'Doin' awright, Miss. Yourself?'
Without responding to his question, Maisie continued with her own.
'Any news?'
'Well, I've been thinking a bit and keeping my eyes open.'
'Yes.'
'And I've noticed that the fella who wanted to leave ain't around.'
'Perhaps he's left, gone home.'
'No, no. Not in the book.'
'What book?'
'I found out there's a book. By the gatehouse. Records the ins and outs, if you know what I mean. Took a walk over to 'ave a word with old Archie the other day, and it looks like the bread delivery is all that's gone on in a week.'
'And Jenkins?'
'Chummy as ever.'
'Billy, I think it's time for you to leave.'
'No--no, Miss. I'm safe as 'houses. Sort of like it 'ere, really. And no one's looking twice at me.'
'You don't know that, Billy.'
'One more night, then, anyway. I want to find out where this fella's gone. I tell you, I keep my eyes peeled, like I said, and one minute 'e's there and the next 'e's not. Mind you, there is someone in the sick bay.'
'And who tends the sick bay?'
'Well, there's a fella who was a medic in the war, 'e does all your basic stuff, like. Then this other fella came up today. In a car, doctor's bag and all. I was working in the front garden at the time. Dead ringer for Jenkins actually. Bit bigger, mind. But you could see it round 'ere.' Billy rubbed his chin and jaw. ''round the chops.'
'Yes. I know who that is,'Maisie whispered as she wrote notes on an index card.
'What, Miss?'
'No. Nothing. Billy, listen, I know you think that Jenkins is essentially a good man, but I fear that you may now be in some danger. You are an innocent person brought into my work because I needed information. That must change. It's time for you to leave.'
Billy Beale turned to Maisie and looked deeply into her eyes.'You know, Miss, when we first met, when I said I'd seen you before, after that shell got me leg. Did you recognize me?'
Maisie closed her eyes briefly, looked at the ground to compose herself and then directly at Billy. 'Yes. I recognized you, Billy. Some people you never forget.'
'I know. I told you, I would never forget you and that doctor. Could've 'ad my leg off, 'e could. Anyone else would've just chopped the leg and got me out of there. But 'im, that doctor, even in those conditions, like, 'e tried to do more.'
Billy gazed out across the land to The Retreat.
'And I know what 'appened. I know what 'appened after I left. 'eard about it. Amazing you weren't killed.'
Maisie did not speak but instead slowly began to remove the pins that held her long black hair in a neat chignon. She turned her head to one side and lifted her hair. And as she drew back the tresses, she revealed a purple scar weaving a path from just above her hairline at the nape of her neck, through her hair and into her scalp.
'Long hair, Billy, hides a multitude of sins.'
His eyes beginning to smart, Billy looked toward The Retreat again, as if checking to see that everything was still in its place. He said nothing about the scar, but pressed his lips together and shook his head.
'I'll stay 'ere until tomorrow, Miss. I know you need me to be at this place at least another day. I'll meet you 'ere at half past seven tomorrow, and I'll 'ave me kit bag with me. No one will see me, don't you worry.'
Billy did not wait for Maisie to respond, but clambered back through the fence. And as she had each evening for more than a week now, Maisie watched Billy limp across the field to The Retreat.
'I'll be here,' whispered Maisie. 'I'll be here.'
Maisie did not go to bed, and was not encouraged to do so by Maurice. She knew that the time of reckoning could come soon. Yes, if Jenkins was to make his move, it would be now. If not, then the investigation would lie dormant; the file would remain open.
She sat on the floor, legs crossed, watching first the night grow darker, then the early hours of the morning edge slowly toward dawn. The clock struck the half hour. Half past four. She breathed in deeply and closed her eyes. Suddenly the telephone rang, its shrill bell piercing the quiet of the night. Maisie opened her eyes and came to her feet quickly. Before it could ring a second time, she answered the call.
'Billy.'
'Yes. Miss, something's goin' on down 'ere.'
'First, Billy--are you safe?'
'No one's seen me leave. I crept out, kept close to the wall, came straight across the field and through the fence to the old dog 'n' bone 'ere.'
