Page 66 of The Stranger in Room Six

So little old Mabel got pregnant by the enemy! A teenager and not married, either. It couldn’t get much worse in those days.

This complicates matters, I have to say. No one mentioned a child. What if they’re behind all of this? Grown up and causing havoc?

Luckily, that’s not my problem. All I have to do is pass on the information.

‘You did well,’ I tell Belinda.

She looks uneasy. ‘I don’t like betraying her confidences,’ she says. ‘I’ve given you enough, haven’t I? I want to stop now.’

I shoot her one of my ‘don’t you dare’ looks. ‘But you can’t, can you, Lady Belinda? You’re in too deep. Besides, we still need to find this list of names. Like I said, this is a matter of national security.’

She sets her chin in the way she used to in prison. ‘But it isn’t, is it? Otherwise, they wouldn’t be employing someone like you. I think you’re working for someone else. Someone shady. The question is, who? And why do they care about this list of names? What has it got to do with Mabel?’

‘You’re asking too many questions.’

‘I just want to know the truth, Mouse.’

‘Oh dear, Lady B. Do I need to teach you a lesson?’

Then, before she can answer, I raise my crutch and whack it into her left shin.