Underwood, knowing about my shortish fuse, was alarmed. ‘Easy, Scott. Cliff didn’t-’

‘It’s all right, Charlie,’ I said. ‘I’d like to hear what you have to say, Scott.’

Truce. Di Maggio nodded. ‘Sentinel owes us a lot of money. Hartley’s trying to establish itself here and my ass is on the line. That’s my stake. Charles and Colin are in big time. Darcy’s got a different problem. As well as them owing him already, he’s got an offer of work from Sentinel that he’s considering. Good money. Does he or doesn’t he?’

I wasn’t going to be able to finish the food even if they left me alone for half an hour. I shovelled in another couple of mouthfuls, took a swig of wine and put the fork down.

‘Okay,’ I said. ‘Supposing you’re right and Sentinel’s on the nose. Why d’you need me? What they owe me’s peanuts relatively.’

Di Maggio jumped in. ‘What you have to understand, Cliff, is that we’re working a strategy here. Everyone has a role. Colin’s looking into what kind of new business Sentinel’s writing.’

I nodded. ‘That’d be right. He’s a master of entrapment.’

Hart sneered at me. ‘Fuck you, Hardy. I beat that charge.’

‘Charles is looking at the directors and-’

‘Bugging,’ I said.

Di Maggio shrugged. ‘Whatever. Darcy here-’

‘Is watching the wives. Don’t tell me. I know.’

Travers leered and waved his chopsticks. Two of his three chins wobbled. He was a sleaze, probably not above a little discreet blackmail if he thought he could get away with it. It was an unholy crew and I was feeling more and more uncomfortable. ‘And you, Scott?’

Di Maggio spread his hands in a Latin gesture a la Brando in The Godfather. ‘Coordinator and… banker. To answer your question, Cliff-we need you for the media contacts.’

‘Specifically Harry Tickener,’ Underwood said.