His employer shot him back an acid look. ‘I don’t need to be reminded, Hacker. I know what I said. I’m simply considering the advantages of temporarily delaying his elimination.’ He held up the phone, like a lawyer brandishing Exhibit A in the courtroom. ‘McCulloch might be old and sick, but he’s no fool. He’s obviously been on the same trail that we are. Hunting for the poacher, but for the opposite reason. I’m betting that this McGlashan is our star witness. If McCulloch has his phone, it means that he’s been in contact with him. Which in turn means he must know more about this whole affair than I’d so far given him credit for. And that being the case, I can’t help but speculate what other information McCulloch might be privy to. Things his nephew might easily have told him before he met with his little mishap. Such as the location of the spot where Ross Campbell found my lost property and took it for himself.’

My lost property. Hacker could see no trace of doubt in his employer’s eyes. The guy really believed it. His delusion was the driving force behind all that had happened, and Hacker often wondered where it might end. He didn’t question the boss’s intelligence. He was probably the cleverest and wiliest person Hacker had ever met. But there was no doubt in Hacker’s mind that the man was insane.

‘Could be a long shot,’ Hacker said. ‘Hard to say for sure.’

‘Only one way to find out, isn’t there? And we won’t achieve that by killing him.’

Hacker made no reply. The men didn’t look pleased. Hacker’s employer could see the looks passing between them, and he knew what they were thinking: that a job half done would be a job half paid for.

‘Don’t worry,’ his employer said. ‘I still want him dead, and you’ll still receive the agreed fee. Plus an additional bonus of five thousand each. If,’ he added, ‘you can find out what he knows, and on condition that it’s of value to me. Otherwise, not a penny more.’

Hacker nodded. The rest of the men appeared reassured, with the exception of Macleod, who looked even more nervous now that kidnapping and possible torture were about to be added to the list of crimes to which he was an accomplice.

‘And I’m also commissioning you men to carry out another job for me,’ Hacker’s employer said. ‘Now we have reason to believe that this McGlashan is the witness, I want you to find him and get rid of him for me.’ He motioned at Macleod, without looking at him. ‘I’m sure that Macleod here will be able to supply you with his home address.’

Hacker truly didn’t care whether McGlashan was the witness or not. ‘You want us to find out what he knows, too?’