‘They did. And I have. But I still don’t know what it is. They’re going to brief me tomorrow. Here’s the best bit: if I perform well, I get to write my own ticket. The world’s going to be my oyster.’

Tony couldn’t help the prickle of misgiving raising the hairs on the back of his neck. For them to have made Carol a promise of that magnitude, the assignment that lay ahead of her was bound to be fraught with risk. It had to be the kind of enterprise that would provoke an instinctive refusal. With this much sugar coating, the pill would of necessity be an extremely bitter one. ‘That’s great,’ he said. His eye caught the digital clock on the dashboard. He was cutting it tight if he was going to have time to eat before they had to leave for Cupar.

‘Listen, Carol, I’ve got to go now. But I want you to promise me that you’ll call as soon as you know what they want from you. I’m not saying this because I have any doubts about your ability. It’s just … it sounds like you’re going to need all the help you can get, and they’re probably going to put you in a position where help won’t be easy to come by. I want you to know that I’m here for you. Whatever you need from me, you’ve got it.’

There was a moment’s silence, then she said, ‘You’ve no idea how much that means to me. Thank you. I’ll be in touch.’

‘Take care.’

‘And you. Thanks for calling.’

He ended the call, shoved his phone back in his pocket, and got out of the car. When he walked in, he could smell the fragrant aroma of a rich tomato and meat sauce. As he passed the open door of the darkened living room, he heard Frances speak. ‘I’m in here,’ she said.

Tony followed the sound of her voice into the living room. He couldn’t see much detail, but he could make out Frances’s shape silhouetted against the window. ‘I heard your car and I couldn’t work out why you hadn’t come in,’ she said. ‘So I came to have a look, make sure everything was all right.’

‘The phone rang just as I pulled up.’ Some lies are a necessary veneer, he thought sadly.

‘You were ages,’ Frances said.

He couldn’t see her face, but there was something in her voice that twisted inside him. ‘Sorry about that. I hope dinner isn’t spoilt.’

‘I think my cooking’s a wee bit more robust than that.’ Frances turned so her back was to the street. Now her face was even more obscured. ‘Was it Carol?’