‘So what would you like to do now? Another beer?’ Mickey asked, still keeping hold of my hand, while his other arm slipped around my waist.

‘I’d like some fresh air. Outside. It’s very hot in here.’

He beamed at me. ‘Sure.’

Outside were the planes. We started for the door.

‘Good evening, Mademoiselle Caussade,’ a voice said behind me.

I spun round fast. Too jumpy. Calm down.

In front of me stood a United States Air Force officer. Immaculate uniform, impressive insignia and dark hair parted ruler-straight on one side. One glance and I knew he was the kind of man I’d want defending my country. Wellmuscled with dark intelligent eyes that knew exactly how to create order out of disorder, and a bearing that I could see would inspire men to follow him. I’d guess he was in his thirties, but he had a look about him that was older, as though he’d seen more than any man in his thirties had a right to.

I nodded politely, but suspicion ran over my skin like ants. How did this stranger know my name?

‘I am Major Dirke. I’m sorry to disturb your evening but I saw you walking past my office window earlier.’

Beside me Mickey had jumped to attention.

‘As you were,’ the major told him. ‘I just want a word with Mademoiselle Caussade.’ He softened the lines of his face with a smile for me. He had a nice smile. ‘If I may?’ he said.

‘Of course, Major,’ I responded. ‘Outside would be better. It’s quieter.’

‘Singin’ in the Rain’ was now belting out of the jukebox, but I shot out of there with more haste than was decent.

*

I could feel the menace outside. Hard and sharp-edged. I felt it in the bitter taste at the back of my throat. No amount of upbeat music drifting out from the recreation hall could pretend otherwise, however persistently it tried. This was a place dedicated to death.

‘I apologise for breaking into your evening of enjoyment,’ the major said with an easy Southern charm and long silky vowels.

‘That’s no problem. I’m happy to take a break and get some fresh air.’

Except the air was not fresh. It smelled of engine oil and aircraft fuel and male testosterone in equal measures. The darkness was not real here. Security lights all over the air base kept the night at bay, the same way its weapons were designed to keep the Soviet Union at bay. A creamy halfmoon hung in the bull-black sky directly above the main runway and shadows shifted between the buildings each time the warm night breezes nudged against them.

I turned to face Major Dirke straight on.

‘What can I do for you, Major, and how do you know me?’

‘I want to speak to you about what happened yesterday.’

‘A lot happened yesterday. What do you have in mind?’