Page 105 of Fire Must Burn

‘I’m going to interview someone,’ she said. ‘Would you mind terribly letting me pretend for a day or two?’

‘I can do better than that,’ said Conley. ‘I have just hired you as a research assistant, starting immediately. I’ll fire you as soon as you’re finished doing whatever it is.’

‘That is extraordinarily decent of you, Mr Conley. Thank you.’

‘Will you tell me what this is all about when you’re done?’

‘I may not be able to,’ she said. ‘As I said, it’s unofficial.’

‘I understand. Good luck with whatever it is, then.’

‘Thanks again, Mr Conley. Good day.’

‘Goodbye, Mrs Bainbridge.’

He hung up, then buzzed Imelda on the intercom.

‘Yes, sir?’ she answered.

‘Imelda, please add Mrs Gwendolyn Bainbridge to our list of freelancers,’ he said. ‘And if anyone calls, confirm that she’s doing some research for me.’

‘Yes, sir. Shall I alert Personnel as well?’

‘Not necessary, my dear. We’ll let them know when she signs her contract.’

‘Very well, Mr Conley.’

He hung up, then went back to work, singing softly to himself, ‘Spurn not the nobly born with love affected, Nor treat with virtuous scorn the well connected …’

‘Got my cover story set up,’ said Gwen as she hung up.

‘You’re a BBC reporter?’ asked Iris.

‘Nothing so grand or public,’ said Gwen. ‘Merely a researcher doing advance work. A plausible entry-level job fora well-connected socialite with no particular skills, wouldn’t you agree? I’m hoping the Caters will.’

‘Sally’s going with you for this?’

‘Yes, he’s driving me. I telephoned the Cater house last night and made an appointment with Mrs Cater for this afternoon.’

‘Before you knew you had your cover set? Pretty nervy.’

‘I learned that from you,’ said Gwen. ‘Any progress with your gravity experiments?’

‘My initial forays raised some ideas,’ said Iris. ‘I will be following up on them.’

‘How?’

‘I’m going to visit Parham later.’

‘Oh? What for?’

‘I have some questions about fire.’

Gwen emerged from the building at eleven to find Sally waiting by his Hornet, which was parked by the kerb. She gave him a quick kiss, then got in. He closed her door, then got behind the wheel and drove off.

‘I like that we’re a publicly acknowledged couple,’ he said. ‘It makes for more opportunities to kiss you.’

‘I appreciate your donating your day off to helping me,’ she said.