‘Yes.’ Half-recognising the voice and accent, she switched to alert.

‘It is the father of Iqbal Jamal Wahab here, Ms Shah. You visited us in Blackburn.’

‘Yes of course, Mr Wahab. I remember. It’s good to hear from you.’

‘Am I speaking privately to you?’

‘Yes. Yes, you are.’

‘We heard from Iqbal.’

‘That’s good, I’m so pleased.’

‘It was just a text message to his brother. I think he allowed me to see it so I’d know Iqbal is alive. There was something odd. I thought I would ask you. Confidentially.’

‘Of course.’

‘It said something like this. “I need to stay away for a while. We’re just waiting for the Adviser to tell us when. Could be months, could be years. Then it’ll be done.” I don’t understand it. I’m wondering if you have come across anything like this in your research. Maybe you know what it means.’

Sara’s heart was pounding. ‘Did Iqbal leave any contact details?’

‘No. I think it was a one-off phone of some kind.’

‘And you have no other way of reaching him.’

‘No.’

‘Never mind. I’m afraid I haven’t come across anything like this, Mr Wahab, but I’ll look into it. Can I get back in touch if I find anything?’

‘Yes, please do, Miss Shah. I will be most grateful. Just phone this number.’

‘Thank you so much. I’ll see what I can do.’

Heart racing, stomach churning, Sara grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down the words as verbatim as she could remember them.

‘We’re just waiting for the Adviser to tell us when. Could be months, could be years. Then it’ll be done.’

It wasn’t over.

If Isobel could be trusted, she should believe that, however circuitous the routing, it was a Kareem-contrived trick to show he could still play games with her. If so, she must report the call to Isobel. Perhaps that was the best thing, the right thing, to do.

Then, from nowhere, an idea struck her, a devastating flash that seemed to illuminate and solve all the contradictions and puzzles of the past weeks. One that would mean Isobel was the very last person she should inform.

What if Kareem – as with Marion, as so nearly with her – had succeeded not just in seducing Isobel Le Marchant and becoming her companion in bed, but in turning her? Converting her to his revolution. Joining him in his warped quest for revenge.