‘We shove all the furniture back into the farmhouse and hire the place out to them as an officers’ billet – the Yanks are just begging for accommodation. Come to think of it, we can hire the barn out to them, too. Excellent storage space.’ Baz was not in the least unhappy with the situation.

‘And the liquor,’ Val said, ‘we spent a good deal on heavy-duty hooch. I can’t sell it here at the pub.’

‘Don’t give the hooch a second thought, Boss,’ Baz assured her, ‘no worries there.’

This was the part of least concern to Baz. The considerable supply of illicit liquor he’d laid in would actually fetch a higher price on the black market than it would have at the club. Hell, his first clients would be the deprived troops at Kelso, where he had the perfect contact in Sergeant Strut Stowers. A simple phone call would suffice. Val didn’t need to know about that part though.

‘I’ll get a good price for it, I promise you.’

Yeah, I’ll just bet you will, Val thought, and I can guess from where, too – those poor bastards out at Kelso. But she made no comment. There were some things it was best she didn’t know about.

‘Not sure what we can do with the stables,’ he concluded, ‘but give me time, I’ll come up with something.’

‘Rightio.’ Val nodded. She had no doubt he would. He’s a right prick, she thought, but Christ he’s good.

Samuel briefly considered paying a visit to Amelia Sanderson to tell her about the tragic accident that had led to the death of young Anthony Hill. She would be devastated by the news, he was sure. He’d promised he’d see her this weekend, too. But of course he wouldn’t call upon her. He knew he was only seeking a means to delay the inevitable. He must get back to camp and inform the men of the club’s closure, and as soon as possible. The mere thought of what lay ahead left a bitter taste in his mouth, as bitter as the way in which his news would be received, no doubt.

The men’s reaction was varied. At first they were shocked, then mystification quickly followed. Why, they all asked. Why in God’s name was the club to be closed? What had gone wrong? There’d been no trouble the previous night. Not at the club anyway. The only trouble had occurred back at the camp with the sad death of poor young Ant, a subject that was currently on the lips of many. They’d been told nothing more than the fact that, due to complaints from locals, the military had ordered the instant closure of their club. What complaints?