On Boxing Day, his father saw him off at the crowded station.

They shook hands. ‘Thank you for everything, Father. And I’ll see you again soon?’

‘Good luck with that work of yours, boy. I’m proud of you,’ his father said. Vic tried to shush him, but it made little difference. ‘With those ruddy politicians blithering about, it’s good to know that at least someone’s trying to figure out how to save us from the Hun.’

It was a relief when the guard blew his whistle.

He’d been unpacking when Johnnie knocked on his door.

‘Good Christmas?’

‘Pretty dire, actually. Couldn’t wait to get away.’

‘Sorry to hear it.’

‘And you? Family well?’

‘Yes, thank you. But I’m afraid I have to tell you there’s been a bit of a ruckus while we were away.’

‘Ruckus?’

‘The boss is stomping around like an enraged bull. The Germans are apparently onto something which could only have come from one of us here at the Manor, and the high-ups in intelligence are saying it must have been a leak.’

‘Crikey, that’s bad. Have they fingered anyone?’

‘No one’s said anything, but a couple of chaps have been called in.’

‘Do we know who?’

Johnnie lowered his voice. ‘Our friend is one.’

‘FW? Do you really think?’

‘Who knows? But I’m sorry to have to break it to you, old man. The boss wants to see you, too. Pronto.’

A shard of something cold and sharp pierced Vic’s chest, making it hard to breathe. ‘Should I go now?’

‘Reckon,’ Johnnie said, clapping him on the shoulder. ‘Good luck.’

Robert Watson-Watt seemed to have calmed down. As Vic entered, his expression was almost cheerful. ‘Come in, Mackensie. Happy New Year and all that. How was your Christmas?’

For a few uncomfortable moments they exchanged small talk, almost as though the boss was trying to avoid the other issue. Vic could bear the suspense no longer: ‘You wanted to see me, sir?’

‘Ah yes, this is a shocking business. I want to make it clear from the start that you are not in the frame, Mackensie, not at all. But I’m sorry to tell you that your name has come up in my interviews with others so I am duty bound to question you, for the record.’

‘Which others, sir, if I may be so bold?’

‘I cannot name them, I’m afraid.’

He didn’t need to. The answer was obvious.

The rest of the interview was straightforward, and Vic emerged relieved. Watson-Watt had asked a set of pre-planned questions and took copious notes of Vic’s answers. He made it perfectly clear that Vic could not possibly have known the information the Germans seemed to have got hold of. At last, he stood up from his desk, offering a hand. ‘Thank you, Mackensie. That will be all.’

‘What happens now, sir?’

‘Nothing that involves you, I’m pleased to say.’