“In the files, are there pathology details for Jack Moretti?” she asked.

“I’m not sure. Like I say, it’s been a while. But I’ve got copies of the original police report, from just after they found the body, and that involves photos.”

“I’d love to see them.”

“Okay,” Perryman exhaled. “Jack Moretti. Never expected him to walk back into my life.”

The journalist was as good as his word. He sent through a zip file ten minutes later and an email with a public key for encrypting any further communications. Taylor clicked through the files: interviews, notes, reams of Moretti’s psychological papers. Finally she got to a smudged copy of the original police report, compiled in the hours before the investigation was taken off their hands. It contained several pictures, including two of the abandoned lot where he’d been found, five of the body itself, and one of the rope. Taylor checked a magnified version until she felt sure: It was doubled. It was the same knot.

Kudus came in as she was staring at the screen.

“This is from the American journalist,” Taylor said. “Moretti’s noose. Rory’s was tied in exactly the same way.”

Kudus studied the image.

“What’s the implication?” he said, carefully.

“That possibly the same person was responsible—for killing them and staging a suicide.”

“Okay.” He sounded skeptical. “What would the logic be there?”

“I don’t know. Rory requested the name of a man who died by hanging a few days before he was found hanged himself. Neither death makes much sense. But the new pathology report makes it seem likely someone else was involved in whatever happened to Rory.”

Taylor described Glenning’s assessment: the dirt on Rory’s hands, bruising on his back, the sophisticated knot.

“What would you do about Kane?” she said. “Given all this?”

Kudus considered the question. “Has there been anything more to suggest he’s being monitored?”

“Nothing that’s shown up.”

“Let him know what we know. Keep him updated on potential surveillance. Let him know about Moretti. If it’s nothing, then it’s not going to occupy his time. If Moretti connects, Kane’s the one in a position to find out what’s going on there.”

“Better position to get hurt, too. But I agree.”

When Kudus was gone, Taylor messaged Kane. She sent through a summary of the new pathology report with a cover message explaining the conclusions. At least he would be informed, she told herself. Then she briefly outlined her interest in Jack Moretti and wondered how crazy it sounded.

She needed to go to Skinner, tell him about Glenning’s conclusions before they reached him independently. She took a deep breath, preparing herself, then a call preempted her. It was C.

“Kathryn?”

“Yes?”

“Is it true that you worked with Rory Bannatyne in Oman, July 2015?”

Taylor froze, feeling a cold dread spread inside her.

“Yes,” she said.