‘Why should Nishizaki agree to speak to me as your agent? He must regard me as someone beneath his notice.’

‘Oh, I think he’s noticed you, Wada. In fact, I think he probably regrets not telling Ohara at the outset to kill you if he got the chance. You know too much for his liking. But that means you know enough to close this deal. Frankly, I can’t think of anyone else who has a realistic chance of doing so.’

‘You would trust me?’

A brief silence fell. Driscoll nodded. ‘Yes. I would trust you.’

‘Why? You do not know me.’

‘I know you well enough. And however badly you think of me, it can hardly come close to how badly you think of Nishizaki. Your enemy’s enemy truly is, in this case, your friend.’

‘What if Nishizaki rejects your terms?’

‘You’ll simply have to negotiate as best you can.’

‘And you will comply with whatever deal I strike?’

‘If it spares my son’s life, yes. I have no choice unless I’m to abandon him. And I’ve abandoned too much in my life to add my own child to the list.’

‘What would you have said to Nishizaki if Dr Morrisette was his only hostage?’

Driscoll smiled faintly. ‘I had an escape route ready to offer her after she’d exposed the fraud. She’d have come to no harm.’

‘That is not an answer to my question.’

He looked at her directly. ‘Perhaps the question can’t be answered. We are where we are.’

‘You are asking me to take a big risk.’

‘Refusing to do this would be the bigger risk for you, Wada. Nishizaki will come for you.’

‘And for you.’

‘Yes. Which is why we find ourselves unexpectedly needing each other’s help.’

‘You’ve made the right decision,’ said Driscoll as they walked away from the cathedral.

‘It is too soon to say that.’

‘No, it’s not. Whatever happens – even if everything goes disastrously wrong – the alternatives are worse. Believe me. I thought them all through very carefully before coming to see you.’

Wada had tried to think some of them through herself as they’d talked. Maybe Driscoll was right: they were worse than whatever would come of seeking to prise a compromise out of Nishizaki. Or maybe he was wrong. There was no way to be certain. Wada would have to face the consequences of that uncertainty if she went through with this, as she’d just agreed to do.

There was another motive driving her on that she wasn’t about to confess to Driscoll. By planting Yozo Sasada in Aum Shinrikyo, Nishizaki was indirectly responsible for Hiko’s death. Wada had only ever seen Sasada in a courtroom. She’d never actually spoken to him. But she could speak to Nishizaki. She could look into his eyes and see what kind of man he was. Driscoll had given her that chance.