Daniel plugged the kettle into a socket that hung by its wires from the wall, pulling a chair across to rest it on. ‘I can’t understand why they’re so desperate to talk to me. I don’t know anything, I haven’t done anything, I’m not planning to do anything.’

‘I suspect it’s not so much you as some of the people you’re associating with,’ said Sarah. ‘Is it possible that one or two of them have dodgy records?’

‘I don’t know about the past. One of them was in Guantanamo but none of them has ever said anything to me about becoming a terrorist.’

‘And what about your charity work? Are they involved in that?’

‘Not really. One of them put me in touch with the charity I’m helping.’

‘What kind of charity?’

‘Aid, supplies, what you’d expect. Not so much medical and foodstuffs as communications equipment, water sterilisation kits, that sort of thing.’

‘What will you do for them, raise money or buy supplies or . . . ?’

‘Nothing much, just manual work, help load stuff, drive stuff, that sort of thing. Only for a few days, that’s all.’

‘Where?’

‘Why are you asking all these questions? Nothing wrong with it, is there? Nothing illegal? Are you going to try and stop me?’ He reached for the kettle as it switched itself off, staring at Sarah with burgeoning hostility.

‘No, Daniel, I’m just asking the kind of questions the police will probably ask. They’ll want to satisfy themselves that you’re not planning anything. That doesn’t mean they think you are.’ She wasn’t at all sure about that. ‘Anyway, as I said, I don’t think it’s really you they’re interested in.’

‘I’m not going to inform on fellow Muslims, if that’s what they’re thinking.’

‘I don’t suppose they are, not for a moment.’ She was even less sure of that. ‘My – our – point is that it’s better to hand yourself in and get it over with than wait until they find you. Better for you, better for Akela. Also, if you’re thinking of going abroad with this charity you’ll probably get picked up at the airport and prevented from leaving. Or you’ll get picked up on the way back like all these returnees from Syria they’re always looking out for.’

Daniel shook his head. ‘There are ways.’

‘Think of Akela,’ said Anya. ‘She must be terrified and worried sick about what’s going to happen to you when they find you. At least if you hand yourself in she won’t be in any danger and she’ll know you’re all right.’

‘Assuming I would be.’

‘They’re not exactly going to send you to Guantanamo.’