‘This time is different. Downing Street isn’t even bothering to deny that he was on this wretched bloody Paedophile Island.’

‘What are they saying, out of interest?’ Kate asked.

‘Just that he saw nothing untoward. Now listen to me. I need whatever you’ve got. I’m pretty sure we have enough letters to force a no-confidence vote and I’m certain he’ll lose.’

For a moment, Kate was too stunned to speak. The woman who’d seduced her husband, destroyed her marriage and arguably smashed up her career now expected her to do her bidding at the drop of a hat? ‘I’m afraid I can’t help, Imogen. I’m sorry.’

There was a brief silence. ‘I thought you might say that.’ She’d lowered her voice, so that it was richer and deeper, moving from political bruiser to seducer in no more than a heartbeat. She did that often, with not a trace of self-consciousness. ‘But the man is a monster. You know it, I know it. And now we both have a chance to do something about it. We just need some more details about that island – how long he was there, with whom, what exactly went on, you know the kind of thing.’

‘I’m sorry. I really can’t help.’

‘I could order you to. I’m your boss technically, after all.’

Kate made her wait, enjoying herself more than she probably meant to. Since she’d been appointed foreign secretary a few months before, Imogen had not seen fit to reach out to the woman she’d called a friend when it suited her, as it did now. ‘I’ve left SIS,’ Kate said. ‘I quit a few months ago after the debacle over that defector.’

There was a long silence. ‘My God, Kate. I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.’

‘I shouldn’t be. I’d had enough. It was time.’

‘Were you fired? I could reinstate you.’

‘No, I quit.’

‘I am …’

Kate imagined her nemesis sitting in that richly resplendent office, staring out over Horse Guards Parade, scheming to get across the short stretch of tarmac that divided the foreign secretary’s realm from that of the prime minister in Downing Street. ‘I’m genuinely sorry,’ Imogen continued flatly. ‘I guess I should probably feel partly, if not wholly, responsible. If I’d known, I’d have tried to get you to stay. Ian Granger could do with some wise advice, in my experience so far.’

‘Good luck with your mutiny.’

‘No, wait.’ There was a heavy sigh. ‘Look, I should have called,’ Imogen said. ‘I’m sorry. It’s really terrible to be in touch only when I need something, but the remit of this job is so damned huge it’s taken every ounce of my time and energy reading in and travelling halfway across the globe while fighting to prevent Harry divorcing me. I should have got in touch to check how you were and I’m sorry.’

‘I’m fine.’

‘But I could do with some advice on this. You always know where the bodies are buried – or at least where to look for them.’