Abdul summoned Bello’s four commanders, instructing them to join their leader immediately. He then made his way to the end of the garden where he couldn’t be overheard and made a short call. Abdul may well have behaved as if Bello was his boss, but this was far from the truth. His allegiance lay firmly elsewhere; with the person who had placed him in this job for a reason and who expected regular updates on Bello’s activities. On his way back into the building to join Bello, Abdul reflected on the irony. Men like Bello spent so much time with their faces to the sky searching for answers that they missed what was happening right under their noses.

40

Bloom finished her morning run in record time. Her mind had been racing with all the questions still unanswered. She took a few moments to catch her breath before fetching a pint of water from the kitchen and taking it outside to drink as she stretched her muscles.

She hadn’t received a reply to her text last night. She checked her phone again, but still nothing. Perhaps they’d changed their number. She resisted the urge to call; it was better to wait. Instead she dialled the number for Caroline Peterson. She expected to get the consultant’s voicemail but Caroline picked up on the second ring.

She began with the normal pleasantries but Caroline encouraged her to get to the point.

‘As far as you’re aware,’ said Bloom, ‘did Julian Peterson have any involvement in the migrant crisis?’

‘I wouldn’t have thought so.’ Caroline’s tone was clipped, as though Bloom was intentionally wasting her time.

‘Did he have any strong views about the migrant situation, either for or against?’

‘As an ex-pat, I’m not sure he’d be in any position to object to migrants.’

‘Was he in support of countries taking them in, then?’

‘I wouldn’t know.’

‘I saw a postcard on the noticeboard in his kitchen with a picture of migrants packed into a fishing boat. Any idea why he would have this?’

‘You went to his house? You really are poking your little nose into our business, aren’t you?’

‘We’re only trying to help Harry, as we’ve been asked to do.’

‘By his bit of fluff.’

‘Might Harry have sent it?’ Bloom ignored the dig.

‘Why would Harry have sent it?’

‘Because of his search and rescue work in 2015.’

Caroline was quiet for a moment. ‘I don’t know.’

‘Do you recall Harry talking about that operation?’

‘A little. He said there was a lot of resistance to taking in the migrants.’

‘Did the experience affect Harry in any way?’

‘Not that I recall.’

‘You separated later that same year.’

‘Did we?’