The arrival of the SIO always caused a stir, and the uniforms who recognised Matt stopped what they were doing to greet him. Matt acknowledged them officially and swiftly. Kelly, bringing up the rear, admired the respect he commanded. He’d done well.

They were shown into an office and greeted by a man in a suit, who asked them to sit down. They declined. The suit identified himself as the head of media relations. It really wasn’t helpful.

‘We’re not journalists,’ Matt said.

‘I have several hats, I—’

‘We need to have a serious conversation with somebody who knew the work of the neurocellular lab well. We’ll wait here.’

‘I can answer any questions you might have. We’re being as transparent as we can be, and your officers are in the neurocellular lab now.’

‘Somebody from HR would be a good start.’ Matt wasn’t giving in.

‘I’m going for a walk,’ Kelly said quietly. Matt understood.

She left, watched by the suit, and wandered down the corridor. She was aware straight away that somebody had followed her out of the media office, and she turned around.

‘I can find my own way, thank you,’ she said. The young man who had obviously been detailed to watch her nodded and dropped back.

Kelly made her way back to reception and studied a map on the wall. When asked who she was, she flashed her badge and the enquirer backed off. She didn’t make a fuss, and didn’t stand out. These pharmaceuticals were too secretive, and she needed to talk to the scientists who oiled the machine, not the suits who looked after the money. She gained a quick understanding of how the factory was laid out: it consisted of several lift shafts serving different floors. It reminded her of MI5. The labs were all in the bowels of the building. She made her way to HR, which she knew would be run by women. This could go either way: she’d find either solidarity or bare hostility.

Luckily it was the former. She accepted a coffee and chatted to the three staff on duty. She was open about who she was and made the women comfortable. A printout of a cartoon stuck on the wall titled Human Remains Department depicted a conspiratorial gaggle of women picking over limbs. Kelly thought it amusing. It was supposed to be.

‘What were they like?’ she eased in.

‘So nice! All of them!’