As she settled in the back seat of another taxi and told the driver where she wanted him to take her, she opened the Chanel handbag and memorised the name that was printed next to her photo in the passport that had been left in it for her. Then she double-checked the time on the BEA ticket tucked inside it and decided she had time to have something to eat at the airport before her flight to London.

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

Knox drove south into the centre of London and then over Waterloo Bridge. He had hoped taking Williams on a little sightseeing tour might help reconstruct some memories, but the man in the passenger seat next to him didn’t seem to register anything as he stared out of the window at the city passing him by.

When they were somewhere near Blackheath, Williams finally spoke.

‘He doesn’t believe me, does he?’ he said.

Knox could hear the quiet hurt in his friend’s voice, and knew he was referring to Holland.

‘He has faith in you,’ Knox replied. ‘But he also needs proof.’

‘And I can’t give him any.’

Williams shifted in his seat to look almost sideways out of his window, as if he was turning his back on Knox and the conversation. Knox switched on the radio. For once, the presenter wasn’t talking about the election—they were interviewing some American who was trying to convince Londoners to join an international day of protest at the end of the month against the Vietnam War.

‘It’s been a year since the American people started to realise the truth about our illegal occupation of Vietnam,’ the interviewee said.

‘But what impact do you think non-Americans could have on your military policy?’ the presenter asked.

‘It’s the duty of everyone in the free world to stand up and speak out against President Johnson’s violent imperialism,’ the American replied.

Knox dialled through static before he picked up another station. This one was playing a loop of ‘Day Tripper’ by the Beatles, ‘These Boots Are Made for Walkin’’ by Nancy Sinatra, and ‘The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore)’ by the Walker Brothers. Knox lasted three cycles before he turned the radio off. By then they were on the A20, which would lead them all the way to Kent and most of the way to Deal. Williams had remained silent as they’d travelled out of London, but the sudden quiet brought his attention into the car.

‘I’m guessing you’ve listened to those a few more times than I have,’ he said.

Knox smiled. ‘How are you feeling?’

‘Fine,’ Williams replied.

Knox knew it was a lie.