Page 45 of The Secret Librarian
Avery turned on the spot and looked around at all the faces, at all the bodies, at the sheer number of displaced people in the square. When she looked back, Camille was staring at her, as if she were waiting for an answer, right then and there.
‘I would take the photos at your bookshop, presumably after-hours, and then create a dark space to develop them?’ she asked. ‘That’s what you’re asking of me?’
Camille nodded. ‘Yes. That way I can take the blame if we’re caught.’
Avery was silent, and as she looked at Camille, her eyes glinted in the street lights.
‘What do you say, Avery?’ Camille asked.
Avery took a deep, shaky breath. ‘Yes,’ she whispered. ‘I’m in.’
In that moment, Avery knew there was no other answer she could have given, not if she wanted to live with the consequences of her decision.
‘Avery,’ Camille suddenly said, gesturing to a man approaching. ‘Is that the man who came to your aid when you were hurt?’
Avery peered into the shadowy light. ‘Yes, that’s him. He must be bringing more supplies.’ If she’d been braver, she might have gone up to say hello to him.
Camille took hold of her hand. ‘Come on, it’s time for us to go,’ she said.
‘Do you know who he is?’ Avery asked, glancing back over her shoulder at him.
‘He’s been in my shop before. Well-spoken British man, and clearly one with a heart.’
Avery craned her neck one last time before hurrying after Camille, and it wasn’t until they had disappeared down the next street towards her apartment that the weight of what she’d agreed to really sunk in.
It was one thing to take the refugees food, but what she was going to do was illegal, and for a girl who’d never so much as returned a library book late, the thought of being caught was so overwhelming it made her stomach lurch violently.
‘Are you alright?’ Camille asked, slowing her pace.
Avery clutched her hand tightly, forcing a smile. ‘No, but I will be.’
She only hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.
Chapter Fourteen
Camille
Camille had had some close calls in the past, but none had felt quite like this one. She swallowed, staring at the man standing before her and refusing to let him see how much he could rattle her. Now that she’d brought Avery in to help, she was responsible for yet another human life, and the pressure to keep her safe was suddenly enormous in the face of another raid.
‘Avery, could you please come out here?’ she called, turning her head slightly. ‘We have company and I’ll be closing the shop early.’
She heard a noise in the backroom, and hoped Avery could hear the urgency in her voice. When she appeared, she was carrying a bag which Camille very much hoped contained her camera, and to her credit, she didn’t falter when she saw the man in uniform standing in the store.
‘An American?’
Camille nodded to Avery, who stepped forward and nodded politely. ‘I am. And you must be a police officer?’
‘Lourenço Santos,’ he said. ‘Head of the PVDE.’
‘It’s a pleasure to meet you,’ she said. ‘I was feeling very light-headed earlier, and Camille here was kind enough to let me rest with a book in her office. I’m not used to such warm weather.’
He frowned and stroked his moustache. ‘My men reported there being an American in here recently when they paid you a visit. I’m going to guess that was you?’
Avery nodded. ‘It was. I’ve become a frequent customer here, like many foreigners I dare say. Browsing books is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.’
Santos turned his attention back to Camille. ‘You won’t mind if I take another look back there?’
Camille waved her hand for him to go, at the same time as giving Avery a pleading glance, but Avery just smiled, reassuring her that there was nothing to be seen.
