‘I’m not laughing. Look. I have an old friend I can call on for help. Someone who’ll watch the house for me. And I’ve no doubt Grey will make sure his lot are watching us too.’

‘What is wrong with you? You can’t do this.’

‘Grey seemed cool with it.’

‘Marcus, you could come to serious harm. I can’t let that happen.’

‘Gosh, you’re almost showing some genuine affection there, Augusta. Steady on now!’

‘Stop the car. Marcus, pull in there.’ She pointed at a lay-by.

Jameson did as she asked, switched off the ignition and swivelled in his seat to face her. His expression was one of amusement.

‘Let’s get this straight, then,’ she said. ‘I am not a psychopath. I do not have psychopathic tendencies. I simply understand a good deal about their kind.’

‘Or you believe your own propaganda,’ said Jameson.

‘And you think taking that woman’s word is a good call, do you? You think she has a balanced idea of what makes people tick? Grow up, Marcus. I’m a good person, a caring person and you know that. We have a case to solve and a business to run so you either need to let this go or … go.’

He locked his jaw and narrowed his eyes. Then he restarted the car and pulled back out into the traffic. ‘Fine,’ he said. ‘I will.’

Bloom didn’t dare ask which option he’d chosen.

44

At midday on Tuesday, a blacked-out Range Rover pulled up outside Jameson’s safe house in Southampton. Rear Admiral Grey had agreed that Harry could stay for a couple of days while they sourced something more suitable. Jameson thought Grey should have been more grateful: Harry Peterson was vulnerable in Stanford Hall. It made sense to move him as quickly as possible.

Jameson opened the back door of the car to find the seats on the opposite side had been removed and a bed secured to the floor. Harry Peterson was not on it. He had instead chosen to sit in a reclined position in the remaining cream leather seat. He sat up, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt over his head to cover the bandage and nodded hello to Jameson before quickly following him into the house.

Once the two naval officers who had accompanied Harry had checked the house and asked a range of questions about security – Was there an alarm? Was the front door the only access? Were the windows lockable and locked? – they left. They would be staying close by, they said, and checking in regularly.