Page 79 of The Stranger in Room Six

‘If it wasn’t for your threats to my family, I wouldn’t be doing this,’ says Belinda when she tells me about the old lady giving up her bastard. ‘Mabel has suffered enough in life. You should leave her alone, now.’

There’s a big bruise on her leg where I thumped her, which makes me feel slightly guilty. But I had to make a point.

‘You’re getting soft,’ I scoff.

‘I always was until I went to prison. Then I was only pretending to be hard. That was your idea, if you remember.’

‘I think you’re naturally much tougher than you think. But supposing I told you that you are actually helping us to keep Mabel safe.’

‘You told me she’d die if I didn’t find the list.’

‘But she will also live if you do. The world is a complicated place at the moment, Belinda. You were in prison for a long time. You might not have kept up with the news. Have you heard about neo-Nazi groups in Germany and other countries? It’s illegal in some places.

But it’s real enough, and a reminder of what happened in the war.

Some of those who were hurt and lost loved ones still want justice and revenge. ’

I pause for a minute to take breath. I’m beginning to feel my age.

‘Let’s just say that Mabel will be lucky to reach her ninety-ninth birthday if it’s proved that she collaborated with Hitler supporters. There are some people who would have her killed without a second’s thought.’

‘But it was so long ago!’

‘Don’t you get it? That’s the thing about history. The past never really goes away. Just like we’ll never get prison out of our heads.’

I can see from her face that I’ve hit a nerve there.

After Belinda leaves, I make a decision. Perhaps I should take matters into my own hands. Of course, it’s a huge risk, especially as my boss told me I shouldn’t hurt her. But it’s time I got really tough.