The police car stopped at a level crossing to let the train pass, the uniformed troops inside the carriages flashing by as the train sped away from the city. Then the warning lights stopped blinking, the barrier rose, and the police car accelerated across the tracks, George and Theo sitting silently in the back. Theo had let the police explain everything to George: all of the details from the report that Sergeant Burns and the A4 Women’s Branch had shared with them before they’d left the station. Now George sat unblinking, something constricting behind his eyes as he digested the news about his grandchild, and his son.

They drove north for another five minutes, passing shops and houses, schools and churches, Theo drumming his fingers against the inside of the passenger door as he wished he was behind the wheel and could make the damned car go faster.

He caught a glimpse of George’s face, pale and immobile, and wondered what the man could be thinking in the aftermath of such news: shame and disappointment, but also possibly excitement. Or perhaps he was still in shock.

George must have felt Theo’s gaze because he turned, and they exchanged a compassionate look.

“How much further?” George asked, watching the driver who looked at him in his rearview mirror.

“Not far, a couple of miles.”

Trees and pedestrians sped by as they overtook cars and buses. Theo’s thoughts were moving just as fast, images of Virginia slotting in beside Alice like a film reel. He reflected on how his life had changed so markedly in just a few short months, and how sickened he felt at what had happened to Alice and her child.

“All right, we’re here,” the officer announced as they turned into a road and made an abrupt stop. Then he leaned over his shoulder to give them an order. “You two stay here. We’ll call if you’re needed.”

As the officers left the vehicle, Theo’s gaze panned across the parallel rows of parked cars, and he noticed there was no sign of any other police.

There wasn’t anyone standing between him and the door; between him and a chance to mend his broken promise to keep Alice safe.

Forty-two

Alice held the gun out stiffly in front of her.

The metal glinted, and the man’s face twitched. “What do you want?” he asked.

She was close enough to see his jet-black hair and acne-scarred skin, and other shiny red scars on his forearms. The fact he wore the regimental badge and cap of the Home Guard sickened her even more.

Alice nodded toward the woman. “I want her to push the carriage over here.”

He dropped his cigarette on the floor and ground it out slowly with the heel of his shoe. “And what if I say no?”

Alice turned her attention to the other two, and the other man slowly backed away.