Page 81 of The Last Library of Paris

‘So Parrish turned his attention to you, and found the visa applications?’

‘It seems so. He works in that department, of course.’

There was a pause.

‘And I think he might have, well, a bit of a grudge.’

‘Against you?’

I grimaced. ‘When I was first thinking about the visa scheme, he decided I was upstairs a lot because I wanted to see him.’

‘Christ, the man’s a walking ego,’ said Valentine.

‘And then he made a pass at me.’ I swallowed. ‘Well, it was more than that, actually.’

Valentine’s eyes narrowed. ‘Did he hurt you?’

I shook my head, then nodded. ‘A little bit,’ I admitted. ‘But I hurt him to get away. I ground my heel into his foot.’

‘Well done.’

‘No, not well done, because he was determined to get some sort of petty revenge, and I’m fairly sure this is all because of that. And then I was a bit smug. Or complacent, might be the better word for it. I just didn’t think the PVDE would be interested in British visas.’

‘I think they’ll take any information they can,’ Valentine said. He sighed. ‘But we’re fortunate that Parrish doesn’t seem interested in the books or the escape routes?’

‘No.’ I grimaced. ‘But perhaps I’ve put that whole thing in danger, just by drawing Parrish’s attention to me.’

Valentine tapped the table with his fingertips. ‘If it reassures you, I don’t think Parrish has made the link.’

‘Really?’

‘Not at all. He’s been wholly focused on these visas.’

‘You knew about it all?’

‘I had put a few things together, but I wasn’t sure who was involved.’

‘Henry said you were clever.’ I smiled sweetly at him. ‘But now you know it’s just me who’s involved.’

‘Absolutely no one else?’

I rolled my eyes. ‘No.’

‘Hmm,’ said Valentine. ‘When I realised what Parrish was trying to get the PVDE interested in – this fast processing of visas – I tried to guess who would be the person behind it.’ He looked at me. ‘I didn’t guess you were involved, though I think I should have. Instead, I thought it would be the older woman upstairs. Edith Johns? Do you know her? She’s a nice woman by all accounts.’

Keeping my face very still, I said: ‘She was good to me when I first came to Lisbon.’

‘Your chum Penny from typing told me she did the same for her.’

‘Edith’s not in trouble,’ I said firmly. It wasn’t a question.

‘No.’

I sat back in my chair, relieved.

Valentine looked at me again for a second and then he nodded.

‘I think we got off on the wrong foot, Simkins.’