Bull continued.

‘We’re just here to tell you that – when you’re ready and feeling able to move – you’ll be free to go. All the charges against you, they’ve been dropped.’

Mansour squinted his eyes at Bull’s words. He was unsure if he had misheard. He slowly turned his head towards Duffy.

‘It’s true, son. It’s over. You’re a free man. An innocent one, too, eh?’

‘But . . . why? I . . . I placed the bomb . . .’

‘You didn’t know you were doing that,’ Bull replied. ‘And if it hadn’t been you, it would have been someone else.’

‘But still. What I did, I know it was a crime.’

‘Listen, son, stop asking questions,’ Duffy said. ‘This decision has nothing to do with what’s a crime and what’s not. It’s much bigger than that. And it comes from a much higher place than any of us. OK? Just accept it and get back on with your life.’

Mansour looked between the two men’s faces. He was conflicted. He wanted to ask more questions, but he realised instinctively that Duffy was right.

And so he took the advice.

‘Mr Duffy, thank you. For all you have done.’

He turned to Bull.

‘And to you, Mr Bull. For helping me. May I ask, sir. Am I now safe? From Romeo and from others?’

‘From what I’ve been told, Nizar, those men will never be bothering you again. Or anyone else.’

Mansour understood Bull’s not so subtle meaning.

‘Thank you, sir.’

‘You’re welcome, Nizar. Now listen, I have to go but Will here is going to stay. There’s something he needs to discuss with you. So you take care now, OK? Be safe.’

‘I will, Mr Bull.’

Bull reached out a hand and Mansour took it gently, his grip still weak. The two men shock.

‘Goodbye.’

‘Goodbye.’

Mansour turned to Duffy as Bull left.

‘What is it, Mr Duffy? What must we discuss?’

Duffy took a seat near to Mansour’s head, took a deep breath and began.

‘Son, it’s about your sister . . .’

EIGHTY-TWO

Michael Devlin pressed the disconnect icon on his mobile phone and placed it on the kitchen island ahead of him. He took a few moments to register what he had just been told, before looking up to face Sarah.

‘You want another exclusive, sweetheart?’

‘Who was that?’ she asked, indicating towards the handset.

Sarah was sitting on a tall stool directly across from Michael.

‘It was Will Duffy,’ Michael replied. ‘Seems they’re dropping all charges against Nizar Mansour.’

‘You’re kidding me?’

‘Nope. All true.’

‘On what grounds?’

‘Officially? Or actually?’

‘Let’s try both.’

‘Officially, no evidence of his involvement. No confession. No CCTV. Nothing. They got the wrong man.’

‘So what’s the real reason?’

‘Off the record?’

‘I wouldn’t be asking you if I was planning to report it.’

‘Political. Seems with everything that happened with America and with the White House, they didn’t want Mansour standing trial. Too much risk of the truth coming out.’