‘About Miss Watson?’ Parfit’s face darkened. ‘No. We were in a bit of a skirmish at the American end. Major Dreyfuss was injured. He lost some blood.’ He saw the shocked look on Hepton’s face. ‘He’s fine, really. I had a doctor patch him up. Believe it or not, there was one on the plane. There we were halfway over the Atlantic, and this poor chap was stitching a couple of the major’s fingers. Quite exciting really. I didn’t judge him fit enough, however, to take the news of Miss Watson’s abduction. In fact, I was wondering …?’

‘If I’d tell him?’

‘Something like that. No real hurry. I’d like to be filled in first on what’s so exciting about these mysterious tapes.’

Hepton looked to Izzard, who spoke. ‘No problem there,’ he said. ‘We’ll show you.’ Alfie was approaching with two large plates. Izzard smacked his lips. ‘Just as soon as we’ve had breakfast, eh?’

When he had seen what they had, Parfit was in no doubt about what had to be done.

‘I’ll send some men to Buchan, see what they can come up with. Not a lot, I shouldn’t think. Security’s bound to be tight. We’ll also check on the other airbases south of there, see if we can find out which one they’re using as a mock-up.’

He made the phone calls from the lab. Izzard sat on a high stool, pinching the bridge of his nose between his fingers and yawning: the night had finally caught up with him. Sanders was wide awake, however, and looking ready to impress Parfit, if such were possible. He’d still been sleeping when they’d arrived back at the lab, but had been shocked into wakefulness by the sound of his superior’s voice, only then to feel acute embarrassment at having allowed Hepton and Izzard out of doors without his knowing about it.

Hepton had passed his own nadir and felt numb but not sleepy. He listened to the efficient phone calls with an appraising ear. Parfit didn’t waste a single word, and his instructions were as foolproof as seemed possible. When he had finished, he replaced the receiver and turned to the room.

‘Well, that’s as much as we can do from here. Thanks, Graeme. Can we offer you a lift?’

But Izzard shook his head, in the middle of a protracted yawn, and gestured with an arm. ‘I’m only five minutes’ walk away,’ he said.

Parfit nodded and turned his attention to Hepton. ‘I think you’d better come back to the hotel with me,’ he said. ‘I can’t think of anywhere safer to keep you, and you can see Major Dreyfuss.’

‘That’ll be fun,’ Hepton said in an unemotional voice. Then: ‘Where’s the hotel anyway?’

‘Only the best,’ said Parfit. ‘What better cover is there than an expensive West End hotel?’