Page 100 of The Last Library of Paris

‘We need to close the bar,’ she said, clapping her hands. Miguel joined her, apologising in English, Portuguese and German as they hustled customers out of the doors.

‘So sorry,’ Lara said. ‘Please come back again tomorrow.’

Miguel even went into the kitchen and told a baffled Camila – who’d missed all the action – to go home early.

When we were the only ones left, Miguel turned the key in the lock and leaned against the door, looking at me with raised eyebrows.

‘What is this?’ he said, gesturing to me, where I still sat on top of Parrish.

‘This?’ I said, finally getting to my feet. ‘Is a bloody nightmare.’

Parrish got up too, his face red and bruised on one cheek where I’d pushed it into the floor. He rubbed his arms and turned to me, looking furious.

I held my hand up to silence him before he started.

‘Don’t,’ I said, suddenly feeling terribly weary. ‘Just don’t say a word. Sit down there and don’t move.’

Parrish did as he was told. He sat down on a chair, arms folded, and stared at me. He looked like a sulky schoolboy rather than someone who could have just risked the lives of hundreds of brave soldiers and airmen for the sake of a few extra escudos in his wallet and to get revenge on me because I’d turned him down and bruised his ego.

The thought chilled me.

‘Shall I call Digby?’ Lara said quietly. ‘If you keep an eye on him?’

‘Please.’ I was grateful she’d offered because I wasn’t sure what to say to Digby. And I was even less sure what I would say to Archie, who’d worked so hard on the escape lines.

Lara vanished into the back of the bar, and Miguel and I stood in silence, our eyes trained on Parrish.

When she came back, she simply said: ‘He’s on his way.’ Then she joined us, standing watching Parrish.

Eventually Miguel’s patience gave out. ‘Has he been passing information to the PVDE?’ he asked.

I couldn’t even look at Parrish, I was so disgusted. ‘And the Nazis.’

‘Right,’ said Miguel. ‘And what did he mean about the library in Paris? Frances?’

I bit my lip. But actually it didn’t matter anymore. If the Nazis knew, there was no point in keeping anything quiet.

‘Frances Reed.’ I glanced at Lara, who was pale. ‘She’s Bea’s friend. She’s an American librarian in Paris. She’s been helping us send information to lost airmen. And now the Nazis know she’s working for us,’ I said in despair. ‘And she’s in Paris, which is occupied, and full of dangers anyway, and I think … I think …’ My voice cracked and I stopped talking, because I didn’t really know what I thought. I just felt sheer dread for poor Frances Reed, who would be going about her business, distributing books, unaware that her secret was out. They would shoot her. Without asking questions. This clever, brave woman, whom Bea had sung the praises of so highly, would be gunned down without warning. And it was all my fault.

Our only hope was for Digby to contact our sleeper agent in Paris and get him to warn her. But could he get to her in time? I didn’t know.

I dipped my head so I could wipe away a tear, just as there was a knock at the door of the bar.

Digby.

He wasn’t alone. He had two British officers with him, straight-backed and stern. And behind him was Archie Valentine. I breathed in sharply, wrapping my arms round my torso. All those hours he’d put into establishing the escape routes. All the work he’d done. All ruined.

I looked down at my feet as Lara let the men in and locked the door behind them.

Digby was a tall man anyway, but he seemed to fill the space as he glowered at Parrish.

‘Stand up,’ he said. Parrish scrabbled to his feet, hunched over. Digby raised his chin. ‘Strictly speaking, I should ask the PVDE to arrest you,’ he said. ‘But I think we both know that’s not an option.’

Parrish didn’t speak.

Digby sounded almost jovial as he carried on. ‘You could hang for this, you know? It’s a real possibility.’

Parrish dragged his gaze up from his feet to meet Digby’s cold stare and for a second I thought he was going to argue with him, but he didn’t. Instead, he let the two officers take him by the arms.