Hepton’s mind was working now. There was no point mentioning to her that he knew about Villiers. It would be a cheap point to score, like throwing an ace onto a low card. No, he’d keep his ace for the moment. But he needed to knock her off balance. She was sounding a little too confident, and this, married to her thoughts of revenge – he could hear how bitter she was about Leeds – made her doubly dangerous.

‘You should have killed me back at the nursing home,’ he said. ‘Don’t think you’re going to get a second chance.’

‘What are you going to do? Run for it?’

‘No, I’m going to wait right here.’ For Paul, he was thinking. ‘And when I see you, I’m going to kill you.’

The laughter this time had a hysterical edge to it. Good: his words were having their effect.

‘That’s fine, Martin,’ she said at last. ‘I’ll see you soon then. I’m calling from just outside your building.’

And with that the telephone went dead. Hepton paused, put the receiver down and got to work.

19

Three short knocks followed by one long.

‘Come in, Parfit.’

Parfit entered Johnnie Gilchrist’s office. Gilchrist was pouring himself a drink.

‘Want one?’ he asked.

‘Why not?’ said Parfit. ‘I’ll have a small brandy, thanks.’

Gilchrist poured half an inch of Martell into a crystal glass and handed it to Parfit.

‘Cheers,’ he said. They chinked glasses.

Gilchrist took a mouthful of his own whisky, then smiled, shaking his head.

‘I have to hand it to you, Parfit. Getting hold of a private jet like that. I won’t ask what favour the owner owed you.’ He paused, inviting Parfit to tell him anyway, but Parfit merely savoured his drink. ‘How is the patient?’

‘He’s fine,’ said Parfit. ‘I don’t think he was overly pleased about being brought in from the airport in a crate, but he’ll get over it.’

Gilchrist smiled again, then sat down, gesturing for Parfit to do the same.

‘How was the City of Trees?’

Parfit looked quizzical.

‘That’s what they call Sacramento,’ Gilchrist explained, pleased that Parfit hadn’t known. ‘Home of the Pony Express.’

‘More relevant, it’s also the home of McClellan Air Force Base, which is where they landed Dreyfuss once they’d decided he shouldn’t stick around Edwards. To answer your question, the City of Trees was … interesting.’

‘So your gambit paid off?’

‘What gambit, Johnnie?’

Gilchrist rubbed a finger around the rim of his glass. ‘Leaving your man there so damned long on his own. You wanted to see what they’d try to get out of him, didn’t you?’

‘That’s your interpretation. I was hoping for … a reaction.’

‘I take it you got one?’

‘Oh yes. You know a man called Frank Stewart?’

‘The Frank Stewart? National Security Agency?’

‘Yes, that’s the one.’

‘What about him?’