‘Demons, right,’ said Eddie dismissively. ‘Didn’t Krämer say he was in a mental ward in Holland? Bit of a diversion, and we’ll have to pay for new tickets home if we’re not flying out of Hamburg.’

‘Don’t worry.’ Nina turned to Cheng and put on an over-broad grin. ‘I know someone with twenty-five thousand euros now going spare.’

‘I . . . could pay for the flights, yes,’ he agreed reluctantly.

‘Macy’ll be pissed off with us for coming back late,’ Eddie warned.

‘She’s pissed at us for going at all. Or rather, for going without her. She’ll be fine.’

‘I’m sorry for putting you through this trouble,’ said Cheng as Nina took out her phone.

‘That’s okay,’ she replied, about to call her daughter – then giving him a curious look.

He was smart, and knowledgeable, and inquisitive. Yet she had accidentally mentioned the Veteres . . . and he hadn’t asked who they were.

Krämer rounded a corner, then found his phone and dialled.

The reply was almost immediate. ‘What happened?’ snapped a woman in accented English.

‘What do you mean, what happened?’ Krämer replied angrily. ‘Who were those men?’

‘I do not know.’

‘You didn’t send them?’

‘Of course not. Why would we interfere with our own plan?’ A pause, then: ‘Do Hui Cheng and Professor Wilde have the key?’

‘Yes. So my part is over, ja? I want the rest of my money.’

‘You will have it. Where are you now?’

‘Walking towards Hans-Albers-Platz, near the Reeperbahn. Are you far away?’

‘No. There is a park between Talstraße and Hein-Hoyer-Straße, behind a large white building on Simon-von-Utrecht-Straße. Do you know it?’

‘I’ll be able to find it.’

‘Good. Meet me at the gate on Talstraße.’

‘And you’ll have my money?’

‘I will.’ The call ended sharply.

Krämer reached the bustling Hans-Albers-Platz. No sign of the men who had chased him, but he decided not to take any chances. Rather than heading directly for his rendezvous, he went east along Friedrichstraße, steering well clear of his escape route from the Große Freiheit.

Fifteen minutes later, paranoia having taken him on a circuitous path, he arrived at his destination.

Wu Shun was waiting, dressed in black jacket and tight jeans. The Chinese woman was attractive enough, Krämer thought, but there was something about her he didn’t like, and he couldn’t quite put his finger on what.

It didn’t matter. He wasn’t going to marry her, after all. He had completed his part in whatever she was doing, and now it was time to get his money and leave Hamburg – as quickly as possible. ‘I’m here,’ he said, checking their surroundings. She seemed to be alone.

‘Good. Walk with me.’ She started into the little park.

Krämer moved up beside her. ‘Where is my money?’