‘There was no point. It was taken for granted and agreed by all sides before I arrived.’

‘But what actually was the evidence?’

‘Photographs, meetings where plots were hatched, transcripts.’ ‘I’ll put it another way. Evidence that would be allowed in court – or that wasn’t just hearsay.’

Patrick hesitated. ‘I was never required to examine it. But I guess there would have been words he’d said publicly. Some of those transcripts might have been accepted. Evidence of conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, incitement to violence.’

‘If you really think about it, did you ever see or know of evidence that would definitely convict him?’

‘I guess not. But that was a given. J knew it, Isobel knew it. Kareem himself more than anyone seemed to know it was hopeless.’

‘Yes, “seemed” to know.’ She smiled at Patrick. ‘It’s OK, you were acting in accordance with your client’s wishes.’

She turned to Kareem. ‘You see, Kareem, it doesn’t really hang together, your narrative, does it? None of it. From beginning to end. There’s an alternative. Isn’t there?’

Chapter 29

29

‘My dear Sara,’ said Kareem with a regretful smile, ‘if only, I often think. But always that streak of impulsiveness.’ She said nothing; he couldn’t resist the silent challenge. ‘If you wish to display that streak now, who am I to stand in your way?’ He looked at his watch. ‘But be quick.’

Sara caught sight of Aaqil standing in the half-light below the platform, hand on knife. She turned to Kareem – he was gesturing at Aaqil to withdraw. She realised the sickening truth – Kareem was preening. She repressed a seething at his smugness, unable to believe that she’d once seen it as the superior knowledge and worldliness of a glamorous older man.

‘Let us return to your trip to Islamabad,’ she began calmly. ‘You travel first class—’

‘Of course,’ he smirked.

‘Ostentatiously you turn left into the plane while your fellow students turn right—’

‘Hardly my fellows,’ he said.

‘Please allow me, as I have allowed you.’

‘I only wish to give your alternative narrative every chance by correcting facts…’