Page 63 of The Secret Librarian
‘Come on, let’s close the shop and get some fresh air,’ Camille said. ‘We can talk while we walk.’
They stepped outside into the warm sunshine together, Avery carrying the bag with her camera in it, and Camille swinging the keys to her shop from her fingers. They walked down the street and crossed over to stare out at the water, and it reminded Camille of the day they’d spent at the beach together.
‘The PVDE followed me last night,’ Camille said. ‘I went to the square, but it didn’t feel safe to hand the documents over.’
‘Do you think they were following you before they came looking for me?’ Avery asked.
‘Perhaps,’ Camille said. ‘I didn’t risk handing over the papers, they were sewn safely into my jacket, but when I realised how hungry so many of the families were, how desperate their children were, Iwent back and took them everything I had in my kitchen. It was too dangerous to hand over the papers, I had a feeling I was being watched, but I knew I couldn’t be arrested for giving them food.’
Kiefer had warned Camille away from the refugee families, told her she wasn’t to go back, but even with his words of warning ringing in her ears she’d still returned.
Avery reached for her, putting an arm around her. ‘You have the kindest heart, Camille. Is there more we can do for them? I have a little more money stashed away that we can use to buy more supplies if that would help?’
‘There’s just so many of them,’ Camille whispered. ‘You can fill the bellies of one family, and turn around to see another watching. It’s enough to break a heart.’ Hers felt as if it were cracking wide open, although she didn’t tell Avery that. ‘I know you’ve seen it too, but something about last night, it just all felt so much worse. There are so many of them here waiting, and I don’t believe the boats are even coming for them.’
‘We can’t give up hope, and I know it’s not ideal but they’re here. The ones with the correct paperwork are at least safe – that’s what you told me when you first took me there, and it’s as true today as it was then.’
Avery breathed deeply, but after a moment of just standing together, Camille turned to her. ‘Why were you looking for me last night, Avery? To tell me about the PVDE?’
‘That, and I was coming to tell you that ...’ Avery shook her head, as if she didn’t want to tell Camille. She looked torn. ‘I was coming to tell you that I thought I saw James.’
‘You’re certain?’ Camille asked, grabbing hold of her arm. ‘Where was he? Tell me where you saw him?’
‘He walked past the restaurant last night. I’m guessing he’d just returned from—’
‘France. He must have just returned from France.’ She paced a few steps away then came straight back. ‘You’re certain it was him you saw? You couldn’t have made a mistake?’
Avery shook her head. ‘I didn’t make a mistake. It was him.’
Camille took Avery’s hand in hers and pressed their palms together, looking out at the water as tears burned in her eyes. She’d waited so long to hold someone accountable, and she might finally have her chance.
‘Will you turn him in to the authorities? How does this even work?’ Avery asked. ‘You have to tell me what happens next.’
‘No,’ Camille replied. ‘I’m going to take care of it myself.’
‘Meaning?’ Avery asked.
‘That I’m the only person in Lisbon who cares about what he’s done, and I intend on making him pay.’
Avery pulled her hand away. ‘Meaning?’
‘Meaning that I’ve been waiting for this day since the moment my husband was murdered beside me to hold someone accountable, and no one is going to stop me.’Not even you, Avery. Even you couldn’t stop me.
‘What if I told you that I was in love with him?’
Camille’s heart skipped a beat, but it didn’t matter what Avery said, she already knew what she had to do. ‘Are you?’
‘I think I’m in love with the man I thought he was,’ Avery said, and Camille saw the shine of tears in her eyes. ‘I still can’t bear to think of him being hurt, even though I know that’s terribly naive of me.’
‘I understand that, truly I do, more than you can imagine.’ Camille gripped her hand again, more tightly this time. ‘But you said you’d help me, and I need your help tonight.’
Avery looked more uncertain than Camille had ever seen her look, but she didn’t pull away.
‘What would you need me to do?’
‘I’d need you to come out with me, to the hotel.’
‘To draw James out?’ Avery asked, her voice small. ‘You want to use me as bait?’
