‘You couldn’t possibly have seen him.’
‘No, but I saw you walk out a few minutes later and then shortly after, the man emerged. I could tell he knew you. You looked back, and the man hesitated.’
‘So you were just guessing?’ I was annoyed with myself for being caught out so easily. I could have denied it. However, I was past that point. ‘Like I said, we spoke briefly and then I carried on to work.’
‘What did he say?’
‘He asked me how Edgar was. He didn’t know what had happened to him. I wish I hadn’t met him, as it just made me feel worse.’
Alphonse looked at me, indecision etched over his face. ‘I don’t know.’
‘Don’t know what?’ I demanded, sounding as indignant as possible.
‘I don’t know whether you are telling me the truth.’
‘Why would I lie to you? I’m actually quite offended by the accusation.’ I looked at my watch. ‘I have to go back to work.’
‘Wait.’ Alphonse caught me by the arm.
I looked down, and he had the decency to look embarrassed and remove his hand. ‘I want to believe you,’ he said.
‘Why can’t you?’
He gave an awkward shrug. ‘Kranz doesn’t believe your story about supporting the new government.’
I raised my eyebrows. ‘So, you let yourself be guided by Kranz now, do you? When you’re the one who knows me, not him?’
‘You’re not denying it.’
‘Oh, can we please stop this?’ I implored. ‘We are going around in circles. You either believe me or you don’t. And if you don’t, then we definitely don’t have a relationship.’
That took the look off his face. ‘You mean that?’
‘Of course I do.’ I was far too aware of the double standards. I was asking Alphonse to believe me when I was, in fact, the liar. I was in love with another man and giving Alphonse false hope.
‘There’s something you’re not telling me,’ pressed Alphonse. There was a slight note of menace to his voice. ‘I don’t know what it is, but please, Nathalie, don’t keep things from me.’
‘I have to go.’
‘What was his name? The man you met. Edgar’s friend.’
‘I really need to go back to work.’
‘I don’t believe you.’ Alphonse’s voice stopped me in my tracks. ‘I don’t believe you,’ he repeated, this time quieter, which was somehow more unnerving than him shouting at me in anger.
I turned around to face him. There were tears in his eyes. I took a step closer. I went to speak but stopped. What could I say? I could only protest my false innocence and lie even more. ‘I’m sorry,’ I said, swallowing down a ball of guilt as my own tears gathered in my eyes.
‘It was him, wasn’t it? It was Reynard– the one Kranz is looking for.’
‘How do you know?’
‘It’s obvious. It can’t be anyone else. I wish you hadn’t gone to Brittany.’ He drew in a long slow breath, held it for a second, before releasing it. ‘Are you in love with him?’
‘Please don’t ask me,’ I said so quietly I wasn’t even sure if I’d said it out loud.
‘Merde. Why can’t you deny it? Why can’t you argue and persuade me I am wrong?’
‘I’m so sorry, Alphonse.’
