‘A happy accident.’ Walt smiled. ‘A quiet place near an out-of-the-way airfield, far enough from London to be unobserved and still registered in the name of Cranham Hemlock. It’s perfect. You said so yourself when I requested a safe place for my associates. Of course, I had long since identified it and begun preparations, but it did my ailing heart good to see that you were wise enough to concur.’

I gritted my teeth. My brain felt as if it was running out of my ears. ‘Just fucking tell me what you want!’

Another blow from behind. This one crunched into my side, a perfect shot that snapped a rib clean in two and drove all the air from my body. My mind filled with red and purples, the pain so intense I couldn’t conceive of a world where I could stand or walk or speak again. I let out a desperate little mewling sound, blood suddenly running from my mouth and nose. All I wanted to do was slide to the floor and lay there until the ground covered me up.

‘Please, Luis,’ said Walt without emotion. ‘I did ask you to consider my fondness for the young lady. I appreciate your devotion to our purpose but I must ask that you refrain from causing her any more harm. If we are called upon to take more decisive action it would be a comfort to me to know it was an act of mercy. Clean, quick, efficient, painless. It saddens me to see her in such distress.’

A voice from behind me, strangely accented: Spanish but earthy; hard. ‘No more talking. Do what you came here to do. He’s arrived.’

Walt looked past me, eyes brightening. ‘He has? Excellent. I suppose, then, that this is what we’ve been waiting for. I trust that I do not have to repeat your orders. We are all briefed, yes?’

‘Si,’ came the voice again. ‘We will be listening.’

‘And I shall give you much to listen to,’ said Walt, with a smile. ‘I must bid you farewell, Cordelia. Your husband and I have much to discuss.’

He stood up, straightening his clothes. I could barely make him out for the tears in my eyes. As he came towards me I flinched, shuffling back in my chair and feeling the skewers of absolute pain push deep into my stomach. He put his hand on my cheek. Squatted down.

‘There remains a softness in my thoughts, Hinny,’ he said, one hand snaking behind my back and his hand fastening over my immobile hand. ‘Please, remember the business we are engaged in. And do keep an open mind. I wish you the very best of luck.’

I felt him push the cold metal object into my palm. Felt the softest brush of his lips against my cheek.