‘I, on the other hand, am of a more cautious disposition. So, too, are many of my acquaintances.’ Kiš’s political allies, no doubt, eager to contain an outbreak of implicitly state-sanctioned murders. ‘It is our belief that your clients cannot return home. They are a contaminant, carriers of profound instability. Their word cannot be considered their bond, and even pecuniary evidence of their goodwill might not be sufficient to make up the shortfall in trust.’

‘Then why was that option proffered?’

‘To see if you – or they – would bite,’ said Kiš. ‘The end result would have been the same. I think you know what I mean.’

‘Except that you and your friends would have been significantly wealthier.’

‘Not compared with the wealth that accession to the European Union will bring. In our opinion, the benefits of removing your clients from contention would not have compensated for the hazards involved. We need no more ruined restaurants in Belgrade.’

‘But your dinner companion does not hold a similar view.’

‘No,’ said Kiš. ‘He wants the money and his fun. He struggles with the concept of delayed gratification.’

‘Does he realize that his time is coming to an end? If, as you say, EU accession promises affluence and opportunity, blatant thuggery will be an inevitable casualty. Even the Russians have to maintain the pretense of legality.’

Ever wary, Kiš said, ‘That confrontation with Simo must be saved for another day.’

‘I look forward to reading details of the outcome. I hope the photographs are in color, and that he suffers no more than he deserves to.’

‘I’ll pass that on to the individual in question, if you like.’

‘Do as you wish,’ said Frend. ‘He has no great love for me anyway.’ He tried to sound offhand, but the tremor in his voice betrayed him. He had only narrowly avoided an inquisition at the hands of Kiš’s ally. ‘So where does that leave us?’

‘Your clients have a week to get out of Europe. If they do not, their prospects will diminish rapidly.’

Which was an interesting way to describe a death sentence, thought Frend.

‘I’ll have to discuss it with them,’ he said. ‘Their hearts were set on a base closer to home.’

‘I would have thought they’d be happy to leave. As discussed over dinner, we are not alone in finding them an aggravation.’

‘I can only repeat that I will talk to them.’

‘I have faith in your persuasiveness, Herr Frend, particularly since your destiny is so intimately tied up with theirs. I look forward to hearing from you.’