‘Howard Fine might be a candidate. Then there’s Burridge.’

‘Both will bear closer investigation.’

‘You know what I think, Harv,’ said Keedy. ‘If I was a betting man, I’d put money on one of those anti-Semitic groups.’

‘Have you been sifting through them?’

‘Yes — thanks to your brother. He was very helpful.’

‘Ray gets to see the seamy side of life in his job. And people trust him in a way that they wouldn’t do with the police. If Ray gives you information,’ said Marmion, ‘it’s reliable.’

‘With your permission, I’d like to send some men off to do some sniffing around. It may be possible to infiltrate some of these groups.’

‘Choose them with care, Joe. We don’t have the manpower to cover them all.’ After a long sip of his drink, he rose to his feet and picked up Keedy’s empty tankard. ‘Let me get you another.’

‘Thanks, Harv. Oh, by the way, who won the argument?’

‘What argument?’

‘You remember — the one that you and Ellen had earlier today when we called in at the house. When Alice announced her decision, you took it in your stride. Ellen wasn’t happy about that.’

Marmion chuckled. ‘She certainly wasn’t.’

‘So who won the argument?’

‘I suppose that I did, Joe.’

‘You mean that your wife has accepted the decision now?’

‘No,’ said Marmion, ‘I mean that Ellen came to see that my strategy is best. Now that Alice has made her decision, it’s the worst possible time to tackle her. She’s full of enthusiasm for the idea. Any opposition would only encourage her. Give her a few weeks, however,’ he went on, ‘and she may be more vulnerable to persuasion. There’s a long time to go before the end of term. We must bide our time.’

‘You’re a cunning old fox.’

‘My strategy may not work, of course.’

‘I’m sure it won’t.’

‘What makes you think that?’

‘I had a long talk with Alice earlier on,’ said Keedy. ‘She takes after you, Harv. When she’s set on a course of action, she’ll stick to it, come hell or high water.’

Alice was a voracious reader. She liked nothing better of an evening than to bury her head in a book. Ellen did not interrupt her. Though she was sorely tempted to raise the subject of the Women’s Emergency Corps, she held back on her husband’s advice. While Alice was reading, her mother sat beside her sewing basket and repaired items of clothing. She’d just finished putting a button on Marmion’s trousers when her daughter looked up.

‘Why don’t you say it, Mummy?’

‘Say what?’

‘Come on — I know it’s on the tip of your tongue. I’m surprised you haven’t gone round to Vera’s house and tried to get her parents on your side. If you want to discuss it, speak up.’

‘I’d rather not say anything, Alice,’ her mother told her. ‘We’ve had enough rows about it. It’s time for an armistice.’

‘I couldn’t agree more,’ said Alice with relief. ‘Thank you.’ She saw the trousers. ‘Don’t you think it’s time you taught Daddy to sew on his own buttons?’

‘He’s all fingers and thumbs.’

‘I bet that Joe does all his own sewing.’

‘Is that what he told you?’

‘No — but it stands to reason.’

‘Why?’

‘He lives on his own. Who else would do his running repairs?’

‘What about that lady friend of his?’

‘I don’t think any man would keep a lady friend very long if he expected her to do his sewing. It’s not very romantic. Well,’ said Alice, developing her argument, ‘think back to the time when Daddy was courting you. How would you have felt if he’d turned up and asked you to darn his socks?’

Ellen laughed. ‘I take your point.’

‘In any case, Joe doesn’t have a lady friend at the moment.’

‘What happened to the nurse?’

‘They came to the parting of the ways.’

‘When did you discover that?’

‘It was while you and Daddy were in the kitchen.’

‘Did Joe simply come out with it?’

‘No,’ said Alice, ‘I sort of drew it out of him.’

Ellen laughed again. Since she’d been a young woman, Alice had brought home a succession of boyfriends but they never seemed to last long. Ironically, it was the ones Ellen liked most who disappeared first. They found Alice too intelligent and assertive. Her mother had long felt that she needed an older man and the name of Joe Keedy had crossed her mind more than once. It was a friendship she’d be ready to condone but she knew that her husband would have objections.

‘You like Joe, don’t you?’ she said.

‘I always have, Mummy.’

‘He obviously likes you.’

‘Oh, I don’t really think I’m his type,’ said Alice. ‘If I had been, something might have happened long before now.’

‘I rather hoped that it would.’

‘You can’t force these things.’

‘Well, at least you have a clear field now.’

‘Mummy!’

‘There’s no need to sound so scandalised, Alice. I’m only being practical. If a man is involved with someone else, then it’s wrong to set your cap at him. When he’s on the loose, however …’

‘I’m not going to chase any man,’ said Alice, firmly. ‘I never have and I never will. That’s not the sort of person I am. Let’s not discuss it any further. I’ve got my book to read.’

Ellen was repentant. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’

Hiding behind her book, Alice wondered why she felt so jangled.

* * *

When she said her prayers that night, Irene asked to be forgiven for entertaining such terrible thoughts about Ernie Gill. He’d always been given to boasting and she should have known not to take his words too literally. She’d placed far too much weight on the fact that the incident in Liverpool had occurred on the very day that he returned there. The whole city was full of people with a rabid dislike and distrust of German immigrants. Many of them had already been on the rampage. It would probably happen again. Why should she assume that Gill was guilty of murder on such slender evidence? It was grossly unfair on him. As she got into bed, she writhed in embarrassment at the memory of her visit to the Three Tuns. It would take a long time for her to live it down.

There was nothing sinister about Gill’s arrival in London. Like many other people, he’d come to the capital in search of work. It was what she’d done herself, after all. While she had a sister to go to, Gill had a friend. Admittedly, Brad Thompson lived in a disreputable area but it was only a temporary arrangement. Once Gill found his feet, he would no doubt move to a better lodging. The question that gnawed away at her was whether or not she wanted to see him again. Irene would certainly avoid him in the short term. She needed time to get over the awkwardness of their latest encounter. Gill had his job as a barber to go to and she’d soon be starting at the toy factory. They’d both be far too preoccupied to enjoy much of a social life.

Meanwhile, she could settle into her new existence. She would soon make new friends at work and enjoy Christian fellowship at church on Sundays. It would be a full and satisfying life, free from the dangers of being torpedoed by enemy submarines. She still had nightmares about the sinking. In her waking hours, however, she kept reminding herself that she’d survived, a blessing bestowed on her for a purpose. That purpose — she felt humiliated to recall it — was most definitely not to make unwarranted accusations against an innocent man. Ernie Gill was her friend. It was time she learnt to trust him.

The car was parked in a yard at the side ofThe car was parked in a yard at the side of the garage. It took them less than a minute to gain entry. Closing the double doors behind them, they loaded the vehicle with combustible materials. The man in the dungarees lit a cigarette, then took several puffs before holding it out to one of h the garage. It took them less than a minute to gain entry. Closing the double doors behind them, they loaded the vehicle with combustible materials. The man in the dungarees lit a cigarette, then took several puffs before holding it out to one of his companions.