‘Too right I do. I can’t let them get away with this. I don’t want anyone thinking I was their willing accomplice. Maybe Quartizon are banking on buying my silence with a humungous bonus. They’ll probably argue no one will work out they’ve been sold a pup until it’s too late to do anything about it. But that’s not a risk I’m willing to take. The climatological verifications all lead back to me. And about a third of them are totally bogus. You don’t seriously think I’m going to lie down under that, do you?’

Morrisette’s righteous indignation was an impressive force. But Wada knew there was a stronger countervailing force. ‘I think I ought to warn you, Dr Morrisette, that Nishizaki takes extreme measures against anyone who challenges him. My employer, for instance, Kazuto Kodaka.’

‘What about him?’

‘He was killed. Hit-and-run.’

‘You’re saying Nishizaki was responsible for that?’

‘I believe he was, yes.’

‘Even if you’re right, that happened in … Tokyo?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, there you are. Tokyo’s a long way from Cambridge, Wada. Nishizaki’s reach doesn’t extend here. Besides, your boss was nosing into all his business affairs, wasn’t he? My beef is much more specific. I just want him to set right the liberties Driscoll’s taken on his behalf with my professional standing in this one case.’

‘You really think he will agree?’

‘I don’t mean to leave him much choice in the matter. What time is it in Tokyo now?’

Wada looked up at the large clock on the wall. ‘Approaching seven thirty in the evening.’

‘OK. My contract’s with Quartizon, but it was drafted by a lawyer at Nishizaki HQ. I had enough dealings with him putting the paperwork to bed to know he’s pretty much always on call. I’ll get my broadside off to him right now and he can dwell on it overnight before reporting to Nishizaki first thing tomorrow, which will be late tonight here. Sound good?’

‘You must do what you think is best, Dr Morrisette.’

‘My bet is I’ll hear from Driscoll or Hardekar with a proposal of some kind before we ever get that far.’

‘It is possible, I suppose.’

‘Where are you going when you leave here?’

‘To be honest, I am not sure.’

‘Well, give me your phone number.’

‘I do not … have a phone … presently.’

‘Doesn’t that make doing your job a smidge difficult?’ She waved away the need for an answer. ‘Never mind. Go see the sights for a few hours, then come back. I might have some news for you by then.’