‘Why yes, if you’d be so kind.’ He gave her another smile, a dazzling smile this time. She was one of the prettiest girls he’d ever seen.

‘Rightio, follow me.’

As she came out from behind the counter, he noted the body matched the face. The whole package really was perfect.

‘Who shall I say?’ she asked as she led the way up the stairs.

‘What was that, sorry?’ He’d been a little distracted.

‘What name?’

He very much wanted to impress. ‘Congressman Lieutenant Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson,’ he said.

They’d reached the top of the stairs and she turned, aware he’d been eyeing her backside on the way up. ‘Wow,’ she said, as if suitably awestruck, ‘that’s quite a mouthful.’

‘Commander Johnson will do,’ he said. Another dazzling smile just to let her know he’d been joking, which of course he hadn’t.

Betty tapped on the door. ‘Me, Val,’ she called, ‘you’ve got a visitor.’

‘Come on in,’ a strong female voice called back.

Betty opened the door. ‘Commander Johnson to see you,’ she grandly announced as if introducing royalty. What a jerk, she thought as she closed the door behind her.

Val rose from her desk, but didn’t cross to him. ‘Afternoon, Commander,’ she said, eyeing him up and down. Was this the Texan bloke Baz had told her about just this morning? Looks like it, she thought, they said he was tall. ‘What can I do for you?’ she asked. ‘Take the weight off your feet,’ she added, gesturing to one of the visitors’ chairs as she sat.

‘Why thank you, ma’am,’ Johnson replied, and crossing to the desk, he seated himself opposite her. ‘Most obliged. Just wanted to ask you a few questions is all.’

Yep, he’s the Texan all right, Val thought. ‘Ask away,’ she said, ‘I’m all yours.’ Her smile was more than friendly, it was decidedly inviting. She was hoping he’d ask the questions she wanted to answer, and if he didn’t, she’d tell him her thoughts anyway.

Lyndon had been wondering just how much information he should impart to the civilians with whom he intended to conduct interviews. It was imperative word should not get out to the general public about the true purpose of his investigation. That a mutiny had taken place in the US Army, that Negro soldiers had turned upon their white officers. Such truths must never be exposed to the world. He could not resist, however, revealing his identity.

‘I am a member of the United States Congress, Mrs Callahan,’ he began.

‘Yes, so I heard,’ Val replied pleasantly, ‘and under the direct orders of President Roosevelt. Most impressive, I must say.’

‘Ah.’ His instinctive reaction was a mixture of surprise and gratification. He did like to impress. ‘And how would you happen to know that?’