‘Then you’ll have to come back.’
‘Fine, except for the fact that, as Leber has just informed us, it’s not going to get any better here.’
‘So what do you want to do?’
‘Leave it as late as possible. Devlin wanted me there for a midnight departure. Let’s cut it really close. I won’t leave until ten o’clock. That will give the weather a chance to clear.’
‘And if it doesn’t?’
‘I go anyway.’
‘Fine.’ Schellenberg got up. Til send a signal to that effect to Shaw Place now.’
Lavinia Shaw, seated at the radio in the study in her headphones took the message. She tapped out a quick reply: ‘Message received and understood.’ She took off her headphones and turned. Her brother sat by the fire, Nell at his feet, cleaning his shotgun, a tumbler of Scotch beside him.
‘They won’t be leaving until ten o’clock, darling, it’s this damn weather.’
She went to the French windows, pulled back the curtains and opened the windows, looking out at the fog. Shaw moved to her side.
‘I should have thought this bloody stuff was all to the good for this kind of secret landing.’
Lavinia said, ‘Don’t be silly, Max, it’s the worst thing in the world for any pilot. Don’t you remember when I couldn’t land at Helmsley back in thirty-six? Stooged around until I ran out of fuel and crashed into that field wall? I was nearly killed.’
‘Sorry, old girl, I was forgetting.’ Rain started to spot the terrace in front of them, visible in the light from the window. ‘There you are,’ Shaw said. ‘That should help clear it. Now close the window and let’s have another drink.’
‘You’ve got everything?’ Michael Ryan asked as the motor boat coasted in to the little strand. Devlin wore loose blue overalls and boots. He tapped at his pockets, check-listing each item. ‘Everything in perfect working order.’
Ryan said, ‘I wish you’d let me come with you.’
‘My affair, this one, Michael, and if there’s the slightest hint of trouble you and Mary get the hell out of it. This bloody fog is a blessing in a way.’ He turned and smiled at Mary through the darkness. ‘You were right about that.’
She reached up and kissed him on the cheek. ‘God bless you, Mr Devlin. I’ve prayed for you.’
‘Then everything will be all right,’ and he went over the side.
The water was not quite as deep which was something and he moved on, the light from his lamp splaying against the tunnel until he reached the hole in the wall. He checked his watch. It was a couple of minutes past eight. He climbed in and waded through the water then started up the steps.
Dougal Munro had finished a little earlier than he had intended, so he called a staff car and told the driver to take him to St Mary’s Priory. It was a difficult journey, crawling along at fifteen miles an hour in the fog, and it was just after eight o’clock when they arrived.
‘I shan’t be long,’ the Brigadier said as he got out.
Til get off the road, sir, while I’m waiting,’ his driver replied. ‘Otherwise someone will be shunting me up the rear. I’ll just turn up the side, sir. There’s a yard there.’
‘I’ll find you.’ Munro went up the steps and rang the bell at the door.
The night porter opened it to him. ‘Good evening, Brigadier,’ he said.
‘Sister Maria about?’ Munro asked.
‘No, she was called to the Cromwell Road Hospital.’
‘All right. I’ll go on upstairs. I want to see Lieutenant Benson.’
‘I saw him go in to the chapel a few minutes ago, sir, with one of the corporals and that German officer.’
‘Really?’ Munro hesitated, then crossed to the chapel door.
Devlin eased open the door at the top of the steps and got the shock of his life. Corporal Smith was standing with his back to him no more than six feet away. He was examining a religious figure. Benson was up by the door. Devlin didn’t hesitate. He pulled out the sap and lashed Smith across the back of the neck and moved back into the shelter of the door as the corporal went down with a clatter. Benson called, ‘Smith? What’s going on?’ He ran along the aisle and paused staring down at the body. It was then, sensing too late that something was very wrong indeed, that he reached for the Webley revolver in his holster.