ames Cardigan threw Jack Figg an odd look, a mixture of curiosity and bafflement, and asked, ‘But when you have found Ainsley, what do you actually plan to do, Jack? Kill him?’

Jack looked thoughtful for a minute or two, and then said, with a small wry smile, ‘I don’t think murder in cold blood will be necessary in this instance. There are other things we can do to him…in cold blood.’

A look of eager expectancy flashed across James’s face, and he said, ‘That sounds a bit bloody mysterious to me, Jack. What exactly are you getting at?’ His eyes were riveted on Jack’s face.

‘From the things I told you about Ainsley last week, you now know what makes him tick. I also gave you a list of his weaknesses. Basically he has three: his hatred of Paula and her daughters; his addiction to women who are beautiful and clever but genuine ball-breakers, those women whom he likes to break before they can cut off his cojones; and money. Very big money.’

Jack straightened up in the chair and, staring at James across his Georgian partners desk, he said, ‘I’m going for the money.’

‘Thank God for that! I’d visions of having to get you out of some sweaty, flea-ridden jail somewhere in a mouldering third-world country, but I should have known better. So, before we get to your real plan, why are you so anxious to pinpoint him on the map of the world?’

‘Basically, just to know where he is, James, to find out what he’s doing and get details of his daily activities, his modus operandi, his friends, colleagues, visitors, his routine in general. I want my operatives tailing him, but believe me I’m not going to take him out. I don’t think it’s necessary.’

‘Neither do I. However, if needs be, I do have a handful of skilled guys who’ll do the job for you. They always deliver on a contract.’

‘Thanks, James, and so far we don’t need them. But what we do need are some really brilliant hackers. The genius kind. We might have to hit his computers and in the not-too-distant future, and we want the best chaps available. Maybe my Chinese friends have some contacts.’

‘No problem. Now, a bit of good news. I think I can pinpoint his whereabouts at this moment, at least within a few hundred miles.’

As he spoke, James got up, crossed his private office overlooking Mount Street in London, and pressed a button at the end of the long wall. The sections of mahogany panels slid back to settle at each end, and a battery of television screens were revealed. Pressing a remote control, which he pointed at the TV screens, they instantly came alive. One showed CNN, the next BBC World News, yet another ‘Frost Over The World’ on the Al Jazeera English network; a fourth was an illuminated map of the world, a fifth the world financial markets.

Within a second James brought up Russia on the world map, pinpointed the area of St Petersburg, and turned to Jack. ‘Ainsley is currently in Russia. I’m not sure where exactly, but my Moscow operatives are certain he’s in Peter the Great’s great city of St Petersburg, built on stilts by Peter and named as his new capital in Seventeen twelve.’

‘That’s great!’ Jack said, playing on the repeated word, and beamed at James. ‘I knew I could count on you when we talked last week. You were one of the best damn agents MI6 ever had. Out of curiosity, how come they lost you?’

‘Greed, for one thing. I wanted to make some real money, then get married. And to stay alive to do both,’ James shot back, and grinned. ‘A bit of information from my agent in Zurich, by the way. Angharad Hughes, Ainsley’s wife, owns a villa there, and has since the time of Ainsley’s car crash in France. She obviously lived there then, when he was in the clinic, and still does. Occasionally. The other bit of information I got is that Ainsley has no particular interest in his only child.’

‘No, he wouldn’t. She’s a girl, and he hates girls in business. By that I mean business business, and not shady business, because he does apparently still have a predilection for whores. The pricey ones.’

Jack rose and walked across the room, joined James in front of the screens. ‘This is fabulous. Good to see you have all the up-to-date mod cons.’

James nodded, went on, ‘I got to thinking about my Hong Kong days over the weekend, Jack. I must admit I had a helluva time there, loved every moment of it. Well, almost. And I remember our nights in the Chinnery bar with Mallory Carpenter. We did have a ball, the best of times. Bachelor days. Well, a lot of water under the bridge since then. And listen, Jack, you’re in good nick, I must say that.’

‘I’m getting old.’

