hill?’ Radecki said politely.

‘You’re boring me,’ Tony croaked. ‘Just finish the job.’

Radecki pouted. ‘What is it with you Brits? You’ve got no sense of fun. That bitch Carol wouldn’t even put up a fight. But then, maybe she was enjoying it?’

Tony wasn’t going to rise to such transparent bait. He said nothing.

‘You know why I’m going to kill you? It’s not because you lied to me. It’s because your people killed Katerina. She had done nothing wrong except to love me. Oh, and of course she had the misfortune to look like a convenient detective. So, I have to live with that.’ For the first time, his face showed an emotion other than triumph or contempt. ‘Just as Carol Jordan will have to live with the fact that what she is has cost you your life.’ He pulled a gun out of the waistband of his trousers.

Tony closed his eyes and waited.

Carol reached for the door handle. ‘Hold on,’ Marijke said.

‘Why? Petra’s crew are all out of sight. We’ve come this far, I want to be there.’