‘I can pass it on to the people who study terrorism and see what they think but I don’t have to report it to the police unless he’s actually done something illegal, which it doesn’t sound as if he has.’ His reassurance was misleading, while being literally true. Reporting it to MI5 would mean it would go onto Daniel’s electronic file, as he was already a subject of interest. If he moved higher up the target ladder or said or did anything to bring himself to attention, it would automatically be shared with SO15, the Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism branch. ‘Meanwhile, keep talking to Akela, get her to tell you anything that worries her no matter how trivial and let us know, either of us. The more we know the easier it is to reach a balanced judgement and to assess whether there’s really anything to worry about or whether it’s just the enthusiasm of the convert, as you suggested. But thank you for telling us. You did exactly the right thing and we’ll keep an eye on it together.’

‘Stay for dinner,’ said Sarah. ‘There’s masses in the freezer.’

She declined, leaving when she’d finished her wine and after more talk about her future with her law firm. Her training contract was coming to an end and she didn’t know whether she was going to be offered a position. She would go back to the office now, though it would be nearly ten by the time she got there.

‘Keep in touch about the job too,’ said Sarah. ‘I mentor trainees so I hear what’s going on in our firm and elsewhere.’

Over defrosted salmon they watched television news coverage of the knife attack in Ely cathedral in which three visitors and a guide were injured, the guide later dying of her wounds. The attacker, a man described as of Middle Eastern appearance, fled into the town. Police were searching streets and gardens and making house-to-house calls in case a family was being held hostage. Residents were advised to stay inside. A Home Office minister said that the government was keeping an open mind on whether it was a terrorist act.

‘Every time we hear something like this now I’m going to worry that it’s Daniel,’ said Sarah. ‘Poor Deborah. I hope she’s got no inkling of what Anya was saying.’

‘Chances are Daniel’s not going that way.’

‘How can you be so sure?’

‘I’m not. I just think it’s unlikely. He seems too open about it, too pleased to show off his new faith to be secretly plotting murder and mayhem. Granted, anyone’s capable of anything, depending on context, but it’s unlikely in his case. Mad, maybe, but not bad. Anyway, most things never happen, as Philip Larkin tells us.’

‘You really think anyone’s capable of anything?’

‘More or less, depending on context.’