‘Is Dante real?’

‘I think so.’

‘Do you know about Incisor, Andrew’s new agent in Moscow?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then don’t you think it’s all a bit convenient? Two things happen in tandem. A disillusioned SVR agent approaches a British diplomat in Istanbul to claim that this whole affair is a huge misinformation ploy conceived years ago with the help of a mysterious agent, Dante, at the very top of the Service. And, at the exact same time, a new agent comes on stream in Moscow with the intel that Igor has been running a special unit for two decades or more, handling the sensational material of a top source in London?’

‘It is possible that it’s a bit convenient, yes.’ He nodded slowly. ‘I do accept that. But it’s also possible that, after years of flailing around and being comprehensively outplayed by our opponents, we’re at last closing in on the truth.’

‘Does Ian know about my inquiry?’

‘I assume so. What else would explain his coded threat to you this morning?’

‘You saw that too? I wondered if I was imagining it.’

‘You weren’t.’

‘He was indicating he would use all the resources at his disposal to set me up as the culprit?’ she asked.

‘How else could you explain it?’ Sir Alan paused. ‘But it does add weight to the idea that we’re finally closing in on him and he’s feeling the pressure.’

‘Do you think Rose will really authorize Maja’s transfer to this country?’

‘If I know her. She has nerves of steel.’

‘Will he fire her?’

‘No! You must know by now that Ian’s bark is mostly worse than his bite. And if he’s really the Moscow spy we think he is, he’ll save his powder for defending himself. That, I think we can assume, he will do with all necessary ferocity.’

Kate’s phone had been repeatedly buzzing in her pocket and she took it out to check who was trying to get hold of her in such a hurry. She noticed she had not one but five missed calls from her mother’s care home. ‘I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘This is to do with my mother. They just don’t usually call five times. You mind if I check?’

‘Of course.’

Kate stepped out into the hallway. As she called back the care home, she noticed a turquoise scarf draped over the back of an armchair by an old mahogany dresser. It didn’t look like the kind Mrs Evans might wear. It reminded her of one of Rose’s.

‘Mrs Henderson,’ the anxious voice at the other end of the line said. It was Jane, the manager of her mother’s care home. ‘I’m afraid I have some terrible news. We went up to check on your mother half an hour ago and I’m so sorry to have to tell you she’s passed away.’

15

KATE MANAGED TO arrange the funeral in five days. She told herself this was to do with the pressing nature of her current work assignment, not because she wished to hurry her final farewell.