4

THE PRIME MINISTER was still seated in the back of the Range Rover, phone clutched to his ear. Kate knocked on the window and he wound it down. The personal protection officers in the car behind his eyed her warily. ‘Morning,’ the PM said. ‘I would have come in, but your daughter said she wouldn’t allow me in the house.’

‘Now you know what I’m up against.’

‘Indeed I do. Would you like to get into the car?’

‘No, let’s take a walk.’

‘Shirley will need to come with us.’

Kate didn’t argue. She led them up the path at the crest of the hill.

‘We’re really going to walk?’ the prime minister asked.

She turned as they reached the shelter of the trees above the vines. ‘I’ll make this brief. I’m sure you have more important things to do.’

‘Than clear my name?’ he said. ‘I doubt it.’

‘I’ll do what you wish. I’ll conduct a new investigation, whose sole aim is to determine whether Sergei deliberately misled and set me up. I have a few stipulations, the most important of which is that I want complete immunity from prosecution for my husband, and his freedom to return and live in the UK.’

‘Christ,’ the PM said. He glanced at Shirley Grove, whose face was entirely impassive.

‘Since his treachery is not widely known outside the Service, I don’t think this should cause you too much trouble. And I want your legally watertight guarantee in writing.’

‘We’ll have to discuss that.’

‘It’s not negotiable.’

The PM glanced at Grove again and, for the first time, Kate saw how anxious he was. She’d never considered the possibility that he might be innocent of the charges against him. Or did she just want the investigation to be resolved so she could rescue her family life?

‘Agreed. And we’ll let you have that in writing.’

‘Prime Minister—’ Grove said.

He raised a hand. ‘That’s my decision, and it’s final. What else, Kate?’

‘I’ll need premises outside SIS – somewhere that isn’t a government office. And one of my former colleagues to assist me.’

‘Which one?’

‘Her name is Julie Carmichael. She worked with me on the Russia Desk.’

‘Isn’t she a potential suspect for Agent Dante?’ Grove asked.

‘Not from everything you’ve told me. She doesn’t fit the profile for Dante. She hasn’t been in the Service long enough to orchestrate this kind of operation. Besides, I’d trust her with my life – and have.’

‘We assumed you’d need help, of course,’ the PM said. ‘But from outside the Service.’

‘I’m going to need someone who can access all areas without arousing suspicion.’

‘All right.’ The PM was clearly in a hurry to leave. ‘But you’ll also be working with two of ours. Mrs Grove will be overseeing the investigation and reporting back to me, by which I mean that she’ll need to be in whatever premises you acquire, and actively involved. I also want to offer one of our assistant private secretaries—’