“Ten-thirty. We should be there two hours before. Simon’s waiting in his car to take me home, so I can pack.” She took a step backward, unsure how to say goodbye, then slipped his phone from her pocket. “Oh, I almost forgot this. Could you or Henry fax Roland permission for us to collect Will’s packet?”

Alex nodded, but wouldn’t release her hand. His arms circled her waist and he took control. “Tell Simon to get to you by half-seven, then I’ll pick you both up in Battersea. I’ll come straight from the lecture without the mandatory drink. We’ll make it in time.”

SHE FLOPPED INTO THE COMFORTABLE SEAT OUT OF BREATH, BUT HER traveling companion was unwilling to settle.

“Simon, come on. We’ve almost held the plane up.” Lucy hated cutting things so close. Although they’d arrived at the airport with time to spare, Simon had held back, buying newspapers and feigning interest in Duty Free. She guessed what he was doing, and it made her anxious all over again. “If you carry on with this furtive behavior I’ll need another new heart.”

“Sorry.” He folded his jacket into the overhead bin and sat down at last, putting the document photos in the seat pocket in front. “It looks fine. I’m starting to suspect my own shadow. But you don’t mind the upgrade?” He’d darted out of the check-in line without warning, and thrown down his considerable Air Miles to put them both in the front of the plane.

“As long as it hasn’t cost Grace a week in the Greek Islands with you.” She looked at him, inviting explanation: but she understood it was a ploy to move them from one place to another at the last minute in case they were being watched, and he knew she knew. He shot her a wry look in return.

He had Will’s iBook closed on his lap—a parting gift from Alex, along with tight handwritten instructions about Lucy’s medication and the number of a colleague in New York to call, if Lucy so much as sneezed. “I thought we’d use the time going over the clues with Alex’s new slant on it? I’m in the mood now—especially after your verbal chess with the Rapturists.” He accepted the glass of champagne he was offered. “We can’t access reference books or the Web up here, but there might be some clues on this that we can have a crack at?”

“I was wondering if you knew what Will’s pet name for Siân might be? And hers for him?”

“That’s out of left field, isn’t it?” Simon shot her an odd look. “I’m not aware of any. Is it connected with the riddles?”