‘Because they will come for him, after we are gone: the Turks, the American killer. It is a wonder they have not done so already.’

‘What about Hendricksen?’

‘Hendricksen was just the advance guard,’ said Spiridon. ‘The ones that will follow are the real threat. They can’t get to us, not yet, but they can get to Frend.’

‘We need him. He is organizing the passports, and our route out of here.’

‘No, we need only the lawyer, Kauffmann. We know she is his contact. He told us so.’

‘She will not work with us directly,’ said Radovan. ‘We are too toxic.’

‘Or so Frend would have us believe.’

‘He is not lying about Kauffmann. This is Anton’s world, and he understands how it works. Clean hands: it is the Austrian way.’

‘It may be their way, but it is not ours,’ said Spiridon. ‘Even if Frend’s days are not numbered, do you really believe that Interpol and the Dutch police will fail to connect him to us? If Hendricksen could do it, so can they. And then Frend will talk, because he will not risk prison for our sakes.’

‘Brother, Frend and I have been very vigilant.’

‘Not vigilant enough to stop our money from being seized.’

‘Money can be replaced. The kind of relationship we have built with Frend cannot. His contacts are our contacts. Without him, we are entirely alone.’

‘And I tell you they will come for him,’ said Spiridon. ‘Even if the hunters miss the spoor at first, what is to prevent Matija Kiš from allying himself with them in order to harm us? He will feed Frend to them, and Frend will sacrifice us to save himself. As long as he is alive, we are at risk.’

Radovan did not know what pained him more: to hear his brother speak like this about a man for whom Radovan had much affection, or to know that he might well be correct. Frend was the weak link, but Radovan was not prepared to sacrifice him, not yet. And all this because Spiridon had insisted on marking his departure from the Netherlands with rape and murder.

‘Let me think on it,’ said Radovan. ‘Now I have news for you, and once more, it is not good.’

Radovan had advised against targeting the private detective in Maine. It was a chance they did not need to take, but Spiridon again had ignored his guidance, with Zorya whispering in his ear. Why she had urged Spiridon to strike at Parker, Radovan did not know. He was beginning to wonder if he was the only sane one left in their circle.

‘Well?’ said Spiridon.

‘The attempt on Parker’s life failed, and the men sent to take care of it are in police custody. Our friends in Ridgewood are very upset.’

‘Will they talk, these men?’