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After another hour of listening to Khalil’s opinion on everything from Bill Clinton’s Oval Office antics to why gold prices were so high, Ross was more than ready to return to his hotel and come back again tomorrow evening in the hope Avril would be working. What made it more difficult was he couldn’t mention her name, or even touch on the subject of Hartley, for fear his cover would be blown.

‘I think I’ll call it a day,’ said Ross, yawning.

‘Wouldn’t you like to spend an hour or two with one of the girls before you leave?’

‘No, thank you,’ said Ross, not even bothering to look around the room.

‘Just one for the road, perhaps,’ suggested Khalil as a door on the far side of the room opened and in walked the woman he’d crossed a continent to meet.

Ross recognized Avril immediately from her photographs in the confidential Foreign Office file. Her most recent customer gave her a warm embrace before departing.

‘That one could make me change my mind,’ said Ross, as he continued to look at Avril. He turned back to see Khalil staring at him quizzically. Ross immediately realized he’d reacted too hastily, and quickly tried to recover. ‘But on the other hand …’ he said, looking at another girl on the other side of the room, and giving her a warm smile.

She returned his smile.

‘I think you’ll find your first choice could prove more profitable for both of us,’ said Khalil, taking Ross by surprise. ‘However, be warned, if Avril thinks you’re a friend of mine, she might not be willing to go with you. But if she does, you could do me a favour.’

‘What kind of favour?’ asked Ross, taking advantage of a retreating enemy.

‘Let’s just say you would be doing me a great service that would not only guarantee you getting the contract, but I’d also be willing to split my commission with you.’

Ross suddenly realized just how desperate Khalil was to get Avril singing from the same hymn sheet before Hartley appeared in court.

‘I’ll do anything I can to help, my friend,’ said Ross, playing the con man at his own game.

‘You won’t regret it,’ said Khalil, sounding genuine for the first time. ‘But first, you’ll have to find out if she’ll agree to go back to your hotel.’

‘I’ll do my best,’ said Ross, equally genuinely. He slipped off his stool and made his way slowly across the room, to be greeted with a frosty welcome when he sat down on the cramped sofa next to Avril.

‘I won’t have anything to do with anyone who’s a friend of that man,’ were Avril’s opening words, not even looking at Ross.

‘Understandably,’ he said, ‘and I can promise you I feel exactly the same way about Khalil as you do. So just smile and treat me like a normal customer, because I need to ask some questions.’ Avril produced a false smile but didn’t look convinced, as Ross continued, his lips hardly moving. ‘I’m aware you recently tried to leave the country, but the authorities confiscated your passport. If that’s correct, just nod or shake your head.’

Avril nodded as a waiter appeared carrying a bottle of champagne with two long-stemmed crystal flutes on a silver tray. Ross waited for him to pour them both a glass and leave, but just as he was about to speak again, she took himby surprise. ‘But if you’re with Hani Khalil, why should I believe a word you say?’ she asked, the smile no longer in place.

‘He thinks I’m trying to close an oil deal on behalf of the Irish government and is hoping to represent me, whereas in fact I’m only here to help you get back to England.’

‘I don’t have a passport,’ she reminded him.

‘I’ve already sorted that problem,’ said Ross. She still didn’t look convinced, but this time didn’t interrupt. ‘First, I need to know if you stillwantto go back to England?’

‘That won’t be possible until the arms deal has been settled one way or the other. Just look around and you’ll see how carefully we’re being watched. Ahmed has eyes and ears everywhere, so you can’t afford to make the slightest mistake.’

Ross was beginning to realize why Avril had become such an intractable problem for Khalil.

‘I can make it happen,’ said Ross, ‘but not unless you’re able to pretend I’m a punter and are willing to come back to my hotel.’

‘If I agree,’ said Avril with an exaggerated smile, ‘be warned, that goon at the end of the bar will never be more than a few paces behind.’ She paused. ‘It’s a long story.’

‘I know the story,’ said Ross, ‘and we can take advantage of it, but only if you’ll trust me.’

‘If I do,’ said Avril, ‘you’ll have to pay the barman five hundred dollars. The only thing that talks in this place is cash.’

‘Par for the course,’ said Ross, returning her smile.

‘And it will help speed things up if you add an extra hundred – that’s assuming the Foreign Office can afford me.’ The smile turned into a grin.

‘Then let’s give it a try, shall we?’ said Ross. He got upand made his way slowly back to the bar, aware that several eyes were following him.