‘No, not old. Older. And an older chap who’s in good nick can still make it with the gels.’

Jack began to laugh, shaking his head. ‘Not so much interested any more. Now, back to business. I want to explain something. It’s about Richie Zhèng, the grandson of Zhèng Wen Li, whom you said you met with Mallory.’

‘Yes, and what about him?’ James probed, filled with sudden eagerness, intrigued by these extraordinary machinations going on around M and her sister Linnet and the Harte family in general.

‘Let’s go and sit on the sofa, and I’ll tell you before M and Linnet get here. It’s an odd story and it goes like this…’ Jack stopped, looked thoughtful and then continued. ‘Wen Li has had a vendetta against Jonathan Ainsley for years, and his grandson Richie positively detests Ainsley. He can’t wait to have his revenge on him because of what Ainsley did to his mother. So—’

‘She was one of Ainsley’s women, was she?’ James interrupted.

‘Sort of, but hold on, my lad, and listen carefully, because I’m also going to tell you my basic plan of action. But it must remain confidential, James. Geo cannot know—’

‘Geo’s in New York, working on additional paintings for her exhibition,’ James cut in swiftly, his eyes not leaving Jack’s face. ‘And you must know I would never reveal anything.’

‘I do. But this has to be top secret, otherwise it won’t work.’

‘I get it, Jack, but you’re going to have trouble with M. She’s very dogged and she won’t let go. She told me yesterday that she wants to go out and look for Ainsley herself, have him arrested.’

‘I know, I know; she’s very determined and very clever, make no mistake about that. But I can’t have her wandering the world with a Kalashnikov in her arms, dragging Linnet along for the ride, and all set to have a shoot-out. I have to deal with the elimination of Ainsley, or, to put it a better way, I have to render him completely harmless to them. I know we can do it. Now, I need your promise, James, before I can continue confiding in you.’

‘You have my promise as a former secret agent. I know the importance of keeping my mouth shut. What’s that old saying from World War Two—Careless Talk Costs Lives.’

‘You’re damned right there, and that’s why you’re still standing upright. So, here we go…many years ago there was a very beautiful woman who came to see Wen Li.’

James leaned forward, listening attentively, as Jack Figg told a strange tale, one of the strangest James Cardigan had ever heard, and it held him fascinated.

Linnet and Simon stood outside the building where James had his office in Mount Street. They were waiting for M and Larry to arrive, for the meeting M had insisted on.

‘I’m still not quite clear,’ Simon said, turning to Linnet, taking her arm, walking her a few steps up the street. ‘Is M planning to invite the entire family on this yacht? Or just us?’ He stopped walking and focused his attention on Linnet.

‘Not the entire family, no,’ Linnet responded. ‘Just us, if you’ll agree to go. Oh, and Lorne. She was thinking of inviting Jack, and possibly James and Geo.’

‘Jack won’t go!’ Simon asserted, staring at her askance. ‘Can you see him cruising around the Mediterranean, taking it easy?’ He shook his head. ‘Because I can’t.’

‘Oh, darling, yes, you’re right about that,’ Linnet conceded. ‘But I wouldn’t mind going. Still, I don’t think I’d enjoy it much if you weren’t along. Can’t you go?’

‘It depends on Jack, whether he needs me at the store.’

‘I understand, but if he were to say it’s okay, would you like to go? Would you enjoy it?’

‘I’d enjoy being anywhere with you,’ he murmured, his eyes twinkling, and kissed her on the cheek.

‘No, be serious. Could you really and truly cope with being a week or two on a yacht?’

Simon thought about it objectively for a moment, and then nodded. ‘I could manage a week; in fact, I think I’d like it. I’m not sure about two weeks, though. And look here, Linnet, I’m not sure Jack is going to agree with this at all. I don’t think he could stomach M and you floating around the world on a boat. I think he wants you right under his nose, so that he can personally protect you if that is required. He’s very obdurate about that…and I can’t say I blame him.’

