Page 22 of Fire Must Burn

‘I wonder how long before Stage Two,’ said Iris.

Two days later, they received a message from Miss Lowle: ‘First date tonight. Wish me luck.’

‘I’m wishing her something,’ muttered Iris.

‘We really need to find Mr Lonsdale someone more suitable after this,’ said Gwen. ‘I cannot tell you how guilty I’m feeling about him.’

The telephone rang in the next room. They heard Mrs Billington’s voice through the wall, then she appeared at the doorway.

‘That was Dr Shandy’s office for Miss Sparks,’ she said.‘They had to cancel your appointment, but said to call next week. Are you not feeling well, Miss Sparks?’

‘Nothing to worry about, Saundra,’ said Iris. ‘Thank you.’

She waited until Mrs Billington left, then got up.

‘I’ll be back in twenty minutes,’ she said.

The telephone box for the contact was on the corner of Davies and Brook Streets. She stepped into the box, dropped a coin into the slot, then dialled a number. She let it ring three times, then hung up and waited. A minute later, the telephone jangled in the box. She waited for the third ring, then answered.

‘Do you know Maggs Brothers?’ asked the Brigadier.

‘The bookshop on Berkeley Square? I’d live there if I had the money.’

‘The target put in a request for a particular book. The shop has received it, but won’t call him about it until tomorrow afternoon, so he’ll have to collect it after work.’

‘I’ll intercept him there,’ said Sparks. ‘I’ll have to buy a book for myself while I’m there, sir, and I fully expect you to reimburse me for it.’

‘Don’t break the bank, Sparks,’ he said. ‘No Gutenberg Bibles, understood?’

‘Please, sir, you know I’m an atheist. That would only serve me as an overpriced doorstop.’

‘How did you like the new recruit?’

‘We rubbed each other the wrong way.’

‘That doesn’t surprise me.’

‘She’s so green,’ said Sparks. ‘Why did you pick her?’

‘Because she reminded me of you, Sparks. Let me know how things go.’

‘Will do, sir.’

He hung up.

‘Everything go all right?’ asked Gwen when she returned.

‘I have a time and a place for our accidental reunion,’ said Iris as she sat down and opened their telephone directory. ‘And I’m getting a book out of it, so there’s some good coming from all of this.’

She picked up the phone and dialled.

‘Hello, is this Maggs Brothers?’ she asked. ‘Do you have adecent used copy ofBritish Water Beetles? The author is Balfour-Browne. Yes, I’ll wait.’

‘Water beetles?’ queried Gwen.

‘Water beetles.’

‘Those would be like aquatic cockroaches?’