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calculated that by using Parsons as a monitoring device, and arranging to come to Britain and use Hightoun and his office in London much more often, he could keep a protective eye on her.
    “Should be there in another couple of hours,” Parsons said after a long silence. Akiko had slept fitfully, waking every so often in alarm, for a moment still lost in troubling dreams, and Parsons had done his best to reassure her with a kind voice. He had relaxed now that the end of his mission was in sight.
    They walked into the café, and Parsons collected a tray with two coffees and sandwiches, taking it to a table only partly occupied by an elderly couple.
    “Don’t try anything,” he muttered to her as they sat down. “I can run faster than a frit rabbit. You’d get nowhere.”
    “I’m not even thinking of it!” she protested. “All I want is to get to see Father as soon as possible. And please treat me with respect, Parsons. I shall already have enough to tell Papa to cause trouble for you,” she said.
    “Oh, I couldn’t allow that, Miss Akiko,” he said, his kind voice turning sharp. “You wouldn’t want to risk losing a chance to see your father before he dies? No, best to be grateful to me for a safe journey. I am, after all, doing your father’s bidding.”
    She shook her head. “I hope so,” she said, “otherwise Papa will be extremely annoyed.”
    With a steady hand, he tore the top off a twist of brown sugar and emptied it into his coffee. He turned and smiled at the couple at their table. “Lovely day again,” he said politely.
    He patted Akiko’s hand fondly, and the couple smiled. She moved her hand in disgust. “Eat up, girl,” he said quietly. “There’s nothing worse than a cold fried egg.” He lowered his voice even more. “Though come to think of it, I know many things that are worse, and one of them would be the result of not doing exactly what I am about to instruct you. You will tell your father that everything has gone extremely smoothly, and that your escort—me—has been most helpful and comforting.”
    Akiko felt anger rising. “Oh, for God’s sake,” she said, and put down her knife and fork, saying she had had enough.
    *   *   *
    T HE ELDERLY COUPLE SAT IN THEIR CAR. I T WAS HOT, WITH THE sun beating down whilst they had had their lunch. “Better be off, Tom,” the woman said. “We’ll get the air con going and cool down.”
    “Right you are then. All set for another couple of hours? We should be there by then. Oh look!” he added. “There’s that girl we saw, and the scruffy chap who was with her, walking out together. What does she see in him, d’you think? Look, he’s taken her arm.”
    “She’s getting into that black van with him, too! Honestly, Tom, young people these days, they don’t seem to have any sense, carrying on like that. Mind you, I’m surprised at that girl. He didn’t seem to be making much headway with her in the café.”
    “None s’queer as folk. Ready then? Got your sunglasses? Off we go, then.”

T WELVE

    “C OWGILL RANG,” G RAN SAID, AS L OIS CAME THROUGH THE kitchen door. “Said to ring him as soon as you came in.”
    “Where’s Jamie?”
    “Gone out. Everybody went out, except me and Jeems. Good job there’s somebody here to hold the fort.”
    “Yes, well. Thanks, Mum. I’ll go and ring Cowgill. Let’s hope he’s got some good news about Akiko. Jamie’s falling to pieces, I reckon.”
    “No, he’s not. I sometimes think I know your children better than you do. He’ll be all right. He may look worried—and who wouldn’t?—but he’s strong inside. You’ll see.”
    “Well, thanks for telling me,” answered Lois, and disappeared into her office before she should find herself in another fight with her mother.
    Cowgill answered the phone straightaway. “Ah, Lois. I have news, but not good, I’m afraid.”
    “Akiko? Has something happened to her?”
    “Well, that’s just it. We don’t know. We had