‘I know, I know, he worries and fusses, and he’s always been like that…There’s just one thing, Simon, I am going to back M on this issue because she’s really been longing to get away with Larry on a—’

‘Honeymoon!‘ he cut in peremptorily, and gave her a pointed look. ‘So why does she want company on their honeymoon?’

‘I suppose because she’s smart enough to know that Jack won’t let them go off alone.’

‘Right on the nose, Lin, right on the nose.’

A moment later a cab drew to a stop and M jumped out, followed by Larry. M looked smart in a navy trouser suit and a starched white shirt, with her hair in a ponytail, and an old quilted Chanel bag thrown over her shoulder.

‘Hey, didn’t that Chanel used to be mine?’ Linnet exclaimed in mock annoyance as she ran over to her younger sister, and hugged her. ‘I shouldn’t have given you that, it looks brand new.’

‘You said you hated it, and hey, don’t you look scrumptious! And so happy.’ M looked past her sister at Simon, and saw the adoring look on his face, and pulled Linnet closer to her, and said, ‘Oh, how delicious! Are you and Simon having—’

‘Sssh, and the answer is yes, and I don’t want any cheeky comments from you. Because this is serious with a capital S.’

‘Oh, Linny, darling! How fab. Are you, I mean have you…?’

‘I don’t want to discuss this on the street with him standing only a few yards away. But yes, yes, yes,’ Linnet hissed in M’s ear, and then gave her a beatific smile.

Lorne Fairley was the last to arrive at the meeting in James Cardigan’s office. Once they had all greeted Paula’s eldest son, Jack said, ‘James has made some progress. His Moscow operative has pinpointed Ainsley’s whereabouts.’

He looked across at James, who came to join him in the central seating area of the room. Turning on the television set which displayed an illuminated map of the world, James zeroed in on St Petersburg. ‘We believe he’s within a hundred-mile radius of the city, and I should have more information within twenty-four hours. But we know Russia is his new base and that he probably has a Russian partner.’

There was some discussion about Ainsley; M asked a number of pointed questions about him, as did Linnet. Jack and James answered in careful, very precise language, and promised to keep them all updated. Jack then focused on M. ‘I understand from Linnet that you plan to charter a yacht in Italy. When are you thinking of doing this?’

‘In about ten days, Jack, for two weeks. I have found an appropriate ship. Lorne knows the Greek islands and Istanbul very well, and I thought that would be a great area and we should be very safe there. I know that’s what’s worrying you…our safety. But Linnet thought that Simon could accompany us, and I would like to invite you too, Jack.’ She smiled at him.

‘It’s very kind of you, M, and perhaps I will pop down for a few days. Have you discussed this with your parents?’

‘Yes, and they seem to think it’ll be all right, but they informed me that you must have the last word.’

‘The last word is, I’ll let you know.’

Once they were alone again, about an hour later, James brought up the matter of the yacht and the cruise M wanted to take. ‘I think it would be safe, Jack. You could provide plenty of security on board, and Simon’s presence would be reassuring, wouldn’t it?’

‘Yes, it would. Anyway, he wouldn’t let Linnet go without him. They’ve become involved, romantically involved, I mean.’ He grinned. ‘I’m pleased to inform you.’

James nodded and grinned back. ‘He seems like a nice bloke, aside from being a helluva great cop.’

‘He is. I spoke to M’s mother about this proposed cruise, and she made a very good point, which was that Ainsley wouldn’t attempt to attack a moving target, and especially one that docks in a foreign country every night. That would have to be a proviso, that the yacht was anchored in a harbour and not out at sea, where it might be vulnerable.’

Jack now stood, paced the floor for a few seconds and then said, ‘Today’s Monday the seventh of May. In a week’s time Richie Zhèng should have some very important information for me. That brings us to the fourteenth of May. I don’t think we can knock Ainsley out of the box by then, but I do want him neutralized before the end of the month. He’s got to be gone and forgotten in short order.’

‘How in God’s name are we going to do that?’ James wondered aloud.

‘I shall tell you how,’ Jack answered. ‘And, by the way, I would just like to say I’m glad M suggested you, and that you agreed to work with us, James. It’s great to have you on board.’