“We know that approximately eighteen months ago you obtained an exclusive interview with Mr. Landesmann, the first and only such interview he has ever granted. We know that you are now romantically involved with him. We also know that you spend time together on a regular basis, most recently at his apartment on the Île Saint-Louis in Paris.” Seymour paused. “But none of that is important.”

This time Zoe made no attempt to deny the facts. Instead, she displayed a flash of her famous temper.

“Not important?” she snapped. “How long have you been following me?”

“We’ve never followed you.”

“So much for honesty.”

“I am being honest, Ms. Reed. We found out about you by accident. Martin Landesmann was under surveillance when you visited his apartment. Unfortunately, you were swept up in the wash.”

“Is that a legal term?”

“It is what it is, Ms. Reed.”

Zoe dispensed with denials and resorted to righteous indignation, the trusted friend of journalists the world over. “Even if this came into your possession in the manner you claim, you had no right to act upon it or even handle it.”

“In point of fact, we did. I can show you the Home Secretary’s signature if you like. But that said, we are not interested in your personal life. We asked you here because we have some sensitive information—information we will share with you if you help us.”

Seymour’s offer of classified intelligence did nothing to mollify Zoe’s anger. “Actually,” she said pointedly, “I think it’s time I had a word with my barrister.”

“That’s not necessary, Ms. Reed.”

“How about my publisher?”

“Latham? I doubt they would react well to being dragged into this.”

“Really? And how do you think the British public would react to an exposé on how MI5 is spying on reporters?”

After years of being hounded by the press, Seymour was tempted to point out that the British public was more likely to enjoy reading about her affair with Martin Landesmann than yet another dreary scandal involving MI5. Instead, he lifted his gaze reflectively toward the ceiling and allowed the anger of the exchange to dissipate. In the quiet of the upstairs study, the two men seated before the video monitors had conflicting reactions to the verbal sparring. Nigel Whitcombe feared Zoe was a lost cause, but Gabriel saw her defiance as a positive sign. As Ari Shamron always said, a recruit who agreed too quickly was a recruit who couldn’t be trusted.