Marc ducked behind chairs as the woman squeezed through the front door and told the people outside to mind their fingers before banging it shut.

As soon as she flicked on the lights she saw Henderson. He’d finished developing Marc’s photograph and stood behind the counter with his arms out wide to make it clear that he was no threat.

‘I’m sorry to startle you like this, Madame. The name’s Henderson. Charles Henderson.’

Marc studied the woman from his position crouching behind the chairs. She was in her twenties, and nearly six feet tall. She wore the white blouse and pleated skirt of an office girl, but sculpted black hair and an elegant gold watch gave the impression that she lived off somewhat more than an office girl’s salary.

‘Charles Henderson,’ the woman said knowingly. ‘I decoded a transcript from London. Quite a few people are looking for you. Of course, if you’re really Henderson, you’ll know his code word.’

‘Seraphim,’ Henderson answered, as the woman placed her bag on the countertop then kicked on a wooden panel and ducked under. Marc’s eyebrows shot up as he sighted the tops of her stockings.

‘I do beg your pardon, but young Marc here needs a passport. We did a bit of damage to your landing window but it’s easily fixed …’

‘Forgive me,’ the woman said, making a quick glance back at Marc before cutting Henderson dead with a raised hand. ‘My name is Maxine Clere, clerical assistant to the consul. Please make use of our facilities … It looks like you’ve found the blank passports already. I know your work is important, but I have to make immediate contact with London on the scrambled telephone. We’ve lost the Cardiff Bay on the River Garonne, less than thirty kilometres out of Bordeaux – and many are dead.’

1U-boat – a German submarine.

2Gendarmes – French police officers.

3Gestapo – German secret police.