Page 98 of The Last Library of Paris

‘Fine,’ I said. ‘Alain, please stay.’

Alain, looking slightly baffled, nodded.

‘Good,’ said Sylvie.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said to Alain.

‘Pfft,’ said Sylvie. ‘Don’t go too far.’

Chapter 26

Cassie

Lisbon

I spent the next couple of days pushing Parrish out of my mind. I knew Archie was keeping an eye on him down in the archives, but I didn’t ask how he was getting on and he didn’t tell me. I did know, however, that he was still stuck in Lisbon, because the flights were not leaving yet. That thought made me nervous, though I distracted myself with work.

We worked hard on the plan for Pyrenees and I filled in lots of visa forms, alongside Penny, who was racing through them. I spoke to my parents who were delighted with their new arrivals and told me all about how they were trying to find a rabbi to hold services in the church hall.

All in all, I felt much more cheerful. Things were good. Disaster had been averted.

And it had stopped raining. Which was definitely something to celebrate.

I hadn’t seen Lara properly for a few days because she’d been busy, so when Archie went out on another lunch date, and Henry said he was going home to unpack more boxes in his new apartment, I decided to go and visit her.

Enjoying the sunshine after so much rain, I strolled out of the embassy and down the hill to the bar. It was quiet in there, and Lara’s friend Miguel was serving.

‘Sit down,’ he said. ‘Lara’s in the back. I’ll cover the bar while you chat.’

‘Thank you,’ I said as Lara came out and plonked herself down on the chair opposite me.

‘I’m exhausted,’ she said. ‘How are you?’

We had a good chat, and a delicious sandwich made by Camila, who worked in the kitchen, and I felt even cheerier.

‘I suppose I’d better get back,’ I said eventually. ‘Archie will be wondering where I’ve got to.’

‘From what I’ve seen, Archie doesn’t mind what you do,’ Lara said. ‘He thinks you’re wonderful.’

‘Nonsense,’ I said, but I felt my cheeks flush and I was more than a little flustered. I bent to pick up my bag. ‘I’m just going to pop to the loo. Then I’ll head off.’

I said goodbye to Miguel and went towards the back of the bar. And there I saw Jose Costa, the PVDE officer sitting in the corner, along with two men in Nazi uniform whom I didn’t recognise. As I watched, I saw Costa raise his hand to wave at someone. Turning, I saw Parrish walking into the bar.

He looked gratifyingly horrified to see me, and rightly so, because a red-hot rage rose up inside me and I blocked his way. Arms on my hips.

Parrish was much taller than me, though I wasn’t especially small, but I wasn’t intimidated; I was too angry for that. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lara tug on Miguel’s sleeve to get him to move so they were both standing behind Parrish, blocking his exit that way.

‘Were you listening to us the other day?’ I said, realising now that I had been right to be jumpy after all. Parrish had been eavesdropping. ‘Was it you lurking in the corridor?’

Parrish shrugged. ‘Maybe.’

‘What do you know?’

‘I’m afraid you’ll have to pay me for that information,’ Parrish said. ‘They do.’

In his booth, Costa looked faintly alarmed. He looked at the Nazis, who were both watching the scene with little interest, then his eyes darted to the door where Lara and Miguel stood guard. Parrish and I were blocking his way out of the back. But he shifted in his seat anyway.

‘You can’t give that information to them,’ I said to Parrish.