On Zoe’s final night at the Highgate safe house, she seemed more focused than ever. And if she was at all frightened by what lay ahead, she gave no sign of it. She resolutely stepped onto Gabriel’s conveyor belt and was whisked one last time from room to room, briefing to briefing. Her night ended, as usual, in the upstairs study. Gabriel switched off the lights and listened carefully while she rehearsed for a final time.

“Done,” she said. “How long did it take?”

“Two minutes, fourteen seconds.”

“That’s good?”

“Very good.”

“Did you hear anything?”

“Not a sound.”

“Are we finished?”

“Not quite.” Gabriel switched on the lights and looked at her thoughtfully. “It’s not too late to change your mind, Zoe. We’ll find some other way of getting to him. And I promise that none of us will think any less of you.”

“Yes, but I might.” She was silent for a moment. “You should know something about me, Mr. Allon. Once I’ve made a decision, I stick to it. I never break promises, and I hate to make mistakes.”

“We share that affliction.”

“I thought so.”

Zoe picked up the rehearsal phone. “Any last-minute advice?”

“My team has prepared you well, Zoe.”

“Yes, they have.” She looked up at him. “But they’re not you.”

Gabriel took the phone from her grasp. “Once you start, move quietly but quickly. Don’t creep around like a cat burglar. Visualize your actions before you take them. And don’t think about the bodyguards. We’ll worry about the bodyguards. All you have to worry about is Martin. Martin is your responsibility.”

“I’m not sure I can pretend to be in love with him.”

“Humans are natural liars. They mislead and dissemble hundreds of times each day without even realizing it. Martin Landesmann happens to be an extraordinary liar. But with your help, we can beat him at his own game. The mind is like a basin, Zoe. It can be filled and emptied at will. When you walk into his apartment tomorrow night, we don’t exist. Only Martin. You just have to be in love with him one more night.”

“And after that?”

“You go back to your life and pretend none of it ever happened.”

“And what if that’s not possible?”

“The mind is like a basin, Zoe. Pull the plug, and the memory drains away.”