‘That’s how it works. Certain information can only be given to those who are vetted and have been sworn to secrecy, especially so when a traitor is involved.’

‘Ella! My God, do you think she told the Germans things when they held her captive and interrogated her? Do you think that is what is troubling her?’

‘It’s a possibility, especially as they could have threatened to kill Lonia. But if she did give information about the camp, she knew very little, and at the time she didn’t even know that I hadn’t come back to England with you, so she couldn’t have given that information.’

‘And Randie wouldn’t, nor could he, as he had no one to give it to.’

‘In M’s eyes, Randie isn’t altogether in the clear . . . They want to question him, Flors.’

‘What? Why?’

‘They want to make sure he didn’t bargain his way out of the prison camp.’

‘You mean they think he led the Germans to you – his own father – and to Marjie, his beloved sister? Rubbish! Randie would never do such a thing.’

‘I know, and I think I have convinced them, in fact I am sure of it, but they have certain procedures. Randie will be fine. He only has to tell them how it happened, and then he can talk to them about going back. They may even recruit him and train him to work in special operations, because with Sibbie captured and HQ not knowing her fate, or whether she is compromised, they have to be ready with a replacement.’

‘Oh, Cyrus, I don’t like all this clandestine business, and yet I know how necessary it is. I would be involved tomorrow, if asked. But it is hard being made to suspect your own.’

‘It is and . . . well, there’s something else. They asked me about Monty.’

Flors felt as though she’d been punched; she couldn’t have said why, but the mention of Monty in the same conversation as betrayal worried her.

‘They can’t trace him in any of the labour-intensive camps, which is where most of those sent on forced labour go. I don’t know how they know these things, or get intelligence from such places, but Monty was known about, but isn’t now.’

‘Oh God! No! Not Monty.’

Somehow she just couldn’t defend him, her youngest and precious son, as she had Randie. Her whole instinct told her that Monty could do such a thing – even knowing, as he did, that Paulo was involved. She hated herself for these thoughts, but knew the truth of them. If Monty found the going tough in Germany, he would want to get out. Betraying the Maquis, about whom he knew quite a lot, would buy him that ticket. She looked at Cyrus and saw his pain. ‘You believe it is a possibility, don’t you?’

‘I want to save him, Flors.’