Still quiet. She had an overwhelming urge for a final look inside the office. A scene of morbid stillness. She went to stand over him; the purple around the neck might have sunk a little, perhaps the nose and cheeks were even paler, almost white. How could this beached shape have been having that animated conversation with her less than four hours before?

She heard sirens, growing louder with every second. She put the contents back in the envelope, folded it into quarters and stuffed it down the back of her shirt. She returned to the open-plan office and switched on more lights.

The intercom buzzed.

Chapter 13

13

It could have been a seance in a mortuary waiting room. An ambulance and two paramedics had arrived half an hour before and death was confirmed. Sara had phoned her father, saying she’d be late and would explain when she saw him, then Pamela Bailly and Patrick Duke; the three of them now hovered silently in the open-plan area. A police sergeant and constable were with the paramedics in Morahan’s office.

Pamela spoke. ‘We need a list and a plan.’ Sara and Patrick looked up, waiting for her to pronounce. ‘Lists first. Those to be immediately informed. The Prime Minister’s and Home Secretary’s private offices. No. 10 and Home Office Heads of Press. Office of the Lord Chief Justice. The Inquiry’s panel members.’

‘What exactly is to be said?’ asked Patrick.

‘Oh,’ replied Pamela with an untypical airiness, ‘I think simply that Sir Francis Morahan tragically and suddenly died in his office, cause of death is being confirmed.’

‘There’ll be more questions.’

‘Then they will have to wait for answers.’

‘Should the Inquiry staff come in tomorrow or be stood down?’ asked Sara.

‘Come in. A common understanding will be more easily achieved if we gather together.’ Patrick and Sara exchanged looks at her choice of words.

A scruffily suited man entered the open-plan area and directed himself to Sara. ‘Miss Shah?’

‘Yes.’

‘I’m Detective Sergeant Buttler. Two Ts.’ He smiled cursorily. ‘I understand you discovered the body.’

‘Yes.’ She quickly registered him; a stocky figure, receding brown hair curling at the edge, twinkling eyes and loosely pulled tie which suggested a man confident in his role.

‘Perhaps we could have a quiet word.’

Sara turned to Pamela for guidance though without understanding quite why. ‘Feel free to use my office.’

‘Thank you,’ said Buttler, ‘and you are…’

Pamela rose and offered her hand to shake. ‘Pamela Bailly, Secretary to the Inquiry. I should be your main point of contact here.’

‘As you will.’ He followed Sara inside the office; they sat down facing each other at the Secretary’s small conference table.

‘This is purely informal at this point, Miss Shah. Just to get myself up to speed on the basics.’

‘I understand.’

‘What is your role here?’

‘I’m junior counsel to the Inquiry. I work for the Government Legal Department.’