‘I cannot drive, Mr Caldwell. I drove George’s car the short distance from where Ohara killed him, it is true, and I was lucky to keep it under control. There is no way I could drive it to Reykjavík. And obviously I cannot walk there. Nor can I telephone for assistance. So, what do you lose by releasing me? I would become your ally.’

‘My ally in what?’

‘Who sent Ohara to find you?’

‘I can’t—’

‘Nishizaki. It has to have been. Nishizaki, not Peter Driscoll. So, there is no longer unity between them. They do not trust each other. That is why you are in danger. That is why we are both in danger.’

‘Not while we lie low here.’

‘People will be coming here tomorrow. This you have told me. Who will they be working for? Driscoll? Or Nishizaki? Or both?’

‘Peter has assured me—’

‘It does not matter what he has assured you, Mr Caldwell. What matters is who these people are actually working for. How will you know you can trust them? How will you know that for certain, with your life at stake?’

Caldwell looked stumped by the question. He frowned deeply.

‘We should not stay here, Mr Caldwell. The weather has cleared. We should go. Not to Reykjavík. But to somewhere less isolated than this farm. There is a hikers’ hostel on the road from Þingvellir to Gullfoss. I saw the sign when George and I drove past. No one would know that was where we had gone. You could call Driscoll from there on Thursday – your phone would work there, I think, or, if not, there would surely be a payphone – to make whatever arrangements with him you think are best. But staying here … is not wise. It is not wise at all.’

Caldwell looked searchingly at her, then stood up and walked out into the passage. He moved out of her sight, though she could still see his shadow on the wall, cast by low sun shining through the windows and doorway of the next room. He appeared to put his hands on his head and stoop forward slightly. And he stayed like that for close to a minute.

Then he came back into the bathroom.

‘I have your word you’d make no effort to contact anyone … if we did … go to this hostel?’

‘You could keep my phone, Mr Caldwell. But I would not try to contact anyone, I promise.’

‘You would have to do exactly what I told you to do.’

‘I would. I am certain lying low, as you call it, is the sensible course of action. But not lying low here.’

‘Perhaps … you’re right.’