‘But I need to read it.’

‘I thought we went through this before you joined.’

‘The allegations are still part of the political conversation. I don’t think we can just bury our heads in the sand and prevent—’

‘I can tell you what you need to know.’ Kate dropped her bag beside her desk and sat down. Suddenly she felt shattered.

‘I need the file, Kate.’ Suzy was in the doorway. She seemed to fill it, despite her narrow frame, but perhaps that was just her demeanour. She tucked a strand of jet-black hair neatly behind her right ear. ‘I don’t want you to think I’m a stooge for the Security Service during my time here, but I’m really surprised they – we – were not called in to have a look at this. The director general would have a coronary if he knew the scale of the intelligence you’d kept from him. I mean, the prime minister potentially working for the Russians . . .’

‘Well, to be clear, that is exactly what I will think if you take that kind of tone.’

Suzy stood her ground. ‘I’m part of this team now, Kate. I’ve been around long enough now to know what that involves.’

Kate got up, went to the filing cabinet in the corner, unlocked it with the key she kept in her pocket, took out the file marked Operation Sigma and handed it to her colleague. Suzy looked pleased, as if she had expected the conversation to reach a different conclusion.

Kate logged on to her computer. She’d barely had a chance to glance through her emails when their team assistant, Maddy, put her head around the door. She had an unerring ability to gauge instantly Kate’s state of mind. ‘You all right?’

‘Why wouldn’t I be?’

‘O-kay.’ She pulled a face. ‘Glad I asked. Your aunt Rose called.’

‘What did she want?’

‘There’s a problem with your expenses.’

‘What?’

‘All right, bad joke. She said she’d spoken to Fiona and would pick her and Gus up at four. She’s sorted your mother with the nursing home. She’ll pick her up just afterwards and they’ll all head down to Cornwall together. You’re welcome to join them at any point if you can get away.’

‘Did she hear back from Belgrade?’

‘Not so far as I know.’

‘Will you check?’

‘Of course.’

Maddy didn’t retreat. There was clearly more. ‘And?’ Kate asked.

‘She said I was to make sure you kept your appointment with Dr Wiseman – and walk you there myself if necessary.’

‘All right, thank you.’

‘What time is your appointment?’

‘Two.’

‘Are you going?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘Maddy . . .’ Kate faced her assistant, whose concern for her welfare sometimes felt intrusive.

‘You have to go, Kate.’

‘Last time I looked I was a grown woman. So I don’t have to do anything.’

‘You’re not well.’

Kate frowned. ‘What do you mean?’

‘We all know what you’ve been through and you’re not yourself. Surely you can see that.’