‘You know what I’d be doing in Frend’s position?’ said Angel. ‘I’d be sharing my knowledge of the Vuksans and their latest plans with someone else, because I’d have been protecting myself all along.’

And Louis thought – not for the first time in their relationship – that, damn, the man was probably right.

Chapter LXXIII

Hannah Kauffmann contacted Frend just as he was returning to his hotel. He tried to force Pia from his mind so he could concentrate on what Kauffmann had to say.

‘You’ll have the passports tomorrow morning,’ she said, ‘but I may have underestimated the price.’

‘That is very unlike you,’ said Frend.

‘Your clients’ prospective new home is a peaceful Caribbean nation with a low international profile, and would like to stay that way. Unfortunately, its sugar industry is also in need of investment. Somewhere between those two competing pressures lies a way forward for you, but the risk factor requires payment of a premium to a new Sustainable Education Fund.’

‘And who is being educated,’ said Frend, ‘or is it impolite of me to ask?’

‘The children of the man who will sign off on the passports. He believes his offspring might benefit from studying in Switzerland. They want to learn to ski.’

‘How much?’

‘A quarter of a million euros per passport,’ said Kauffmann. ‘If it helps, that includes my fee.’

How, Frend wondered, would the world function without greed? Nothing would ever get done, or nothing worth doing.

‘It won’t be a problem,’ he said.

‘You’re certain? There might be repercussions if payment is not immediately forthcoming.’

‘Is that a threat, Hannah?’

‘All I’m saying is that it would be out of my hands, Anton. I’m simply the intermediary. This is a delicate system on which a small number of very powerful individuals have come to depend, some of them in the same line of work as your clients. Complicating factors push up costs for all concerned, as well as attracting the kind of attention that leads to temporary restrictions on the flow of documents. There is a reason you approached me and not one of the more, um—’

‘Scrupulous firms?’ suggested Frend.

‘I prefer the term “established”.’

‘You would. Where will we meet?’

‘Do you really have to ask?’

‘Let me guess,’ said Frend. ‘Among the nameless ones.’

‘Exactly. I’ll see you there at six a.m. Try not to be late.’

She hung up. Frend immediately emailed Radovan Vuksan, asking for a call back on his most recent number. It came within minutes.

‘I’ll be collecting the documents early tomorrow morning,’ said Frend.

‘Where?’ said Radovan.

‘Outside the city, but the price has gone up.’

‘How much?’

‘One million euros for all three passports, including the agent’s fee.’