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The Hawk nodded. ‘When do you need this man?’

‘Yesterday,’ said Sir Geoffrey.

‘He was on holiday in Italy yesterday,’ said William, well aware who the Hawk had in mind. ‘But I know he’s flying back to London later today, so I could be at the airport and meet him off the plane.’

The other mandarin came in on cue. ‘Then bring him straight to my office, Chief Superintendent,’ Trevelyan said, handing William his card. ‘Because I’ll need to brief him before the day is out.’

‘Understood,’ said the Hawk. ‘By the way, his name is—’

‘I don’t want to know his name,’ said the Foreign Secretary, who rose from his place and shook hands with both of them to indicate the meeting was over. The Hawk and William left without another word.

Once the door had closed behind them, they walked briskly back along the corridor, jogged down the wide staircase and out onto King Charles Street to find Danny, seated behind the wheel of the Commander’s car, waiting for them.

‘You take the car,’ said the Hawk, ‘and go directly to Heathrow. As soon as I’m back at the Yard, I’ll make sure his flight gets priority landing and that he isn’t held up by customs.’

William was opening the back door of the car when the Hawk added, ‘And bring him straight to my office. I want to see Hogan before the Foreign Office get their hands on him.’

•••

‘Are you Inspector Ross Hogan?’ whispered the senior cabin steward as he leant down to address a passenger seated in economy.

Ross looked up from the novel he was reading and nodded.

‘Once we’ve landed, sir, would you be kind enough to join me at the front of the aircraft. There will be a car waiting for you at the bottom of the steps.’

‘Crew prepare for landing,’ announced a voice over theintercom. ‘Will all passengers please return to their seats and fasten your seat belts.’

‘Are you about to be arrested?’ asked Jojo, as the steward left them.

‘Seems unlikely,’ said Ross, as he helped his daughter on with her seat belt. ‘The police don’t usually give you prior notice if they’re going to arrest you.’

‘Then who have you annoyed this time?’ asked Alice, smiling.

‘I’ll know the moment I see who’s standing at the bottom of the steps,’ said Ross as the plane made its descent through a bank of fluffy white clouds, causing it to bump.

Jojo held onto her father’s hand.

‘But you’re not due back at work until Monday,’ Alice reminded him. ‘So …’

‘It has to be an emergency. But to be honest, I don’t know any more than you do.’

‘Does that mean I won’t be seeing you for a long time?’ asked Jojo, still clutching onto her father’s hand.

‘I’ll phone you every day,’ promised Ross, ‘wherever I am.’

‘Even convicted criminals are allowed the occasional phone call,’ quipped Alice as the wheels of the plane touched down on the runway and the engines were thrust into reverse.

Ross accepted that any speculation was pointless, and he’d have to wait and see who was waiting for him when they landed. He couldn’t help recalling the last time this had happened, he’d had to fly on to Paris and assist the Prince of Wales in bringing Princess Diana’s coffin back to England.

The plane taxied to a halt at the stand.

‘Whoever it is waiting for you,’ said Alice as she unbuckled her seat belt, ‘thank you for a memorable holiday. And if I never see you again, Inspector, it’s been nice knowing you.’

‘You won’t get rid of me quite that easily,’ said Ross. He leant across and kissed her, and Jojo pretended not to notice.

Ross leapt up the moment the fasten seat belts sign was turned off, grabbed his carry-on bag from the overhead locker and joined the steward at the front of the plane almost before anyone else had stirred. He waited impatiently for the door to be opened; when he stepped out of the aircraft, the first person he saw was Danny, holding open the door of an unmarked car. But he couldn’t make out who was sitting on the back seat.

He jogged down the steps and peered inside to see William waiting for him. The expression on his face gave nothing away.