‘Or are you just not enough?’ He paused. ‘I could never have what I wanted so everything was always a substitute, even you.’ He took a drag of his cigarette. ‘But you knew that, and you gave me the one thing I hadn’t known I longed for.’

‘Diana.’

‘You love me, you need me.’ The bright end of his cigarette made circles in the air. ‘What does it matter if I’m a double agent?’

All I can focus on is him putting Diana at risk. He is the weak link and Tom has known this for years, as have I. Not that I want to admit it to myself, but between the two of us we have covered for him.

‘Come on, Joan. Our little game doesn’t matter in the big picture.’

But I know it does. Victor is worth protecting. I owe a duty to my country but more importantly, I love Diana.

‘I know you think you are helping with Victor but he’s not giving you anything they don’t want you to know.’

I press my lips together as he takes another swig and staggers towards me. ‘Tell me his real name, Joan, and we will be free.’

I back away. ‘No.’

‘Come on, Joanie. It’s nothing.’ His cognac breath covers me. But I know it is everything. They don’t know Victor’s name or aren’t sure. This operation could be saved.

‘It’s all blown. All of it.’ He moves closer. I step back again.

‘Don’t do this, Allan.’

He throws his head back and chuckles. ‘It’s too late, my lovely one. Too late. I’m done.’ He tips the bottle up and downs the last dregs. ‘You’re done too, my clever one.’

‘No.’

‘Don’t be all mightier than thou on me. I know you love Tom more than me, but in the way of irony he loves us both . . . as friends.’ He shakes his head and I see his teeth. ‘Neither of us could have our way with him, though God knows we both tried, until we fell into each other’s arms as compensation.’

‘Don’t do this.’

‘Don’t do what? Puncture our love?’ He drops the bottle. ‘The sad thing is, I do love you.’

‘I love you, too.’ I sigh, knowing it is the truth.

‘I know, silly woman, I know.’ His words slur more and more. ‘But that doesn’t matter right now. What I need is the actual name of Victor.’ He stepped closer. ‘And you, my love, can get it for me.’

‘How can you ask me that?’

‘Because I need to.’ Two steps bring him to me. I can’t move back any further. Despite the darkness, I know we are on the edge of the cliff. The sea sounds below as it sucks the water away from the beach.

I need to think clearly. ‘What are they threatening you with?’

‘What is my one weakness?’