‘Second thoughts? And then suicide by cop?’ said Gabriel. ‘Maybe,’ said Tennant. ‘If he was hell-bent on martyrdom, maybe it was easier just to let events run their course. But I struggle, even after all this time, to understand what makes these people tick, what makes them accept death so willingly, and value human life so little.’

‘Boss, I think you’re overanalysing things. Normal, well-adjusted people don’t do this kind of thing. You can’t get into the heads of these people.’

‘You did.’ They drank on. The TV behind the bar was showing the build-up to the Downing Street press conference. A lectern was waiting in the street.

Gabriel watched the screen in silence. ‘What do you make of Ben Thomas’s appointment?’ she said eventually.

‘He was in the right place at the right time. He’s in tune with the mood music out there. The days of moderation and compromise seem a long time ago. Just look at the opposition. And who’d want to be prime minister right now?’

‘She would, for a starter,’ said Gabriel. The TV was showing archive footage of Lesley Hogarth’s own press conference from a week ago.

A cry of ‘Wanker’ from the corner of the pub made both turn around. A heckler was shouting at the TV. Ben Thomas began to speak and the barman turned up the volume.

‘…and the violence and riots of the last few weeks have shown us that the old British values of trust, of honesty and fair play can be so easily exploited by those determined to bring terror to our streets. We must send a message to those who would destroy us. No more. Not here. Yes, we are merciful, and generous, but if you bring war, then you will be met by steel, by closed door and by hardened hearts. We will be resolute in protecting our own – and in drawing a line against attacks on our nation, our culture, our children. This is why our first priority will be to pass the Freedom Bill…

‘We promise strength and stability and a tough line against extremists. And I say to the opposition who are cosying up to terrorist sympathisers like Ishmail Sherif and others, it’s time to decide which side you are on. Britain’s? Or would you rather surrender to those who would seek to destroy us…’

Tennant looked at Gabriel and shook his head sorrowfully. Gabriel pretended to stick her fingers down her throat.

‘What did I say? Whipping it up again,’ said Tennant.

Gabriel said nothing and the pair drank on in silence.

#

In a bar just four hundred metres away, Nina O’Brien was watching the same press conference. The Freedom Bill was a start, a great start, as was leveraging Hogarth into the Home Office. Now she needed to make the most of her. But the work had only just begun. She raised a glass to the TV and silently toasted the new prime minister.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are hugely grateful to everyone who was so generous with their time and support during the writing of The Sleep of Reason. In particular, a massive thank you to Sabin Khan for her perceptive insights and counsel, Celia Hayley for sharpening up the story, Rebecca Levene for her wisdom, Ross Dickinson for his forensic eye for detail, and Colin Freeman and Josh Rowley for feedback on early drafts.