‘Mr Chase is on the way,’ the butler replied. ‘His plane will arrive at Queenstown in just over an hour.’

‘What about the key?’ asked Miller anxiously. ‘Has he got it?’

‘I’ve been informed he does, yes.’

The younger man was relieved.

Eleanor nodded in approval. ‘Good. Donny, you go meet him.’

‘You want me to go?’ Miller said, suddenly concerned again. He fingered the cuts on his neck.

‘Take Harhund and his man as well, and some of the security staff. And don’t let him escape this time.’

‘He jumped off the Sky Tower!’ was her son’s exasperated cry. ‘What was I supposed to do, jump after him?’

‘If you screw up again, Donny, you might wish you had. Now get moving.’

Miller bit back a rejoinder and instead turned to Harhund. ‘Well, come on, then! Let’s go.’ He strode out, fists clenched. The two mercenaries exchanged dismissive glances, then followed.

Eleanor turned back to Nina. ‘I wouldn’t consider doing anything foolish now we’re alone, by the way. Broates is armed, and very capable.’

The Englishman moved to stand impassive guard beside her.

‘Just what you want from a butler,’ Nina said acidly. ‘A propensity for violence.’

‘You never know when it might come in useful. And knowing what I do about your husband, I want as many armed men on my side as possible.’

‘It won’t be enough.’

‘We’ll see.’ She looked back at the frozen figure. ‘And when he arrives with the key, we’ll find out all the secrets of the Nephilim.’

‘If I agree to help you,’ said Nina.

The old woman smiled, painted lips drawing tight like a razor slash across her wizened face. ‘Oh you will, missy. You will.’

Chapter 19

19

Under other circumstances, Eddie would have enjoyed being the only passenger on a private jet. The NjetZ crew had no inkling of the reason he was flying to Queenstown and did their professional best to keep him happy on the two-hour journey, to the point where just before touchdown he apologised for his curt and unfriendly attitude. They were only doing their jobs.

On landing, he saw others who were also doing their jobs – but these would receive no apologies for the damage he hoped to inflict on them. He had a reception committee: Donny Miller, Harhund, Wintz, and three other men in dark suits with the chunky build and scowling demeanour of private security guards.

The latter, he guessed, worked at the Miller estate. Cheng had used his laptop to show him aerial photos on the cab ride to Auckland airport; Eddie was sure that was his destination, and wanted to carry out a virtual recce. The house was isolated, the landscape bleak and exposed with no trees for cover and the only road through the mountains long and circuitous, but at least he now knew what to expect.