He heard the phone ring and Katra answered it almost immediately. She came into the sitting room, holding the phone. ‘Caroline Stockmann,’ she said.

Shepherd muted the sound on the television. ‘My favourite psychologist,’ he said. ‘What can I do for you?’

‘I think you know,’ said Stockmann. ‘Charlie thought it might be a good idea if we got together, plus you’re overdue your biannual.’

‘The biannual psychological review was in my police contract and my SOCA contract but I don’t remember seeing it when I signed on with MI5.’

‘And your memory is good, isn’t it?’ said Stockmann.

‘Virtually photographic,’ agreed Shepherd. ‘Eidetic, they call it.’

‘The thing is, Charlie would very much like us to sit down for a while. And as you know, what Charlie wants, Charlie does tend to get. But whatever it may or may not have said in your contract, you do have to have a biannual.’

‘I’m in Hereford, Caroline.’

‘And isn’t that a coincidence.’ She laughed.

Shepherd didn’t say anything for several seconds. ‘Please don’t say you’re stalking me, Caroline.’

‘It’s more of a Muhammad coming to the mountain situation,’ she said.

‘It’s not the first time you’ve said that,’ said Shepherd. ‘It’s either that or you claim to be doing some work for the Regiment.’

‘What can I say? It’s as if you can read my mind.’

Shepherd sighed. ‘Where would you like to meet?’

‘How about the same place we met last time I was in your neck of the woods. Not a booth, because I know how much you hate sitting in booths, not being able to push them out of the way and all.’

‘When?’

‘Anytime this afternoon. You give me a time.’

‘Two o’clock.’

‘Two o’clock it is.’

Shepherd put down the phone. ‘Who was that?’ asked Liam.

‘My stalker.’

‘Your stalker?’ Liam gasped. ‘Are you serious?’

‘Joke,’ said Shepherd. ‘It’s someone from work.’

‘You said you were on holiday.’

‘I am, she just wants a chat. An hour or two at most.’

‘Is it your boss?’

Shepherd shook his head. ‘No, that’s Charlotte Button. This lady is someone else; she has to do a report on me to say that I’m doing my job OK.’

‘Like a school report?’

Shepherd nodded. ‘Yes, that’s pretty much what it is.’

‘I hope you pass.’

Shepherd laughed. ‘You and me both.’

Shepherd got to the pub early but Stockmann had beaten him to it and had installed herself at a circular table close to the booths that overlooked the car park. ‘The early bird,’ she said, raising a half-full pint of bitter in salute.

‘Excellent tradecraft.’ Shepherd laughed. ‘Always get to the meeting first and sit with your back to the wall.’ They shook hands and then Shepherd went over to the bar and bought a lager shandy, heavy on the lemonade. ‘So what time did you get here?’ he asked as he sat down opposite her.

‘I was already in town when I phoned,’ she said.