Once the hole was made, he inserted a small microphone, then handed her a single earphone. Radecki’s voice echoed loud and clear in her head as if someone had flicked a switch. ‘… oing 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 –’ Petra ripped the earphone out.

‘He’s in there. Tony’s in there. Radecki’s threatening him. We need to go in now.’

He nodded. ‘Stand clear.’

Petra jumped back as he drew his semi-automatic machine pistol and blew the lock out of the door in a single burst of fire. He kicked the door open and raced inside. She was at his heels, gun drawn for the second time that night. She had no idea where Morgan was, nor did she care.

She took it all in instantaneously, brain processing the scene. Radecki swinging round to face them, gun in hand. Krasic over to one side, reaching towards his back, then looking baffled and horrified. Tony’s white body naked and bound between Radecki and them. ‘Armed police, drop your weapons!’ a voice roared. She realized with a shock that it was hers.

Radecki’s face showed panic. He let off a loose shot that came nowhere near them. Petra took aim, her world narrowing to a tight focus. But before she could squeeze the trigger, there was another burst of automatic fire. Scarlet sprayed out in several directions from Radecki’s legs and he crumpled to the floor, screaming, his gun clattering off out of reach.

From the corner of her eye, Petra caught sight of Krasic charging down the Special Ops commander. She swung round and, without pause for thought, squeezed out a single shot. It hit the Serb in the gut, felling him instantly.

Petra stood frozen to the spot, her ears ringing from the gunfire, her nostrils filled with the smell of cordite. Radecki was still squealing like a pig, while Krasic gurgled like a half-blocked drain. She heard running feet, then The Shark’s voice. ‘Fuck, I always miss the action,’ he complained.

‘We need ambulances, Shark. I don’t want these two bastards to bleed to death. Go and radio for the paramedics. And you better get KriPo along too,’ Petra said dully. She dropped her gun to the floor and walked like a zombie to Tony. She crouched down beside him, slipping her jacket off and putting it over his shoulders. His face was a mess, though nothing like as bad as Carol’s had been. ‘Somebody get a knife over here,’ she called.

One of the Special Ops guys trotted over, opening a Swiss Army knife and handing it to her. For the second time that night, she freed someone she liked and respected from their bonds. Tony gave a shuddering cry as his arms and legs cramped at their sudden release.