“No.”
“She could have met up with Schade while you were away. He was quite a charmer, by all accounts.”
“No. I am sure she would not. Schade was not of her…”
“Don’t be afraid to say it, Major. Not her class? Neither was I. That’s why she liked me.”
“She had other reasons for that, I am sure. But even if she was involved in some way, or had found out, what George Poidevin said is true. The last thing any of them would do would be to tip her body in the very heart of the operations.”
She couldn’t tell Lentsch. She couldrit tell Lentsch. She had witten to him ‘cause she could not tell Lentsch. Who would it harm. Her father? Her aunt? Who? Ned retraced his footsteps, trying to put the Major in the same frame of mind without rousing his suspicions.
“Let’s get back to your telephone call that Saturday. The one you made to her that afternoon. You said she was nervous, yes? You thought it was because of the party.”
“Yes. I was not supposed to know of it. I asked if I could see her that night and she said no. She found it difficult to keep a secret.”
“But Isobel had no difficulty in keeping secrets! She did it all the time with me, her aunt, her father, she loved it! She’d have been in her element leading you up the garden path for an hour or two.”
“Garden path?”
“Pooling you, Major. Pulling the wool over your eyes. That wouldn’t have made her nervous. She would have enjoyed it. No, there was something else worrying her by then. She went to bed on Friday in high spirits. Early Saturday morning she hives it down here to collect the fancy dress she wants to wear. She goes back home. Mrs Hallivand summons her for coffee. Afterwards she goes up to the Villa to check the arrangements. She leaves, has lunch, and goes to the yard with her father. By the time she gets back and takes your call, something has upset her.” He paused. “Are you coming tonight?”
“If I may.”
“Oh, you may. Mum wouldn’t mind if I stopped out, but just you try doing it.”
He stopped off at the Britannia for an hour before going home. Albert wasn’t to be seen, but at the back Tommy Ie Coeur sat in a corner seat with his arm round a couple of girls. The table was ruil of empty glasses. At least he wasn’t in uniform this time.
“Inspector! Have a drink!”
Tommy lurched to his feet and propelled Ned to the bar. “What’s it to be? Beer, whisky? You like a spot of brandy, I believe.”
“They’re not allowed to sell spirits, Tommy, you know that.” Ned drew him aside. “Bloody heil, Tommy! Two at the same time, that’s going a bit even for you. Don’t they have any say in the matter?”
“As long as I’m paying they’re happy. Anyway, young Peter’s dropping in soon. It’s about time someone wet his whistle. I reckon the big one just might do the job.”
“Yes, well, just you make sure he doesn’t do anything foolish. He’s got enough family to support as it is.” He looked the girls over. He only hoped they were over age. “I’m sorry about Elspeth, Tommy. There’s nothing I could do, you know.”
“I know. I hadn’t seen her much, after we parted company.”
“Yes, what was all that about? You seemed quite suited.”
“She cheated on me, Inspector. Walked out with someone else.”
Ned nearly choked on his beer. “Cheated on you!”
“Made me look a fool. I don’t mind playing the fool, but I’m damned if I’m going to look like one.” He finished his drink in one thick gulp. “Better get back.” He waved again. “That’s right, darling, you sit on it while you can. I’ll have split you in half before the night’s out.”
By the time Ned got back home, his mother had heard the news. She banged the plates down on the table.
“He’s not with you, then?”
“He’ll be here later. We’ve been busy.”
“So I hear.” She started to set down the cutlery. When the Major had first come, she used to hand it to them, blade first. “George won’t last, not in those camps they have over there,” she told him. “Mr Freeman neither. Elspeth might…”
“Elspeth will bed down with the first guard she sees. Probably end up marrying the prison governor.”
“It’s a death sentence you’ve given the others.”
“I haven’t given them anything, Mother. They broke the law.”
“It could have been me,” she said.
“I don’t think you would have done what Elspeth did.”
“Not if I had young children to feed? Don’t you be so certain. I know of many mothers who take in their washing for some extra bread. I know a couple who take in a good deal more as well just so they can put some food in their children’s stomachs. It shouldn’t be a crime to sell food, to sell ordinary folk butler and sugar.”
“At her prices?”
“I’d pay them if we had the money! I would!”
She started to smash her fists on the table, the plates jumping, knives and forks clattering to the floor. “I’d sell my soul for a pound of butter,” she cried. “Proper butter! A pound of butter that I could spread good and thick. My soul, my heart, anything! Anything! Just a pound of butter! Anything!”
Ned made a cup of tea and took her upstairs. She sat in bed, holding it in both hands.
“Don’t spill it, for God’s sake,” he said. “There’s half our sugar ration in that cup.” He saw her grip tighten. “Don’t worry. I’ll get us some more.”
As he walked down the stairs he heard the tap on the door. The Major stood in the doorway, a bunch of flowers and a small parcel in his hand.
“Ah, Major.” He spoke loudly. He’d drunk a bit more than he meant to at the pub. Seeing Tommy so carefree with those girls had made him thirsty. “I was just about to have another beer.”
The Major stepped in and looked around. Usually he could hear movement in the kitchen. Usually she came in, wiping her hands on a towel in preparation for their handshake. The silence disturbed him.
“Your mother is not here tonight?” he enquired.
“She’s gone to bed.”
“She is not well?” The concern in the Major’s voice surprised him.
“She’s tired, that’s all.” Ned took the flowers and looked around for somewhere to put them. “I’ll take these up to her in a minute. They’ll cheer her up.”
“I brought something else too. I should not have.” He pulled on the string, proudly lifting the tin from its brown paper wrapping. “Cocoa. The Captain took it from the bank vaults. So I took it from the Captain.”
“As long as he doesn’t blame Albert.”
“No, no. I left him a little note. He knows who the culprit is. He is in a strange mood, the Captain. When I returned he was singing in the bath at the top of his voice, delirious with joy.” He looked upstairs. “Would your mother mind if I gave this to her myself?”
“Go ahead.”
He could hear the murmur of soft voices, and his mother’s sudden note of exclamation. The Major came down with the empty cup in her hand.
“She wants to sleep.”
Ned took the cup and ran it under the tap. He waved his hand over the table. “She hasn’t cooked us anything.”
“It is of no consequence. I am not hungry.”
They walked out into the garden. The Major took out his cigarette case and handed it over.
“I always seem to be doing this,” said Ned, helping himself.
“Take them all!”
Ned closed the lid and handed it back. “One at a time, Major. It makes me feel better this way.”
The two men laughed and walked to the bottom of the garden. The Major put his hand on the gate and blew the smoke into the clear air.