‘Years ago we went on a business trip to look at possible oil investments in Burma, Laos and Thailand,’ Haut said. ‘This was long before I realised he was working for Conquer. He was spying on me. He claimed after the trip that he should be paid an hourly rate and gave me a bill for several hundred thousand dollars. It was extortion, pure and simple. He sends me a bigger bill every year. Now it’s over a million.’

‘That’s an excuse to smoke you out. He realises now that his boys have failed in their mission.’

‘The prick was trying to sound conciliatory on the phone.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘What do you think?’

‘Hmm. You could meet him. But you choose the location. Make it very public. Wrest Point would be good.’

‘Will you be at the meeting?’

‘Farquar knows me from Laos. He may or may not see through my disguise.’ Cavalier was silent for a moment. ‘I won’t be far away.’

‘Will you, you know, bring protection?’

‘I’ll tell you something,’ Cavalier said, ‘I won’t bring a condom, or the Uzi.’

‘What about one of the Glocks?’

‘Might bring that.’

‘You won’t be checked. Security is slack.’

‘Do you know where I could pick up a shoulder holster?’ Cavalier asked.

*

Haut obliged and borrowed a holster from Ken Pringle. A meeting with Farquar was arranged for the next night, a Friday, at 8 p.m. for the revolving restaurant on the casino’s top floor. Cavalier, wearing a suit, took a taxi to the car park under the casino. The Glock fitted under the jacket, with the holster tucked against his rib cage and to the back. It gave him an irritating itch that always left a welt but it never really bothered him. The weapon was his security.

He avoided the front entrance, where he noticed a gaggle of journalists with TV cameras. He walked around to the back of the building, past the gym and towards the large kitchen. A man walked out through the sliding door. Cavalier slipped in and found a service elevator. He pushed the button. A cook approached Cavalier as he stepped inside the elevator.

‘Hey, what are you—’ the man began, stopping the door from closing.

‘Food inspector,’ Cavalier said with a calm expression, pulling out his wallet and opening it as if there were a card of authority in it. ‘I’ll be back soon.’ The cook backed off. The elevator took Cavalier to the revolving restaurant on the eighteenth floor. He noticed Haut in intense conversation with Farquar at a table for two. Haut was wearing Leni’s light brown suit.

Cavalier stopped short of them and sat at the bar, facing a mirror and their reflection. An alluring brunette, wearing a red skirt split to her thigh, parked herself two seats away. Cavalier noticed her pleasant perfume.

‘Could I buy you a drink?’ he asked.