Page 8 of Fire Must Burn

‘I think that the Soviets are as great a threat now as the Nazis were,’ said Mrs Bainbridge. ‘If there is any small way I can help with the fight, I offer it.’

‘This isn’t small,’ said Sparks.

‘As I said, I follow your lead.’

‘Right,’ said Sparks. ‘I’m in. We’re in. Who’s playing the not-so-sweet honey?’

‘Someone new to my team,’ said the Brigadier. ‘So new that I’ve kept her separate from the rest. She’ll be showing up at your office to sign up within the next few days. After that, you’ll receive instructions on where to find Mr Danforth.’

‘And that has to be just me,’ Sparks said to Mrs Bainbridge.

‘Of course,’ replied her partner. ‘It wouldn’t make sense for both of us to run into him.’

‘Anything else I need to know?’ asked Sparks.

‘Not at the moment,’ he said, standing and reaching for his hat.

‘Are you well, sir?’ asked Sparks.

‘Excuse me?’

‘Since I last saw you, you seem thinner. And more tired.’

‘This work takes its toll,’ he said. ‘No need to concern yourself with my well-being.’

‘We need you to stay alive, sir,’ said Sparks. ‘You’re the one keeping me out of jail, remember?’

They re-entered the pub and deposited their empty glasses on the bar, the Brigadier leaving a healthy tip as he paid.

‘I was never here,’ he said to Hetty.

‘You’re always never here,’ said Hetty. ‘See you the next time you’re never here.’

‘You go ahead, ladies,’ he said. ‘It was a pleasure to see you as always.’

‘And you, sir,’ returned Sparks.

‘Goodbye,’ said Mrs Bainbridge.

They left, nodding to the patrons at the outside tables as they passed.

‘“A pleasure to see you as always”,’ muttered Iris. ‘I can’t think of a single time it’s been a pleasure. We do meet ’em, don’t we?’

‘We certainly do,’ agreed Gwen.

‘Was he telling us the truth in there?’

‘As far as I can tell,’ said Gwen. ‘He’s difficult to read. As are you when you’re talking to him, by the way. Your defences rise to a higher level.’

‘You were reading me?’

‘If I’m following your lead, I need to know where you’re going,’ said Gwen. ‘Especially if it’s anywhere dangerous.’

‘This shouldn’t be dangerous,’ said Iris. ‘We’re merely setting up the connection, then stepping back and letting it play out without us.’

They walked back to Edgware.

‘Was I telling the truth in there?’ asked Iris.