Page 74 of No Man's Land

Considering two different cards, Alex muttered, “It’s a pity I’m not in uniform.” Then, selecting one, he slipped it into his coat pocket and turned to Josef. “Follow my lead.”

“And who, exactly, am I following? Captain Winchester?”

“Colonel Piers Montague.” Alex lowered his hat, giving Josef a steely look from beneath its brim. “Secret Service Bureau. We’re looking into suspicious activity in the area.”

“I suppose that much is true.”

“Come along,” Alex said, heading across the road. “Let’s get this done.”

Josef didn’t hold out a great deal of hope that the ruse would work when Alex stepped into the offices of W.R. Renshaw. Two clerks were working at their desks and looked up as the door opened. One was stout and middle-aged, the other younger. Josef wondered why he wasn’t at the front, and then kicked himself for wondering. What business was it of his? Good for him if he’d saved himself from the meatgrinder.

“Good morning, gentlemen,” Alex said in the crisp tones of an officer. “My name is Montague, SSB. Colonel.” From his pocket he produced his card and set it on the desk of the youngest. “Who is in charge of this establishment?”

The two clerks looked at each other, and the olderone said, “Mr Martin Renshaw, but he ain’t here today. Only Mr Brooke, upstairs. The manager.”

“Brooke will do nicely,” Alex said. “Please be so kind as to fetch him. It’s a matter of national security.”

After exchanging another glance, the younger man rose. “I’ll go,” he said, and as he came out from behind the desk Josef saw that he walked with a pronounced limp, his left foot clumping heavily on the wooden floor as he left the room.

That explained why he wasn’t in uniform, and some part of Josef felt relieved for him. As if losing his foot or his leg was getting off lightly. It was, though, Josef knew that all too well. Ghouls aside, there were other wounds that could destroy a man’s life forever. And not just wounds to the body.

While Josef ruminated, Alex wasn’t wasting time. “You’re aware of the tunnels beneath this property? The old electric railway line.”

The older clerk nodded. “I am, sir, yes.” He lowered his voice. “They’ve blocked the tunnels now and taken up the tracks. In case of infiltration by the Hun.”

Josef nodded seriously, although he found it difficult to imagine the Germans skulking around the Underground. Mind you, until a couple of weeks ago, he’d have found it even harder to imagine an army of ghouls doing the same. Nothing was impossible.

“That’s right,” Alex said. “Nevertheless, we need to get down there, now.”

A clumping on the stairs above heralded the arrival of Mr Brooke, a wiry man of middle years with round glasses perched on the end of his nose, and his shirtsleeves rolled up to the elbow.

“What’s all this?” he said as he entered the room, the younger clerk following and then sliding hurriedly back behind his desk. Mr Brooke, it seemed, was not pleased. “Who are you?”

“Ah, the man in charge,” Alex said, shoulders going back and his accent, if possible, sounding even more aristocratic. “My name is Montague. Colonel Montague, Secret Service Bureau. I need your assistance.”

Brooke’s eyes widened. “Myassistance?”

“On a security matter of utmost urgency.”

Alex knew exactly what he was about because Brooke inflated like an officious little balloon. “At your service, sir.” He glanced at his two clerks, both with their eyes down and ears pricked. “We can talk in the—er, inmyoffice upstairs, if that’s more convenient?”

“Thank you, but time is of the essence,” Alex said. “We need access to the disused tunnels beneath this building. I understand it once served as a station.”

“That’s right,” Brooke said. “This was part of the ticket hall, back in the day. Over there,” he gestured towards the farend of the room where the wall appeared to be poorly patched, “used to be the hydraulic lift shaft. They took it out years ago, though. Before the war.”

“That can’t have been the only way down,” Alex said tensely. “There must have been stairs in case the electricity failed…”

“Oh, aye, there’s stairs. But we ain’t opened them since war broke out. War Office orders.”

Alex nodded gravely. “Your diligence is noted, sir. Unfortunately, we must enter the tunnels immediately, and I urge you to lock the door after us.”

That sounded like a terrible idea to Josef. “Lock it?” he said aloud. “Won’t we need to…?”

Escape?

Alex gave him a quick, quelling look. “Civilian security is paramount, Sergeant.”

It took Josef a moment to register the false rank, and another to remember that he was meant to be under Alex’s command. He answered only with a nod as Alex said, “Quick as you like, Mr Brooke.”

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