On Wednesday morning Tarry Ross climbed the stairs to the fourth floor of the hotel. Vinnie Cozzo opened the door at his knock.

'Good morning, Alfred,' he said warmly. 'Would you like some coffee?'

'I didn't come here for coffee,' said Ross. 'Where's the money?'

'First you have to talk to me,' Cozzo said.

'OK. We've given McDeere a million dollars already. We paid it into a bank in the Bahamas, but he's already moved it out of there, and we don't know where. Another million is on the way. He's delivered one lot of Bendini documents and says he has ten thousand more. He's talked to our agents many times in the last six months. He'll give evidence at the trials and then disappear as a protected witness.'

'Where are the other documents?'

'He isn't saying. But he's ready to deliver them.'

As soon as Ross had left, Vinnie Cozzo called Lazarov.

Tarry Ross walked hurriedly down the hall. He had almost reached the lift when a hand reached out of nowhere and pulled him into a room. He was thrown to the floor and his briefcase full of money was emptied on to the bed.

'You disgust me, Ross,' said Voyles. 'I can't believe it's you. What did you tell Cozzo?' Ross began to talk.

***

DeVasher ran down the stairs to the fourth floor and burst into Locke's office. Half the partners were there and the rest were on their way.

He quickly told them what Cozzo had told Lazarov. The FBI have had plenty of our files for about a week already. They haven't moved. That must mean that this first lot of files is clean. McDeere was just warning them up. He's in it for the money. But we have to suppose that the next lot of files will destroy us. Where is McDeere?'

Milligan spoke. 'In his office. I just talked to him. He suspects nothing.'

'Good. He's due to leave in three hours for Grand Cayman isn't he, Lambert?'

'Yes. Around midday.'

'The jet will never arrive. There'll be an explosion.'

'The jet?' asked one of the partners.

'Yeah, the jet. Don't worry, we'll buy you another toy. Lazarov is on his way. As soon as we've got rid of McDeere, we're going to look long and hard at this operation, and make whatever changes are necessary.'

Locke stood up and said to Lambert, 'Just make sure McDeere's on that jet.'

***

Mitch's secretary picked up the phone. 'Mr McDeere's office,' she said.

'I need to speak to him,' the man's voice said.

'I'm sorry, he's busy at the moment.'