‘Does it ever bother you that he and the prime minister were close friends at school?’ Julie took another drag. ‘I mean, I forget about that inconvenient fact for long periods and then I suddenly remember and think, Fucking hell, that is weird.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t know. It’s just, if they were friends, I mean really friends, and James Ryan had been recruited by the Russians, wouldn’t it be a natural next step to bring his old mucker in on the action?’

‘You seem to forget that Sir Alan has been right behind us in everything we’re trying to do. It’s Ian who’s taken a stance one might suggest is helpful to Moscow.’

‘Ian’s not a Russian spy, I can tell you that much.’

‘What makes you so sure?’

‘He’s far too weak. He wouldn’t dare and the consequences of being caught would terrify him so much he wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning.’

‘What if he was blackmailed or bribed?’

‘How? His wife is rich, so he doesn’t need the money. I can tell you he’s straightforwardly and vigorously heterosexual, and I don’t think he has any particular kinks beyond the average – and I’m not sure even evidence of an affair, or several, would have been enough to push him to take the risk of working for Moscow. He’s basically just a child.’

‘Although that, in itself, might be a good cover.’

Julie thought about it. ‘Maybe. But still . . .’

Kate threw away her cigarette. She smiled. ‘Thanks for this last conversation. It’s encouraged me no end.’ She hugged Julie. ‘Wait only two days,’ she said, as she walked to the car. ‘If I’m not back then, return to London and confess. What will you do?’

‘Try to go off grid and see if I can avoid our pursuers from the Security Service once they catch up with us – for my own amusement, if nothing else.’

‘Trailing us here would involve a lot of manpower and expense,’ Kate mused. ‘They might just sit tight and wait until our return.’

‘You think Ian, or even C, will be so relaxed?’

‘You should call them. Give Ian a holding statement. A lead came up. We had to preserve operational security so—’

‘They’re never going to buy that.’

‘Agreed, but they’ll know damned well what I’ve gone off to do and they won’t want to do anything to jeopardize my safety.’

‘Showing a lot of faith in them both,’ Julie said, ‘but suit yourself.’

Kate found herself glued to the rear-view mirror until Julie had dwindled into the sinking sunlight. A farewell to security, for the immediate future, at least.