“That was Torres. They want me back as soon as possible to head up the investigation into the attack. They haven’t formally identified Alex’s remains, but no one’s heard from him since he picked up my keys from the station. What’s left of his BMW was found outside the building. Troy, it’s devastating to think I sent him to his death.”

“Nic, you can’t blame yourself for what happened. We’re dealing with a psychopath who has absolutely no boundaries and will stop at nothing to protect his son’s ambitions for the White House.”

Vargas nodded and stayed silent for a moment, contemplating his next words. “Troy, this whole case is a nightmare. It’s become an obsession and Franklin has to be stopped. I told Torres I’m pursuing a strong lead in California and bought myself forty-eight hours at best.”

Hembury nodded and tried to lighten the atmosphere. He started to make a French dressing. “If things go well with Amanda tonight, that might just be long enough to carry out our plan. Do me a favour, there’s a liquor store at the end of the street. Would you pick up a couple of nice bottles of French red wine and a few snacks? Her favourite is Nuits-Saint-Georges.”

“Am I going to be the third wheel tonight cause I’m really not in the mood?”

Hembury emptied some croutons into the salad bowl, walked across the kitchen and rested his arm on Vargas’s shoulder. “Nic, we just need to get her on our side. If she agrees to go along with this, we’ll have some very strong leverage to use against Franklin.”

By the time Vargas returned from the shop, Hembury had finished prepping the food and was busy setting the table. “Perfect timing. She just texted to say she’s ten minutes away. Let’s get that wine open.”

Amanda Carter was one of the BBC’s highest-profile and pre-eminent news correspondents. For five years, she had anchored the UK’s prestigious ten o’clock bulletin and, before that, she’d cut her teeth as a war reporter, working on the front line in Bosnia and Lebanon. For the last three years, she’d been based in Washington, where she worked for BBC World News as their senior US political correspondent. At forty-five, she was at the height of her beauty and her stunning figure was complemented by her crystal-blue eyes and jet-black hair. Her exceptionally pronounced cheekbones and Angelina Jolie lips completed the effect. Senior White House politicians were intimidated by her looks and scared of her sharp intellect.