Crosswire Conspiracy Part 1 (2/2) By Buick McCain

(1/2), (2/2). Part 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Any pre conceived ideas regarding future employment prospects and a hedonistic life of affluence were soon vanquished by the elder of the two soberly suited gentlemen.

This was to be an informal chat to ascertain my suitability for work in a new government department attached to the Ministry of Economic Warfare but if I wished to proceed with our meeting I had five minutes to read, digest and sign His Majesties Official Secrets Act, the ramifications of contravening said act were explained to me in no uncertain terms and having Mount Olympus standing only feet away from me, firmly set in my mind the need for loyalty and acquiescence. I never was to use the return ticket to Cambridge.

It was almost 2 a.m. by the time I arrived at the Grand and I was shattered, eleven hours of the most gruelling, intrusive questioning, even Dr Crippen should not have been subjected to such interrogation. They knew more about me than I did. My mother was French, from the Clermont region, which was now firmly ensconced in the pro Nazi Vichy area. When was the last contact I had had with my maternal family? What was my opinion of the situation in France?

How fluent was my French? My school and university reports were held up for intense scrutiny.

I was lucky to have been born a natural scholar and while my friends laboured with their studies until the early hours, I was out doing the things that young men like to do. More Machiavellian than miscreant read one report. A bright, articulate boy who seems to be heading for a career as a loveless Lothario, another. At which point I felt the need to remonstrate. Lothario maybe, but loveless!

Never. I loved all my girlfriends. The questioning was relentless and every so often they would talk to me in French and ask me the same things all over again. At the end of the meeting there was no informal chat, no invitation for drinks. Just a cursory thank you and orders to report back at 10 a.m. sharp. So why the hell did I agree to a repeat performance in a few hours time?

I managed to bribe Harry the concierge into pouring me a very large brandy and as I sat in the darkened bar, reflecting on the events that had taken place over the past hours and trying to find a logical purpose and reason, voices emanated from the foyer. I finished my drink, I knew that sleep would be impossible but I was desperate for a bath. It's amazing how dirty you can feel when your dirty linen has just been aired in front of you. As I made my way to the elevators I turned towards the concierge to wish him goodnight, he was busy chatting to a young lady in a nurses uniform, I waved nonchalantly and as I did so Harry beckoned me over and introduced me to his niece, who, according to Harry, was nursing London's bombing victims all by herself.

She was beautiful and her name was Magdelaine. Perhaps today might be a touch more exciting than yesterday.

Harry made us coffee and left us to chat, Magdelaine talked away. Me? I just sat there like a gawping idiot, beguiled, enchanted, until somehow the conversation turned to me. Where was I from? What did I do? Why was I in London? How long was I here for? Do I have a girlfriend? Why hadn't I enlisted or received my call up papers? I made up some complete rubbish about meeting my uncle regarding family business and that, thankfully, seemed to work.

As for enlisting, I honestly had never given it a thought but, when eventually I received my call up I would dutifully oblige along with all the other young men packed off to war.

It was gone 6 o'clock when Harry reminded me of my wake up call. I had to see Magdelaine again, but when? I had no idea what time I would be finished at Baker Street and when or where Magdelaines duties would end. Harry resolved the problem, I would let him know as soon as I had returned to the Grand, even if he was off duty he would be able to receive messages and Magdelaine would do the same as soon as she was off duty. It was going to be a very long day.

Continued.. Part 2

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