She followed him into the kitchen. ‘My suspicions were first aroused during a course at the Castle.’ The Castle was the Service’s south-coast training establishment. ‘Gareth gave the final address. He talked about the evolving political environment, the changing Whitehall culture and how our reporting priorities might change post-Brexit. He didn’t give any detail of the negotiations but gave the kind of succinct summary you would expect from a good FCO briefing. Then a week later I read the report he issued following his latest meeting with Timber Wolf. It was virtually the same, word for word, and I thought, are these Timber Wolf’s words or Gareth’s? Is he putting his own words into Timber Wolf’s mouth?’

That was not unknown, deliberate or otherwise, especially in political reporting where the facts were known but interpretation and nuance were often what gave meaning. Sometimes it was simply a question of unconscious over-interpretation. ‘He doesn’t record their meetings?’

‘I suggested that but he said that Timber Wolf would be insulted, not in keeping with their confiding friendship and anyway it might make him more cautious. He doesn’t need to know, I said, but that got Gareth onto his high horse – “I’m not messing around with all those toys and tricks at my stage of career, surely you’re not suggesting that after all these years of doing it I can’t be trusted to report accurately what someone says to me?”’ She did a passable imitation of Gareth’s Welsh accent, heightened whenever he was irritated or excited. ‘You can see why he doesn’t like me.’

‘Perhaps I should ask him myself. I could say it’s essential that we’re able to assure ministers of the exact words of the sub-sources Timber Wolf is quoting.’

‘He might think you don’t trust him.’

‘But he’d have to do it. Refusal would look suspicious. It’s all in the interests of absolute accuracy. I could say I’ve had a request from Number Ten.’

‘And if he still refuses?’

‘Then he’s off the case. I’d take over, see Timber Wolf myself.’ Sonia stared at him as the coffee percolated, assessing his seriousness. There was no one else serving with whom he could discuss a fellow director in this way. ‘Less dramatically, I could suggest he takes you along to the meetings.’

‘I tried that, tentatively, saying it would strengthen the product when I’m discussing it in Whitehall if I could say I’d had it from the horse’s mouth. But he went off the deep end – uniquely personal relationship, Timber Wolf would clam up in front of anyone else, take offence, feel he was being treated as a spy. All of which may be true.’

‘I can see why he doesn’t like you.’