‘We don’t know, Mrs Mirza. We have reason to believe that he may be involved in something serious and we’re keen to find him before anything happens that might put him, or others, at risk.’

Silence. The parents glanced quickly at each other. The glance told Bose everything she needed.

‘He’s been in contact, hasn’t he? Recently?’

Mr Mirza stared again, then appeared to give up. He nodded, and his head drooped.

‘When did you last speak to him?’

‘Monday, no, Sunday,’ said Mrs Mirza. ‘He called here. Late. Ten o’clock. What is he involved in?’

Bose took a gamble. ‘I think you know, Mrs Mirza. I think you have suspicions. Am I right?’

The mother nodded, her eyes brimming with tears, her hands shaking.

Bose continued. ‘What did he say to you?’

‘He told us not to worry,’ said Mr Mirza. ‘He said not to ring him, but that he was okay. He said he… he said he loved us and he loved Allah.’

‘He’s a very devout boy,’ said Mrs Mirza. ‘He’s a good boy.’

‘How was he on the phone? His normal self?’

Again, the parents glanced at each other.

‘Not really,’ said his mother. ‘He seemed funny. He doesn’t drink, but it was like he had.’

‘Did you ask him where he was?’

‘Yes,’ the father said. His face was now more confident, almost defiant. ‘He said he couldn’t tell us what he was doing, but that we’d know soon.’

‘What did he mean by that?’ Bose asked Mrs Mirza, who shook her head.

‘I thought he had some good news – like a job, or a scholarship,’ said Mr Mirza. ‘He was such a bright boy at school – had got all As at A level. Could have gone to Cambridge. But he wanted to stay in London.’

‘What else, Mr Mirza? Did he say when you’d know what he was doing?’

‘Yes. He said we’d know at the weekend. On Saturday. Today.’

#

CTOC, St Pancras, London

Tennant, unshaven and his silver hair unbrushed, was nursing a coffee when Gabriel, Skeffington and Bose walked in. A senior case officer from MI5 was sat opposite Tennant, her elbows on the table. Around them sat and stood a dozen senior counter terrorism officers.

Tennant looked up. Gabriel nodded. ‘DI Bose will give the latest update, sir.’

Bose took over. ‘Tanvir Mirza rang his parents on Sunday night. He was evasive, incoherent at times, and upset. He repeatedly told them he loved them, he quoted scripture throughout and crucially he told them they would find out exactly what he was doing today.’

Tennant shook his head. ‘No indication of where he might be?’

‘Nothing, sir,’ said Bose.

Gabriel took over. ‘This is our clearest indication yet – I don’t think there can be any doubt that whatever Abu Mujahid is planning, it is due to happen today. So we have two issues on the table. How do we catch up with Abu Mujahid and his four associates? And how do we identify their target?