Page 6 of The Last Library of Paris

‘Good.’

‘Did you lock the shop door?’

It was her turn for the withering look.

‘Of course.’

‘I taught you well,’ I said, only half-joking.

Lara gave me a little, affectionate nudge, then turned towards the back of the shop.

‘Bea!’ she yelled. ‘Bea! Cassie’s here!’

‘What was with all the subterfuge?’ I asked. ‘We’re way past all that.’

‘Ah, just habit,’ said Lara, waving her hand. ‘You know how it is.’

I did know, but Lara had never been very cautious – much to my despair. Just as I was about to question her more, though, Bea appeared in the shop.

‘Cassie,’ she said, giving me a hug too. ‘How was England? How are your parents?’

‘England was rainy,’ I said. ‘My parents are … untethered.’

‘I’m not surprised,’ Bea said. ‘Losing a child is the worst thing anyone can endure.’ She put her hand on my arm. ‘And how are you keeping?’

Her kind voice made tears spring into my eyes. ‘Fine,’ I said, a little weakly, then more firmly. ‘Fine. I’m glad to be back.’

‘Come upstairs,’ Bea said. ‘I’ll put the kettle on.’

She led the way, and Lara and I followed, up the stairs at the back of the shop and into the flat above. It was where we’d been based during our mission to plant false information in the minds of Germans.

Bea went into the tiny kitchen, and we stayed in the lounge, looking out of the windows at the people scurrying past down below. The sun was beginning to set, dropping down behind the castle.

Lara bobbed up and down on her toes. ‘Are you here about a job?’ she said. ‘Is it a job?’

‘Afraid not,’ I said, frowning. ‘Even I’m not on a job at the moment.’ I told her what Digby had said about making sure I was coping before I was put back into intelligence work, and she looked disgusted.

‘What a bloody waste of your talents.’

I smiled to myself. It really was nice to be home.

Bea came back, with a tray of tea, and we all sat on the sofa.

‘It’s funny being up here and not working,’ I said.

Lara grimaced. ‘I don’t come up here much. Too many memories.’

‘Oh my god,’ I gasped. ‘I can’t believe I forgot.’

I put my tea down and picked up my bag, rooting through it for what I wanted. ‘Here!’

I thrust a bundle of letters at Lara, and then rooted a bit more and found another – slightly smaller – bundle which I handed to Bea.

‘From Otto and Hector.’ I smiled at them both. ‘I saw them in London.’

Lara shrieked and threw her arms round me. ‘You saw Otto? You absolute beast, I can’t believe you didn’t tell me until now. How is he? Is he eating properly? Are they looking after him? Is he having a hard time? Do people think he’s German? Is he staying in London?’

I stared at her, unsure where to start answering all the questions.