‘I thought you’d like that. And it shares its name with a naval vessel that local residents raised money to fund in World War Two, so it seemed a fitting spot for a debrief.’

‘They called a ship Bramble Bakehouse?’

Bloom smiled. ‘HMS Bramble. The bakehouse bit is just for the cafe.’ She put aside her notebook as he ordered a coffee and a slice of peanut butter flapjack. ‘I spoke to Harry yesterday. He seems to be doing better.’

‘Any memories?’ asked Jameson.

‘Nothing at all. I’m not sure he’ll get anything back.’

‘How’s Karene coping with that?’

‘She was angry at first but I think they’re meeting for a drink later today.’

‘Will that be the first time they’ve seen each other since letter-gate?’

Bloom nodded. ‘He told me something interesting about his visit to Africa with Seraphine.’ She reached for the newspaper on the bench beside her, opened it, folded it in half, and placed it on the table between them. ‘This man, Abdul Sharif, has just succeeded Jacob Bello as the head of God’s Liberation Army.’

‘I heard Bello senior had popped his clogs. Good riddance to the sick bastard. Is this guy any better, do we know?’

‘Well, that’s the thing. Harry swears blind this was Seraphine’s contact out there.’

‘Oh crap.’

‘So, I’m guessing, no, not any better.’

Jameson looked closely at the picture of Sharif. He was slim and attractive with intelligent eyes. ‘He looks educated and professional. They’ll think he’s safer, easier to negotiate with.’

‘And yet, if I had to put money on it, I’d say he was a high-functioning psychopath.’

‘One of her recruits?’

‘I knew she wouldn’t have helped us without some gain, but I couldn’t see what it was. She made out she wanted time with you, but I suspected there was more to it than that, maybe revenge for the fact I’d outwitted her in the spring. Now, I think she used us to get to Harry and then she used him to get in a room with Antony Bello … so that she could kill him.’

‘And put her own man in his place. It was common knowledge Jacob Bello was at death’s door. What’s that woman up to? First she’s selecting psychopaths and now she’s placing them in positions of power.’

‘Indeed she is.’

‘But why?’ asked Jameson.

‘I have my suspicions, but I’m hoping I’m wrong.’

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