I sighed, waiting for the inevitable response. We’d had this conversation already. It wasn’t going to go anywhere new, I could tell. He was resolute, determined to pursue this mad bid for wealth to the bitter end.

‘Whatever you gave me, it was never going to be enough,’ he said. He followed my gaze to where Cho was hanging, spinning slowly on the rig, a foot or so above the heads of the clubbers. ‘What I wouldn’t give to fuck that pretty little cunt,’ he said.

I could hardly credit it. Despite everything, despite the enormity of what was going on here, he was still thinking with his dick. He had no self-discipline at all.

‘You killed some whore’s cat,’ I said, taking a sip of my drink. ‘I thought that was unnecessary.’

‘It’s hardly the first time I’ve destroyed a tart’s pussy.’ He smirked, raising his glass in toast to his own tasteless joke. ‘It was a fucking cat, for crying out loud. Charlotte was threatening to tell Sandy. I told you.’

I didn’t crack a smile. ‘It wasn’t even her cat.’ I looked at him, sitting there, so sure of himself. He was past his prime now, his blond hair beginning to thin on top. Time was running out for him. No wonder he was getting it wherever he could find it. ‘You know what?’ I slammed my glass down. ‘Maybe Sandy deserves better than you.’

‘My girls don’t deserve to be without their father,’ he said, his voice rising sharply. ‘No kid does.’

‘Which is the only reason I’m still offering to help,’ I said, taking the opportunity while I had it. ‘I can still sort things out. Pay Charlotte off – arrange some sort of stipend for you.’

He looked at me, his eyes narrowed, sizing me up. I could tell he was wavering, and I held my breath, hoping it would be as simple as that. All he had to say was yes, and everything would be sorted.

After what seemed a full minute, he spoke. ‘No,’ he said. ‘I need the money now, up front.’

‘And what do I get if I give you the money?’

He hesitated. ‘The tape, of course,’ he said, finally.

‘And the letters?’

‘I threw the letters,’ he said. ‘They were useless, anyway.’

‘Of course they were.’ I leant back against the bar. ‘You’d already got Charlotte’s address from the papers, hadn’t you?’

He looked at me, an expression of bewilderment on his face. ‘The papers? I haven’t contacted the papers.’

I nodded slowly, letting this new information sink in. I couldn’t be sure, but he seemed to be telling the truth.

He’d obviously decided to press his advantage while he had it. ‘But I will go to the papers, of course,’ he said. ‘If I don’t get the money. Tonight.’

‘The papers won’t touch it,’ I said. ‘Giles Flint’s got them all wrapped up in a gift box. You’re not the first person to try that angle recently, believe me.’

He shrugged. ‘The internet, then,’ he said. ‘Even your precious Old Boys’ Network can’t touch that. She’ll be an international star, by this time tomorrow.’

‘It’s not in your interest to do that,’ I said, coolly. ‘That’s your leverage gone, and any chance whatsoever of making a quick buck. How will you protect yourself, when Giles Flint comes after you?’

‘He’s a fucking old fogey.’ Rick gave an uncertain laugh. ‘What’s he gonna do?’

‘He’s in the Home Office,’ I said. ‘They do what they please. Don’t you get it? I’m a fucking pussycat compared to Giles Flint.’

‘Have you told him?’

I could tell I’d rattled him. ‘Not yet,’ I said. ‘I wanted to deal with this thing in-house.’

‘Good.’ Rick put out his fag and drained his glass. ‘Let’s deal.’

‘Have you got the tape?’

‘Uh-huh. It’s good and safe.’ He glanced around him nervously. I wondered if it had only just occurred to him that he had to actually get back out of the club, after the trade.

Apparently, he’d factored that into his plans.

‘Good and safe?’ I said. I didn’t like the sound of it, and I couldn’t stop myself flicking my glass with my thumbnail – a sign of anxiety I couldn’t suppress.

‘Yes.’ He laughed. ‘You didn’t think I’d bring it with me, did you? For fuck’s sake, I’m not that stupid. But I’ll deliver it, as soon as I get the money. You have my word.’

‘Your word?’ I couldn’t help laughing. ‘Your word is good for nothing. You haven’t an ounce of loyalty or honour. How am I supposed to take you at your word?’

‘You’d be surprised how loyal I can be.’ He turned to face me. ‘To people who are loyal to me. Now...’ He held out his hand. ‘The money, please.’

I hesitated. Even now, I wasn’t sure how to play this. Should I come clean, or…?

‘We’ll arrange another rendezvous,’ I said. At least this way, I could stall for time. ‘Somewhere neutral. We’ll trade then. The tape for the money.’

His whole face crumpled and, for a moment, I thought he might cry, but then he turned on his heel. ‘You stupid fuck,’ he said and made a dash for the exit.

I followed him, nearly falling over a slave, crawling along the floor next to his Master. Respect for such behaviours was paramount in the club, and I had to stop and apologise. It hardly mattered. By the time I reached the doors, Security had him pinned against the wall, and Alex was almost upon him. I was glad I’d reached him first. I didn’t want another scene between them. Alex was supposed to keep his composure as Dungeon Master. It was essential for the confidence of the guests. If he couldn’t keep his cool, he wouldn’t be trusted to oversee scenes, much less carry out demonstrations.

As it was, I was able to elbow him out of the way. ‘All right, boys,’ I said. ‘It’s fine. We’ve concluded our business. Let him go.’

The doormen stepped back, looking pissed off. They were obviously hoping to give him a good kick-in outside, but I was still hopeful things could be resolved in a manner more…helpful…to everyone involved.

I went out through the guest doors, into the alley behind the hotel. As I walked up the slope to ground level, I looked up and down. It was hard to see in the dark, but it seemed that Rick hadn’t hung around. The alley was deserted.

Alex came up the slope behind me. ‘Let me in on this one, Sir,’ he said. ‘Please.’

‘I don’t know,’ I began. ‘The club…’

‘This is more important,’ he said. ‘Ronnie’ll take care of it.’

‘I didn’t even see her,’ I said, taken aback. It wasn’t like Ronnie to give me a wide berth. She was altogether too fond of staking her claim over me, especially at Dominion. It was one of the reasons I rarely went there. ‘Does she know she’s expected to?’

‘I briefed her just now,’ he said. ‘She’s cool.’

I shrugged. ‘Okay. The more, the merrier, I suppose. Just don’t go blundering in, all right?’

‘Sir,’ he said, and we walked up the alley together, and out into the night-time streets of London, to where Stephens was waiting for us in the car.

    Sixteen

Him

Matt picked up as soon as I called him.

‘He’s heading towards Leicester Square,’ he said. It was hard to make out the words, against the thrum of one of London’s busiest and noisiest places.

‘Leicester Square,’ I said, ducking down into the car. ‘He would be.’ The chances of keeping up with him there were slim, if not non-existent. It was the obvious direction to go, being only a stone’s throw from the Dominion hotel.

Alex was already inside and, as soon as I slammed my door, Stephens put his foot down, pulling away from the kerb with a spin of tyres.

‘How’re we doing, Matt?’ I said.

His voice was practically inaudible, what with him panting and the sound of the traffic both from my end and his, but I managed to catch; ‘Just passing…Empire, Sir…fucking première finishing…’

I didn’t catch the last words, but I hardly needed to. If there were a film première on, it’d be even more packed than usual, and I didn’t like the direction he was heading in, either. It was a direct route to the nearest Tube station.