Or they mightn’t spot her. As was often the case in her life. This was the only chance of escape she had. The odds were probably a little better than fifty-fifty, though probably not a lot better.

But they were the best odds she was going to get. She eased the gate shut and started walking.

She didn’t look back. She didn’t break into a run.

And no one shouted after her.

FIFTEEN

ONCE SHE WAS a safe distance from quartizon’s offices, wada phoned Erla. Calling her was a risk, but she had to be told what had happened. And she had to be told without delay.

‘Halló.’ The speed of Erla’s response suggested she hadn’t been asleep.

‘It’s me.’

‘It went wrong, didn’t it?’ She had feared it would, of course. And it had.

‘The police arrived. I don’t know why.’

‘Ragnar.’

‘Maybe.’

‘Where’s Kristjan?’

‘They took him in.’

‘But you got away?’

‘They didn’t see me. I got out by the fire escape.’

‘Kristjan’s got a record. He did time in prison for throwing a petrol-bomb at a banker’s house after the crash in ’08. This’ll go badly for him. It would’ve been better if they’d got you.’ The words came out like an accusation.

‘I am sorry.’

‘Did you get anything?’

‘Possibly.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘It means I have to look at it.’

‘Look at what?’

‘We should not talk about this on a phone.’

‘But we shouldn’t meet either if they’re holding Kristjan. So, what do we do?’

‘I will contact you. When it’s safe.’

‘Kristjan will tell them nothing about you. You know that, don’t you?’

‘Yes. I do.’ She was actually surprised by her confidence on the point.

‘And I’ll say nothing either.’

‘Thank you.’

‘But Ragnar …’

‘He doesn’t know enough for them to find me.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘I cannot talk any longer now. You will hear from me. Thank you again. And I’m sorry again also. About Kristjan. Now I must go.’ She ended the call.

A direct route back to the Sol took Wada along largely deserted streets. She felt certain Erla was right about Kristjan: he wouldn’t breathe a word about her to the police. Ragnar didn’t even know her real name. And none of them knew where she was staying. But if Ragnar had betrayed them, the police would be aware Kristjan had a Japanese accomplice. Whether they launched any kind of search for her depended on just how seriously they regarded what had happened. Trespass on business premises, with no evidence of an actual robbery, didn’t sound like something that justified a huge expenditure of effort on their part. They mightn’t even keep Kristjan in custody for long, despite his previous conviction.