He heard a couple arguing in the next room and turned up the TV to drown out the noise. He also emptied another bottle from the minibar. He knew he was drinking more than he should, but sometimes life left a man with little option. Frend was experiencing a sense of regret at what would soon befall Radovan Vuksan, although not enough to warn Radovan that Louis was near. Frend had always enjoyed Radovan’s company, and had benefited in many ways from their relationship, both personally and financially. But Radovan’s complicity in the Amsterdam killings had rendered him toxic, and he had contaminated his legal advisor by association. Radovan’s death, however much it might pain Frend, was the necessary equivalent of amputating a necrotized limb lest the body entire should succumb to fatal infection. If only Radovan had been ruthless enough to take the same steps with his brother. Had the positions been reversed, Frend believed Spiridon would not have allowed fraternal loyalty to stand in the way of his own continuance.

Frend raised a glass to his reflection.

‘Zum Überleben,’ he said.

To survival.

Chapter LXXVII

Once Louis had drained the last of his green tea, he called the number given to him by Mr Rafi. As he listened to it ringing, he mused on the chain of events that had led him to this juncture: a man who had spent most of his adult life avoiding the attention of authorities in any number of countries, now exposing himself to the highest possible level of surveillance. Much of this was Charlie Parker’s fault. It was just lucky for all involved that Louis was fond of him.

His call, as anticipated, wasn’t answered, and was terminated after four rings without redirection to a message service. Seconds later, Louis’s phone vibrated with an incoming call from a withheld source. Louis hit the green button, and Rafi’s voice said, ‘I wondered if you’d get in touch, but I’m glad you did.’

Louis thought that Mr Rafi was probably being sincere, if for purely homicidal reasons. Rafi’s life was in peril, and it had forced him to take chances he would have preferred to avoid. By establishing a means of communication, he risked betrayal, but he was relying on the threat of reprisal to keep Louis in line.

Except Louis knew that Rafi was damaged goods. One more false step, and his own people would cut him loose.

‘I needed some time to run the numbers,’ said Louis.

‘On what?’

‘On my chances of hitting the Vuksans and getting away clean, against yours.’

‘What did you decide?’