It takes only half an hour to get there in such light traffic, and Yassim has a completely Lebanese attitude to parking – he has no problem leaving the car halfway on a sidewalk close to an intersection.

A short walk between historical ruins among a few school field trips and tourists, and they’re sitting down at Pepe’s, close to the harbour with the sea in front of them shining like brass in the afternoon sun. Jacob orders a glass of white wine, Yassim only water, and then they go to the refrigerated counter to point out what fish they want grilled up. It’s expensive, more expensive than Jacob was expecting, but Yassim just waves off his attempts to object.

‘My treat,’ he says. ‘Don’t worry about it.’

They’re in the middle of their appetizer – hummus and bread, always hummus and bread – when Yassim’s phone rings and he apologetically rises and heads for the stairs that lead to the fishing boats in the marina. Jacob watches him go. Yassim’s face is tense again. That abyss in his eyes is back; he can see it even from this distance. Jacob takes a gulp of cold wine when he hears a voice he recognizes all too well right behind him.

‘It’s lovely here at Pepe’s, isn’t it?’

Jacob swallows the wine far too fast and starts to cough. When he turns around, Myriam’s leaning back comfortably in one of the plastic chairs at the table behind him. Black jeans and sneakers. A pair of large black sunglasses. He fumbles for a napkin, his hands trembling. He didn’t call her this morning.

‘What are you doing here?’ he whispers.

‘You didn’t tell me you were coming here,’ she says.

‘I don’t know what you want me to say,’ Jacob whispers. ‘I mean I’m with him. Please… Leave me alone.’

She nods calmly and lifts her glasses, looks into his eyes. ‘It’s all about trust,’ Myriam says, shaking her head. ‘Such an unreliable friend. You’d better not forget that I see everything. That we see everything. It’s not just me, Jacob. Not just Swedish interests involved in this. There are many people waiting for you to do what you’re supposed to.’

Down at the harbour, Yassim’s call seems to be over. He nods and gestures. Myriam stands up and takes a step towards Jacob. ‘It’s time now, you get me?’ she says. ‘You’ve had days to take care of this. If I didn’t know better, I’d almost think you were trying to avoid your job.’

‘But how the hell should I do it?’ Jacob has raised his voice in desperation. ‘His computer has a fucking password!’