Page 76 of The Last Library of Paris

‘Is anything?’

I paused.

‘I guess not.’ I stretched out my arm and shook Marcus by the hand across the desk.

‘Count me in,’ I said.

Chapter 21

Cassie

Lisbon

Valentine had made contact with the sleeper agent in Paris, who had said he was going to get in touch with the librarian, Frances Reed.

He told Henry and me that things were going to plan, and then he headed off again – where, I didn’t know.

Henry watched him go, a frown on his face.

‘He’s got a bee in his bonnet about something, there’s no doubt.’

‘A bee named Penny with lovely hair,’ I muttered.

But Henry shook his head slowly.

‘Val has been working on these escape routes for a year,’ he said. ‘A whole year. He will not let anyone put that at risk. I think he’s worried there’s someone here who could be compromised.’

Immediately I felt guilty, even though I knew – of course – that I’d done nothing wrong.

Except illegally process a few visas, which wasn’t even that bad, and definitely wouldn’t put the escape routes at risk.

‘What do you mean?’ I asked, trying to keep my voice steady in case Henry thought I was up to something.

‘Val’s strengths are his brains …’ said Henry, sitting down at his desk and looking through a pile of papers.

I nodded. Valentine was a quick thinker, there was no doubt about that.

‘And his charm.’ Henry found what he was looking for, and started to read the document he was holding.

‘What does that have to do with the escape routes?’ I asked.

Henry tore his attention away from the page. ‘He can talk to anyone,’ he said. ‘He can become a friend to a duke or to a waiter, a barber, or a tramp on the street. People like him. They tell him things. If someone’s told him there’s someone to be suspicious of here in the embassy, Val will be checking that out.’

‘And you think that’s what he’s doing?’

‘Almost certainly.’

I wondered if it was Parrish. Or perhaps that was just wishful thinking. Although, perhaps I should tell Valentine that I’d seen Parrish meeting a PVDE officer. My stomach lurched as I realised I absolutely should tell Valentine that. And Digby.

In fact, I should have told them as soon as I saw him and Jose Costa chatting. But I hadn’t, because I’d not wanted to risk them finding out about the visas.

I smoothed down my fringe, hoping to hide my guilty expression from Henry.

‘Who is it?’ I asked casually. ‘Any clues?’

‘I don’t know who it is,’ said Henry. ‘If it is anyone at all. But if anyone’s doing anything they shouldn’t be, Val will find out.’

‘Good,’ I said, possibly a little loudly. ‘Excellent. That’s what we like to hear.’