‘Not really, Ms da Silva. You see there was somebody else at the party last night. A VIP. It’s been kept out of the news for security reasons, so you won’t read about it in the papers or online.’

‘I’m not interested in celebrities. Not really my thing.’

‘Oh, this isn’t a celebrity, Ms da Silva. This person is a friend of yours.’

‘I don’t think so.’

‘But I haven’t told you who it is yet, so how can you be so sure?’

‘Because I don’t have many friends.’

‘I guess I can understand that.’ Weiss curled his lip. ‘Bearing in mind what happened in Afghanistan.’

Silva tensed but kept still. Weiss was trying to gall her, to provoke some sort of response. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

‘Well, I’m going to cut to the chase. The VIP was Karen Hope. Congresswoman Karen Hope. This wasn’t an internal Saudi matter at all, this was an attempt to assassinate the next US president. What do you say to that?’

‘What is there to say? I met Karen Hope once for about thirty seconds. She isn’t a friend and I can’t see what this has to do with me.’

‘Let’s stop this charade, Rebecca.’ Weiss banged the table with the flat of his hand. ‘Matthew Fairchild persuaded you that your mother had uncovered some vast conspiracy involving Karen Hope. Despite my warning you fell for his patter and agreed to go on his little mission to Italy. Unfortunately the operation went wrong and, instead of killing Karen Hope, you shot an innocent Saudi woman. I tried to tell you about Fairchild, but you wouldn’t listen. Now you’ll have to suffer the consequences.’

‘I didn’t shoot anyone.’

‘I think you did.’

‘As Richard said, we were on holiday in north Wales.’

‘Camping,’ Itchy added helpfully.

‘Yes, so you claim.’ Weiss pointed out the window in the direction of the BMW and the motorbikes. ‘Where’s your tent?’

‘We didn’t use a tent, we bivvied,’ Silva said.

‘What about food? Where did you buy it?’

‘Local shops, here and there.’

‘Card payment or cash?’

‘Cash.’

‘What about restaurants?’

Silva shook her head. She knew Weiss was trying to pin her down to something he would be able to verify.

‘We didn’t eat out, our budget wouldn’t stretch to it.’

‘It’s all so, so convenient, Rebecca.’ Weiss cocked his head on one side. A smile became a grimace. ‘But it won’t wash. You’re lying, and one way or another I intend to find out the truth.’ Weiss pushed back his chair and stood. ‘You’d better come up with a more believable story because we’ll be questioning you again. Next time I can’t promise the surroundings will be quite so friendly.’

Weiss turned and walked away, his aide following. Itchy bent to his coffee and took a sip.