‘Think about it,’ Marijke said, reaching to take Carol’s hand in hers. ‘It may be this is not the place. If Petra will see you, she will be angry. She will make us go away. You know this is the first time we have met? I don’t want her to think I am a fool. Anyway,’ she carried on over Carol’s objection, ‘you cannot walk so far, I think. We wait and see, and if they go in, we drive down and you can see it all for yourself.’

‘I’m sorry, Marijke. I’m not thinking straight. You’re right.’

‘I know this is hard. You love him, yes?’

‘Yes. I love him.’ She’d never admitted it to another living soul. It was rather late to be starting now, but Carol felt she owed Tony that affirmation at least. ‘But I don’t think he’s ever believed it.’

‘You are lovers, yes?’

Carol shook her head. ‘It’s a complicated story. The circumstances were never right. Or so we thought.’ She sighed. ‘I wish now it had been different.’

‘Don’t despair. He’s probably still alive. Petra will get him out.’

Carol squeezed the other woman’s hand. ‘Marijke, even if he gets out of this alive, there’s not a chance in hell that we can be together. Not after what Radecki did to me tonight. Besides, it was me who brought him here, remember? If I hadn’t asked him to come, he’d be home now. Safe and well.’

There was nothing more to be said, Marijke thought. At least, not now. She had seen too many rape victims over the years to offer platitudes now.

Petra took a deep breath and set off, walking fast but stealthily towards the spot where she’d seen the lights die. The empty Mercedes was parked outside a small building with corrugated metal walls and roof. There was a big roller door in the middle of the frontage, with a small wooden door set to one side. There was no cover between them and the door, but equally there were no windows to reveal their approach.

She put her head down and ran for it, her trainers almost silent on the asphalt. She flattened herself against the wall on one side of the door, Morgan and the Special Ops commander lined up on the other. Petra inched sideways, putting her ear to the door. Nothing. She shook her head. He winked at her and took a small hand drill from one of his many pockets. He placed it against the door and delicately turned the brace. Even standing next to him, Petra couldn’t hear a thing.