‘Yes, I remembered that from school because I remembered thinking it was so strange. Strange to let them keep the radios in the first place when plenty of other nations the Nazis had stormed had them removed. But not in the Channel Islands. They took them. Then they gave them back. Then they took them again.’
‘Bit mad,’ Will said. ‘But,’ he reasoned, ‘definitely not the maddest thing the Nazis did.’
‘No,’ Lucy agreed.
‘But in summer 1942 it was permanent,’ he said, reading the article.
The fire was dying and Lucy wondered if that was a sign sheshould leave, but Will looked in the direction of the fire, stood up and threw on two more logs. Lucy watched them flare and crackle as the flames licked.
‘So,’ Will said. ‘Let me get my head around this. The Nazis took away radios a few months before our bundle of news transcripts start. And the transcripts end less than a year later. Why?’
‘Why what?’ Lucy said, not quite understanding what he was driving at.
‘Why do they end? What happens in—’ he looked at the notes ‘—September 1943 to make whoever’s doing this stop? The war didn’t end until ’45 and the Germans were here until the bitter end.’
Lucy stretched and stifled a yawn. ‘No idea. Maybe they didn’t stop. Maybe they just didn’t keep the bits of paper. Or they put them somewhere else?’
‘Maybe,’ Will agreed, his eyes narrowed. ‘I’d love to know who did this.’
‘So would I. Dido? Her sister? Both of them?’
‘And why?’ Will continued. ‘I don’t think I know enough about the Occupation to understand the significance of all this. Someone’s listening to an illegal radio, writing it all down and then doing something with it, presumably. But what?’
‘Telling their friends?’ Lucy suggested. ‘Those without radios?’
‘Maybe,’ he said for the second time. ‘Very brave.’
Lucy stifled a yawn. ‘Sorry.’
‘All this excitement keeping you up?’
‘A bit, yes.’
‘Listen,’ Will said. ‘There’s an Occupation museum close by. I’ve not been yet but I keep meaning to. Do you fancy taking a look? See if it sheds any light?’
‘Sure,’ she said. ‘I’m sure I went there on a school trip once. Don’t really remember it though.’
‘Tomorrow?’ Will said and then looked at his watch, which showed well past midnight. ‘Actually, later today?’ he said with a grin.
Lucy hesitated. ‘Can I let you know later on? Clara’s organised for some estate agents to come and offer valuations. She has to work so I’ve volunteered to meet and greet, ply them with tea and hope they all pick ludicrously high figures out of thin air.’
‘Is that how you think estate agency works?’ Will laughed.
‘Isn’t it?’
‘Probably, actually,’ he agreed.
Will helped her bundle the documents up and while she was putting her shoes on, he put his on also.
‘Are you going out? Now?’ she asked.
‘No.’ He looked confused. ‘I’m seeing you home.’
‘But I only live next door.’
‘It’s a long way … next door, and it’s the middle of the night. You’re not walking down the lane on your own.’
‘Oh,’ she said quietly, secretly pleased. ‘Thanks.’
