Tom could see his father’s concern etched on his face. He knew he must seem tired and distracted, as his eyes roved around the room.

‘Tom, is everything all right?’

Tom looked at his father, his worried, careworn face. ‘I can’t begin to tell you how good it is to be back.’

‘Was it successful – your mission?’

He had told him it was for Rolt but hadn’t gone into any more detail than that. ‘You know I can’t talk about it.’

‘Oh, come on, it was only a PR job for Invicta – wasn’t it?’

‘PR job?’

‘Oh, come on! You’re not in the SAS now.’

‘Look, it was and it wasn’t. It’s complicated, okay?’

All his working life he had made a point of never lying to his parents. There were many things he could never tell them about his work but he refused to lie about it.

Hugh looked uncomfortable as he took another gulp of wine.

‘Dad – what is it?’

‘It’s just that . . . I rather feel I owe you an apology.’

‘Why?’

‘Getting you involved with him.’

Tom put his glass on the table. Yes, he probably did need to slow down. Right now he felt like getting well and truly shit-faced, but that wouldn’t do at all, not here, and definitely not in this company. ‘How d’you mean?’

‘I think I may have been a bit – premature.’

‘Well, you weren’t the only one pushing me in his direction as it turned out, but why the change of heart? You were so gung-ho before.’

Hugh Buckingham paused while the wine waiter topped up their glasses. ‘I think we’ll need another of those when you have a moment.’

The waiter nodded and glided away. Hugh leaned forward and lowered his voice. ‘The last few days, seeing him all over the media and so forth, I mean it was terrible what happened to his hostel, awful – those poor men – but it’s put him even more in the spotlight.’

‘And?’

Hugh blew out a long breath. ‘Well, he’s very presentable, very calm, very reasoned. But when you actually add up what he’s saying – well, stop me if you think I’m wrong – it’s pretty inflammatory.’

Tom found himself on the spot. He played for time while he worked out how to respond. ‘Go on, then. Get it off your chest.’