‘Could have been a costly misunderstanding,’ Alphonse replied with a frown.
‘You’re not in uniform,’ I said, noting his civilian clothes.
‘My night off. Do you want to have a drink?’
‘I’m sorry, Alphonse. I’m so tired from today. I just want to go home.’
Alphonse looked disappointed. ‘But I’ve barely seen you since you’ve been back. I am beginning to think you are avoiding me.’
The truth was, I had been avoiding Alphonse, but I was putting off the inevitable.
I stopped walking and turned to the young man in front of me. ‘Alphonse,’ I began. ‘We should talk.’
‘I’m not sure I like the sound of that,’ he replied.
‘Another day, after work,’ I said, ignoring his comment. ‘When I’m not so exhausted. I need to go home to sleep tonight.’
‘At least let me walk you home,’ he replied.
‘Thank you. I’d appreciate that.’
He held out his arm, and I slipped my hand in the crook of his arm, before we continued our walk in silence. I wasn’t sure whether I was being paranoid, but I kept getting the sensation we were being watched or even followed. Every now and then I found myself turning around or scanning the street.
‘What’s wrong?’ asked Alphonse.
‘Nothing. I’m just on edge,’ I replied.
‘Were you really going to kill Kranz this morning?’ asked Alphonse as we turned the corner onto the road where I lived.
‘No. Not at all,’ I replied quickly. ‘I was cleaning, that’s all. He jumped to conclusions.’
We came to a halt outside the door of my apartment.
‘I know when you’re lying,’ said Alphonse, a note of irritation creeping into his voice. ‘If this is anything to do with Edgar, then you need to stop. I can only protect you so far.’
I looked at Alphonse. ‘I’m not asking you to protect me.’
‘I think maybe you should.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘I love you, Nathalie. Make no mistake about that, but don’t underestimate how much I love our country.’
‘I need some sleep,’ I said, too tired to continue the discussion. ‘Thank you for walking me home.’
He went to kiss me, but I turned a fraction and his lips met the side of my face. He moved back, and I could see the hurt and annoyance in his eyes.
He coughed and straightened up. ‘Goodnight, Nathalie.’ With that, he turned and walked back down the street.
As I watched, a movement from the other side of the road caught my attention and I snapped my gaze in that direction, but no one was there. Again, that uneasy feeling of being watched swept over me.
With one last look at Alphonse and then the street, I quickly hurried through the main entrance and up the steps to our apartment.
My parents didn’t appear to know what had happened to me during the day and greeted me as normal. I rushed to the window that overlooked the street below. A dark figure slipped out of a doorway from across the road, and with their head down and coat collar turned up, hurried down the street.
I was right. I was being followed. And I would recognise that figure anywhere.
Chapter 25
