Still, Louis did not like the idea of the Bundespolizei nosing around his partner’s affairs, because what affected Angel also affected him. If the Austrians persisted, Louis might have to call in a favor from Ross. The FBI man wouldn’t be happy about it, but since Ross never seemed happy about anything, the request wouldn’t significantly impact his quality of life.

Louis was in a state of combined anticipation and frustration, the two being intimately connected. Unless the Vuksans made an error that revealed their whereabouts, he was now reliant on Frend succumbing to pressure via his daughter. It was only Harris’s opinion that Frend cared enough about Pia Lackner possibly to betray the Vuksans, but the Judas kiss was just one of the options available to the lawyer. He could always turn to the police or private operatives, or even to the Vuksans themselves should he decide his fortunes were irrevocably tied up with theirs. Those actions would be unhelpful to Louis.

He also blamed himself for Hendricksen’s death. The Dutchman shouldn’t have been left to work alone in Vienna and Belgrade, but Louis’s contacts in those cities were nil. Still, they should have had better eyes and ears on Frend, both electronic and human. Harris and his fellow Langley spooks could have stepped up to the plate, but Harris had gone dark since the events at Gare de Lyon. Louis wasn’t too surprised, given that Harris had now obtained most, if not all, of what he wanted. The operation might not have gone entirely according to plan, the French, thanks to their mole, having intercepted and killed the two Syrians before Harris and his people could lay hands on them, but a clear message had been sent out nonetheless. In the aftermath, carefully placed and anonymously sourced reports had appeared in a number of the better newspapers in Europe detailing the involvement of Serbian criminals in people smuggling, including the kind of individuals who masterminded attacks on Western civilians. Belgrade had been embarrassed into acting, closing down the access routes through Serbia from the Middle East, however temporarily.

But by involving Louis in their affairs, both Harris and Ross had offered hostages to fortune. They might not have cared to admit it, but Louis had a hold over them, just as they had over him. Ignoring his calls wouldn’t negate it.

‘A terrible business,’ said the man who was seating himself at the next table. He wore a dark suit with a white shirt. A black overcoat was folded neatly on the red banquette opposite. His skin was sallow, and his beard neatly trimmed. He had the kind of face that smiled easily, which caused Louis to form an instant dislike for him. Sometimes Louis worried that he had more in common with SAC Edgar Ross than he was prepared to admit.

‘I’m sorry?’ said Louis.