“Banker or barrister?” asked Gabriel.
“International relief worker. She left Ibiza the day before Alice’s disappearance and returned to London on a commercial flight.”
“Any particular reason?”
“Apparently she and Alice had a row for the ages at dinner one evening.”
“About what?”
“Alice has millions of followers on social media, and she tends to them assiduously. Phoebe disapproves. She’s not terribly fond of me either,” said Knight. “But that is neither here nor there.”
The footpath bore them up the slope of a gentle rise to the Land’s End Hotel. Knight announced that he was in need of refreshment, sothey went inside and were seated at a window table in the restaurant. Gabriel, a regular patron of the establishment, ordered the Cornish cream tea for two.
“How very English of you,” remarked Knight.
“When in Rome.”
Knight smiled in spite of himself. “I suppose you’re wondering what any of this has to do with you.”
“The thought crossed my mind.”
“The Spanish authorities are at a loss to explain my wife’s disappearance. Frankly they strike me as totally incompetent.”
“In my experience they’re rather good at what they do.”
“You operated in Spain in your previous life?”
“Next question, Mr. Knight.”
“I was wondering,” he said, “whether you might agree to serve as my representative in this matter.”
“Representative?”
“Adviser, consultant, specialist—you choose the word, Allon.”
“How about hired gun?”
“That’s two words,” said Knight. “And I’m hoping a gun won’t be necessary.”
“If you want my advice, you should allow the Spanish police to go public.”
“Can you imagine the spectacle? Alice’s disappearance would become an international sensation. In my opinion this matter needs to be handled quietly by an experienced professional.” Knight paused, then added, “Someone like you.”
“Surely you have a security consultant on your payroll.”
“I use a firm in Mayfair. It’s quite small, very exclusive. Most of its employees are former MI5 and SAS officers. They provide me with bodyguards when I require them and conduct discreet inquiries on my behalf.”
“And what did your exclusive Mayfair security firm have to say about me?”
“I didn’t bother with a background check, Allon. Your reputation precedes you.”
“If that were the case, you wouldn’t have bothered to come all the way to Cornwall.”
A look of desperation appeared on Edward Knight’s face. “I came here because I have nowhere else to turn. Will you at least travel to Ibiza and have a look around? I’ll make it well worth your while.”
“I don’t want your money.”
“I suppose there’s a first time for everything, after all.” The waitress appeared with their order. Knight added milk to his tea and gave it a single violent stir. “As you might imagine, I’m not used to hearing the wordno.”
