“She’d like to see you both for a moment; I spoke to the jailer, and he will allow it.”

They all got to their feet and went inside, the priest bringing up the rear. The jailer searched Kramer and Forrester, then conducted the group down the corridor.

Forrester stopped. “I can’t do this,” he said. “I just can’t.”

“Wait for us outside,” Stone said, and Forrester went back down the corridor.

Allison was sitting on the bunk, reading a Bible that the priest must have given her. She looked up, saw Kramer, and smiled.

“Thank you for coming,” she said to her, shaking her hand. “I wanted to tell you how grateful I am to you, Hilary, for the reporting you did in the Times. It meant a great deal to me.” She looked toward the door. “Where’s Jim?”

Stone spoke up. “He wasn’t feeling well; he asked that you excuse him.”

Allison nodded.

“You will have to go now,” the jailer said to Kramer.

The reporter left, leaving Stone, Hewitt, and the priest with Allison. Stone looked at his watch: seven thirty-five.

Finally, Hewitt spoke. “A phone line at the main desk will be kept free,” he said, then he was quiet again.

“Stone,” Allison said, “they asked me to fill out a form, giving next of kin and so forth. I gave them your name to handle any formalities.”

“Of course,” Stone said, “but that’s not going to be necessary.”

She smiled slightly. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.” She smoothed her skirt. “I’ve also left some instructions with Leslie,” she said. “To be opened…” She let the sentence trail off.

“Everything will be done, Allison,” Leslie said. “I feel that I have let you down, you know.”

“Don’t you believe that for a moment,” she said. “Both you and Stone have been perfectly wonderful. I could not have been better represented. I really mean that.” She put her hand in Stone’s.

There was the sound of footsteps in the front hall. Someone, more than one person, had come into the jail. Then it was quiet again. Stone willed himself not to look at his watch, but it was growing dark in the cell. Suddenly, the single bare bulb came on, making them blink.

Then, from down the hall, came the sound of men marching in step. Stone looked up to find four policemen standing outside the cell. One of them unlocked the door. At that moment, Stone heard the telephone ring. The policeman closed the door, turned his back, and leaned on it, nodding to another officer, who strode back down the hall. He was gone for half a minute, then returned. He looked at his senior officer and shook his head.

No, Stone thought, no, this can’t be. That must have been the prime minister. He stood up. “The phone call?…”