‘This bomb might kill Peng. It might not. It’s always the gamble with explosives. But one thing is for sure. It will kill Robin.’

I let in a sharp intake of breath.

‘Robin. Yes, your nice little friend. The one you were so sad about being taken. We didn’t kill him. He was a good failsafe. Just in case we needed him. I can’t guarantee he will still be alive by the time you get to him as he’s in a bit of a state. But don’t you think you should check?’

‘At 10.03 a.m. Frederick enters Christie’s at the Ryder Street entrance with a trolley that has a crate that’s about six feet by four feet on it. He goes in with it and emerges empty-handed fourteen minutes later.’

‘I can see by your face you’ve had confirmation. The bomb’s there. Strapped to Robin. I just set the detonator. So it will go off in, let’s see . . .’ he looked at his watch, ‘seven minutes from now.’

Jake crackled in. ‘There are twelve vaults. We’ve searched half so far.’

Frederick leaned towards me and spoke louder. ‘Hattie, you’d better call off your attack dog. I see that look in her eyes. She wants me dead. And that would be bad for all of us. My heart stops beating and it will detonate immediately.’ He patted his chest. ‘Little remote back-up I’ve got connected. Remember the greater good here, Lex. If I die, you die. Robin dies. Peng dies. Hundreds of people die. Let me go. You go find the bomb. Be the hero.’

‘Lex – let him go.’

‘Hattie, I—’

‘There’s no time, Lex. He could be wearing a detonator. We need him out of range. You need to help G and Jake find that bomb. Pixie will track Frederick’s exit.’

Fuck. I let go of Frederick. He smirked, gave me a little wave and ran down the corridor.

I set off for the vaults.

Hattie came in again. ‘I’m evacuating the whole area using Protocol 324. Demon initiating now.’

I turned the corner and ran straight into Jake. ‘We’re doing Protocol 324? Again?’

‘You and Geraint do the vaults up the other end, I’ll start here.’ Jake ran back down the corridor as I entered the vault next to me.

Half the vault was full of crates, the other half had removal blankets, packing materials and a few lone pots and empty frames propped against the walls. I rushed round, peering in pots, lifting up crate lids and pulling back paintings.

I wanted to believe Robin was here and still alive.

I wanted to believe it.

But it could just be a bluff.

And the bomb could be hidden anywhere.

The fire alarm starting ringing. Ding ding ding. Red lights were flashing down the corridor. Protocol 324 had been activated.