Page 115 of The Last Library of Paris

‘Out.’ I dropped my bag on the floor beside my desk.

‘Digby wants to see us. I think there’s news.’

I froze. ‘Good news? Or bad news?’

‘I don’t know,’ Henry said. ‘Let’s go.’

Together we hurried down the corridor in silence.

Digby was at his desk and he looked sombre as we entered.

‘Ah,’ he said. ‘Take a seat.’

‘What is it?’ I asked. ‘What’s happened. Is it Archie? Valentine? Is he safe? What’s going on?’

Digby looked taken aback by the verbal onslaught. He held his hand up to me.

‘Valentine is safe,’ he said. I let out a breath. ‘But there is news from Paris.’

‘Go on.’

‘As you know, we got word to our agent there, and he confirmed he was going to the library to warn Frances Reed and her team.’

‘Yes,’ I said.

‘Are they safe?’ asked Henry.

‘Unfortunately, we don’t know.’ Digby closed his eyes briefly. ‘No one has been able to reach him since.’

‘Bugger,’ said Henry.

‘What does that mean?’ I asked. ‘Did the Nazis get to them? Where’s Frances Reed?’

‘I was coming to that,’ Digby said. ‘Our intelligence from Paris has told us there was a fire at the library. By all accounts it wasn’t too serious. The building is damaged but still standing.’

‘A fire?’ I shook my head, not understanding.

‘And no one has seen Miss Reed since.’

My hands were sweating and I wiped them on my skirt.

‘Well, can’t they look for her?’ said Henry. ‘Surely they know where she lives?’

‘They are looking.’ Digby’s tone was weary. ‘They have been to her home. She is not there.’

‘Could they be together?’ I suggested. ‘Frances Reed and the agent? What’s his name?’

‘Marcus,’ said Digby. ‘His name is Marcus Oxley. But he goes by Berger. His mother is German.’

‘So could they be together?’

‘It’s possible.’

I cleared my throat. ‘Or could it be that she has been captured by the Nazis? Or even …’ My voice wavered and I paused, gathering myself. ‘Or could she have been killed?’

‘It does sound like they’ve found her already,’ Henry pointed out. ‘If the library has been set alight.’

‘The fire could be unconnected,’ said Digby unconvincingly.