‘I’ll destroy it.’ The ghost of a disingenuous smile hovered at the corner of his mouth. ‘Obviously.’

‘What is Emergence?’

‘Something I can’t allow you to imperil.’

‘How do you intend to stop me?’

‘I’m not going to threaten you. I’m not going to say Kristjan Einarsson will rot in jail – or whoever replaces Zayala will be pointed in Erla Torfadóttir’s direction – if you don’t leave well alone. But you must understand. I’m fully committed to this project. Fully committed.’

‘Why? What is so important about it?’

Driscoll glanced over his shoulder. ‘Nanoq,’ he called.

Espersen appeared in the dining room doorway. Wada momentarily failed to recognize him without his woolly hat. He too was wearing a suit.

‘What arrangements have you made for Wada-san?’ Driscoll asked.

‘MS Horisont sails from Þorlákshöfn tomorrow morning, bound for Rotterdam.’

‘Journey time?’

‘Three days. Depending on the weather.’

Driscoll nodded in apparent satisfaction. ‘Good enough.’

‘There’ll be no record of her passage. The skipper’s someone I’ve worked with before.’

‘What if I refuse to go?’ Wada asked, cutting into their cosy discussion of her removal from Iceland.

Driscoll gave her a pained smile. ‘Your consent isn’t strictly essential, though I’d urge you to cooperate. The deaths of Ohara and Zayala will trigger a vigorous response by Nishizaki. You wouldn’t want to be here when whoever he sends next starts looking for answers. I’m offering you an undetectable escape route. Take it. You won’t get a better offer.’

‘That is certain,’ murmured Espersen.

And, despite herself, Wada believed him.

Driscoll spared her no more time. He left shortly afterwards, instructing Espersen to transport her to Þorlákshöfn that evening. After he’d gone, Espersen said they’d set off as soon as it got dark. He cooked her a meal, which was surprisingly good. He did nothing to prevent her leaving the house, but he didn’t really need to. She had nothing to leave with. Espersen had her passport, not to mention her phone. Driscoll had the kage-boshi file and the Emergence print-out. Her hard-won gains had all been taken from her.

‘But you’re alive, Wada,’ said Espersen as he served her salmon fishcakes and a glass of white wine. ‘Unlike the two people Nishizaki sent to kill you. That puts you ahead of the game.’

‘He did not send them to kill me,’ Wada objected. ‘Caldwell was the target. And he is dead. Thanks to me, some would say.’

‘We all have to take our chances.’

‘You did not tell Driscoll about the handcuffs?’

‘No.’

‘Why not?’

‘It would have upset him. I know how difficult Caldwell was to handle. So, I’m not making any judgements. He’s dead. You’re alive. How are the fishcakes?’

‘Delicious.’

‘Good. Drink your wine. There’ll be no alcohol on the Horisont.’

‘What does Driscoll expect me to do when I reach Rotterdam?’