Page 138 of The Last Library of Paris

In the library, I pulled my headscarf out of my pocket and tied it over my curly wig, hoping it might make me look a little more Parisian. And then I went out of the back door and walked straight into Guy.

‘Oh, bloody hell,’ I said. ‘I thought you’d have gone.’

He gave me an unimpressed glance. ‘Are you following me?’

‘Yes,’ I admitted. ‘I saw you sneak off. Are you going to find this Alain?’

He went to walk away, and I grabbed his arm to stop him. ‘Are you going to find Alain?’ I asked again.

Reluctantly he nodded.

‘Frances and Sylvie don’t think much of him?’

Guy closed his eyes and shook his head. ‘They’re wrong.’

‘You trust him?’

Guy took his hand from his pocket and I saw his arm was wizened and weak. ‘When the Nazis came, I was so frightened,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t free my arm from my pocket fast enough to raise my hands, and they shot at me. Alain pushed me out of the way and he was shot instead.’

Suddenly understanding, I nodded. ‘He loves you.’

‘I hope so,’ said Guy. His stoic expression collapsed suddenly.

‘Sylvie and Frances don’t like you and him being together?’ I asked, choosing my words carefully.

‘No, that’s not it.’ He sighed. ‘Alain is …’ He searched for the word. ‘Quite a character. He tells big stories. Sometimes they’re true. Sometimes they are not. He is always the hero.’

I smiled. ‘I know the type.’

‘Sylvie thinks he tripped and that’s how he pushed me out of the way. Frances thinks his stories about being part of the Resistance are not true. They both think he ran away as soon as he was strong enough to go.’ He looked sickened suddenly. ‘They say he is a coward. But he’s not.’

‘Then where is he?’

‘There is a safe house,’ he said. ‘Alain told me where it is. He might be there.’

‘Why wouldn’t he tell you where he was going?’

Guy gave a little smile. ‘Frances is right. Alain has his faults. He is a talker. He is indiscreet. He is making money selling things to Nazis. Drugs. Alcohol. You know?’

I nodded.

‘I think he blamed himself for the Nazis coming. Worried that he’d let something slip,’ said Guy. ‘He is ashamed, and guilty.’

‘Do you think he’s gone to get help? To make up for his indiscretion?’

Guy shrugged. ‘I hope so. That’s why I want to find him.’

‘To reassure yourself that he’s on your side?’

Guy looked down at his feet. ‘Sylvie and Fran have been telling me he is not worthy of my respect.’

I thought about how I’d misjudged Archie when I first met him, and I nodded.

‘Well,’ I said. ‘We’ll see. Where is this safe house? Is it far?’

‘No.’

‘Then I’ll come with you.’