Sara saw a tiredness in the face opposite. Isobel must have started early and been on the go ever since, trying to fight the fire. Perhaps she was one of those mangled souls who slept for three hours a night and lived off nervous energy.

‘The reason I have come here,’ said Isobel, ‘is in the hope that you will bear in mind the national interest and security when it comes to police and any other investigations of these recent, tragic events. We have dealt with the threat. Whatever evidence and accounts you yourself are in a position to give, neither they nor anything else will ever provide proof that any of these events were the result of illegal actions. Even to this day, I myself don’t know for sure. The accident or suicide explanations are fully plausible. I may be traducing Kareem. Perhaps it was only mind games.’

‘You know too much, Isobel, to allow yourself to believe that.’

‘People overrate our omniscience.’

‘What about the contract?’ asked Sara.

‘Contract?’ Isobel’s eyes widened with a second show of astonishment. It instantly made Sara question the first one.

‘Please don’t start lying now.’

The eyes narrowed. ‘I understand what you’re referring to. It is a matter of fact that there was no contract with MI5. Nothing was ever authorised from the top.’

‘You were there. There was a signed and witnessed contract containing certain indemnities for Kareem.’

‘We have to operate in a real world, Sara, to protect our nation. If Patrick and Kareem signed a piece of paper giving him some kind of assurances, Patrick, I’m sure, did it for the right reasons.’

‘It was witnessed.’

‘If so, not by anyone with official status.’

‘It was an MI5 employee going under the name of Len Rogerson.’

‘I’ll check for you but I recall no one of that name in the security service.’

‘And overseen by you.’

‘No. That’s not credible. If any such thing was ever told or hinted to you, either by Patrick or J, it’s wrong. You should remember that they may have been saying things to protect themselves.’

‘But it’s convenient, isn’t?’ said Sara. ‘All parties to the contract now gone. J and Patrick dead. Their contracts gone with them. Kareem out of the country. Just you left, Dame Isobel.’

‘Sara, I understand your sadness. And your bitterness. And your mistrust. I hope in time they’ll all begin to heal and pass. I’ve come here in good faith to give you the truth as I know it. I’m asking you to take it into account in your further actions. Enough has been said. I’ll leave you in peace.’

Isobel rose and marched off, turning towards the road running alongside the south of the Common. As she reached the pavement, Sara watched a black saloon with tinted windows slow down and embrace her like a wraith gathered in to the shadows.