She considered it for a while. ‘It’s partly his psyche. Maybe megalomania’s what it really is. There had to be a showdown and he had to win. But I suspect there’s a rationale too. His demonstration that whatever we know, whatever happened, we’ll never be able to prove it. And he’s right.’

‘No. It’s just as you say – we have the contract. Even if he escapes, it will expose what happened.’

‘You’re really going to lodge it with the Inquiry? Even though you’re implicated?’

‘Yes, Sara, I really am.’

‘You should give me a copy for back-up if you’re submitting the original.’

‘I’ll do it first thing.’

They lapsed into further silence. She wondered if she should argue; warn him that making it official Inquiry evidence could destroy his career. But she knew he must have factored that in and wouldn’t change his mind. It was his right thing to do.

They passed a sign saying that Newbury Services were in a mile. ‘I’m late for prayers. Can we stop?’

‘Of course. I could do with a quick kip. Better than falling asleep at the wheel.’

The question had been building in his mind for days. As he turned off the motorway and into the car park, slowing to find the darkest possible space for a sleep as the exertions and tensions of the day subsided, he made the leap.

‘Sara… I wanted to ask you something?’

‘Oh?’

He looked shyly into her eyes. ‘If I want to invite you out for a date, what do I have to do?’

‘Well,’ she said, eyes flashing back and allowing herself a satisfying delay, ‘like other things in life, it seems, there are three phases. First, you have to wait till my father’s well enough to understand your request. Second, he has to agree. Third, you have to agree he accompanies us as my chaperone. It’s just the way we do things.’

‘That’s fine,’ he said, the grin softening to the gentlest of smiles.

‘It’s OK, Patrick, I’m only joking. I’ve told you before – I’m a big girl now.’

He found a parking space and cut the engine. ‘You know, there may have been something else. All that stuff about wanting you to understand him. As if he needed your absolution. Or just your approval.’ He paused. ‘At least I might have that in common with him.’

‘No. He was game-playing. You’d never do that.’ She smiled, lightly cuffed him on the cheek, got out and shut the door.