Williams recognised the new arrival too. The sight of Bennett took him back to meeting her on the street in Santo Domingo, then to his cell in Haina, and finally to his reunion with Knox in Regent’s Park. For the first time in a long time it felt like he was observing his memories with some kind of objectivity instead of being caught up or lost in them. And, oddly, instead of adding to the dread that he’d felt building inside him all day, Bennett’s appearance seemed to calm him.

He looked down again at his bandaged hands still resting in his lap, then he opened his door, got out of the car, and moved round the front of the Jaguar to stand next to Knox.

A breeze was starting to pick up, carrying the sounds of the distant sea inland. But everyone on the track could still hear the two birdwatchers getting closer to them over the white noise of crashing waves.

It wasn’t until the couple crossed over the tarmac behind the MG that they appeared to decide to veer sharply off towards one of the dilapidated huts between the road and the marshes.

When they were far enough to be out of earshot, Bennett was the first to speak.

‘Nice day for a drive,’ she said to Knox.

He didn’t react.

‘Who are you?’ Laing asked her.

She ignored him.

‘I had a feeling you’d find each other eventually,’ she said to Knox and Williams.

‘Have you been following me, Abey?’ Knox asked, trying again to keep his tone light, and wondering if someone had managed to secrete a tracker somewhere on his Jaguar after all.

‘Actually, I followed him,’ Bennett replied, finally acknowledging Laing’s existence.

He didn’t look happy about it, and neither did Knox.

‘I’m here for Williams,’ she said.

‘Is this a handover?’ Laing asked.

‘No,’ Knox answered.

‘Yes,’ Bennett countered. ‘I need him back.’

‘Then you’ve come a long way for nothing,’ Knox said.

Bennett took a step forward, and Knox moved in front of Williams. The wind was building, getting louder as it moved the sea and shook the shingle.

‘I gave you time together as a friend,’ Bennett said, almost shouting. ‘That time’s up. This has to happen.’

‘I don’t think I have to do anything,’ Knox replied.

‘Don’t you?’ Bennett said. ‘I thought you were all about duty. And loyalty.’

‘I am loyal,’ Knox shot back. ‘To people who deserve it.’

‘And I’m not on that list any more?’

Before Knox could spell out again the reasons why she wasn’t, he felt Williams’s hand on his arm.

‘She’s right, old man,’ he said, in what sounded like a whisper against the wind. ‘This has gone on long enough.’

Knox opened his mouth, but nothing came out.