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noted.
    â€˜In principle, yes, but I want to know a lot more of what’s involved. What’s the cover that’s going to cost so much money?’
    â€˜We’ll come to that in a moment. Werner – how do you feel about it?’
    Werner had been turning the pencil over and over in his fingers. He looked at Oakham. Suddenly the pencil snapped.
    â€˜What a fool I’ve been,’ he muttered. ‘All those years wasted. All for nothing. What use would I be to anyone now?’
    â€˜We need brains, sophistication. I can hire muscle, Werner, but you’re still in your job and you can get information to us that might be very useful. You’ll run on for another year; that’s the plan anyway. If we’re given a high-level target, you have access to embassies and ministries all over the world. You could draw the map for us. Believe me, we need you. Are you interested?’
    The man was shaken, angry and frightened. He needed gentle handling.
    â€˜Yes,’ he answered. ‘Yes, I am interested. You’re right. I am owed something. I’m going to think of myself now.’
    â€˜Good,’ was the calm response accompanied by an approving smile.
    â€˜Daniel?’
    The Israeli shrugged. He glanced at the blonde woman and she stared coldly back at him.
    â€˜One condition,’ he said. ‘I don’t go to the Middle East. Otherwise yes, what have I got to lose?’ He answered his own question. ‘Nothing I’m not going to lose already, if you’re right about the lousy British. I’ll join you, Mr Oakham.’
    â€˜Harry,’ he invited and gave him the welcome-to-the-family grin he’d given Werner. ‘Monika?’
    She was likely to be the most difficult. The fires weren’t burned out in her, they still smouldered. She just might tell them all to go to hell and stalk out, the Red Brigade fist metaphorically clenched in the air.
    â€˜What would I have to do?’ she demanded. ‘I’ve got money, I can earn as much as that retainer if I want.’
    Not quite, Oakham judged, but he wasn’t going to argue. He just nodded and said, ‘No doubt, but you’ve got to be alive and there’s not much chance of that without protection. If you join, you’d use your old skills. We all remember Julius Ritterman.’
    She preened in front of them. It was a clever thing to say. It established her status. Julius Ritterman was found strangled in a flat in Munich. A tall blonde girl had been seen dining with him in a smart restaurant. ‘Death to the Capitalist Swine’ had been scrawled in red ink and the paper stuffed into his mouth. He had been president of a leading West German Investment Bank.
    â€˜That would be amusing,’ she showed her white teeth in a smile. ‘I’ve been very bored. Men can be very boring. Count me in, Mr Oakham.’
    â€˜I’m delighted.’ He was gallant, making a tiny bow towards her. ‘And now, if Jan will set it up, I’ll show you the cover and explain it as we go along. Anyone like some coffee?’
    Nobody did. They were poised, intent on the next phase.
    Jan switched on the video. The room was very quiet except for the slight whirr of the machine. Oakham commented.
    â€˜What you’re seeing is an estate agent’s video of a property that’s for sale in England.’
    A handsome, red-brick Tudor mansion came on the screen, set in a rolling park. There were shots of the interior, designer decorated, a luxurious indoor swimming pool. More exteriors, including a fine lake. Rilke was scowling, Vassily Zarubin’s face was a mask, Werner was fiddling with the broken pencil ends.
    â€˜The asking price is three million,’ Oakham explained.
    Werner spoke up. ‘It’s a hotel, it says so. I don’t understand.’
    â€˜It’s going to be our headquarters,’ Harry’s voice was level. ‘A well-established luxury hotel.