Nina normally had no concerns about flying, but the trip from Auckland to Queenstown left her clutching her seat’s plush armrests. The business jet was much smaller than a regular airliner, far more affected by turbulence – and the winds on the approach to her destination, flying through a valley with snow-capped mountain peaks rising high on both sides, were far from gentle.

‘Nothing to worry about,’ Miller said through his teeth as an especially harsh jolt shook the cabin. ‘I’ve made this flight hundreds of times.’

‘Yeah?’ Nina said. ‘And how many barf bags did you get through?’

He gave her an irate look, then concentrated on holding himself in his chair as the plane touched down with a bone-jarring thud. His sigh of relief was audible even over the roar of the thrust reversers.

A helicopter awaited them when the jet pulled up. Nina shivered as she stepped out; even at ground level, the wind was fierce and bitterly cold. The two mercenaries flanked her as the chopper’s pilot came to meet Miller. A short exchange with his boss, then he led the way to his aircraft. Some of the airport’s ground crew were not far away, and Nina considered raising the alarm – but Harhund was right beside her, one hand in a pocket. She didn’t know if he was holding the gun or the Taser, but nor did she want to find out.

The chopper took off, its flight quickly bringing it past the heart of Queenstown. Nina looked down. The lakeside town sat at the foot of a mountain, a cable car line rising to its cloud-shrouded summit. Even though the weather was far from idyllic, people were still enjoying the water; as well as wind- and kitesurfers, she saw numerous boats blasting across the whitecaps at high speed. New Zealand had a reputation for extreme sports, and its people seemed keen to live up to it.

The helicopter continued along the lake for several miles, then descended towards the western bank as it curved to the north. Mountains rose ahead, but there was a shallower sweep of green land above the waterfront – and on it she saw a lone building. A big building, she realised as they approached. A mansion overlooked both arms of the lake. The imposing structure was traditional in style, with high, steep rooftops and exposed wooden beams, but clearly modern in construction; one wing was still being built, steel and concrete behind the facade.

Nina regarded it quizzically as they approached a helipad. It was a large house, sure, but there was far more construction equipment than she would have expected. Several concrete silos, a veritable squadron of earth-movers, portable cabins and pallet after pallet of materials . . .