Thunder Point. Jack Higgins

overalls stood waiting flanked by two mortuary technicians. Travers noted with distaste that they all wore green rubber boots.

      ‘Hello, Sam, thanks for coming in,’ Ferguson said. ‘This is Garth Travers.’

      Manning shook hands. ‘Could we get on, Charles? I have tickets for Covent Garden.’

      ‘Of course, old boy.’ Ferguson took out a pen and laid the form on the end of the operating table. ‘Do you Rear-Admiral Travers formally identify this man as Henry Baker, an American citizen of St John in the American Virgin Islands?’