We Shall Not Sleep_ A Novel - Anne Perry [53]
It was on the edge of his tongue to say that she had not forgiven him from last time, but he bit it back. He needed to begin again with no memories of failure. He was stunned by how overwhelmingly important it was to win her, and how hard it would be. He refused to face the possibility that he might not succeed.
It surprised Matthew to be called to see Jacobson, who was still questioning people, though with no success thus far. He had not told anyone of his true rank or position in the Secret Intelligence Service. With the Peacemaker’s connections and his network of informants, he could not afford to trust even those of the most patent innocence. Far better Jacobson take him for the more junior officer he pretended to be.
Actually he had not told even Joseph that he had been promoted from major to lieutenant colonel. It could wait.
“Major Reavley,” Jacobson began. “Sit down.” He waved to the chair. Sergeant Hampton was standing behind him, his face almost expressionless. “You are not with the Cambridgeshires; in fact, you are not regular army at all. What are you doing here, sir?”
It was a blunter opening than Matthew had expected, and certainly more immediate. It left him no choice but to tell some version of the truth. “I’m with the Secret Intelligence Service, Inspector. I can’t discuss my reason for being here.”
“Really?” Jacobson looked skeptical. “Can you prove that, Major?”
“I could, of course, but you would have to get in touch with Colonel Shearing in London, and you would have to do it in some secure way. Otherwise you could ask the chaplain. He would vouch for me.”
“Isn’t he your brother? Hardly an unbiased witness,” Jacobson pointed out. “The fact that you are an intelligence officer of some sort doesn’t automatically mean you couldn’t have committed a crime.”
Matthew was startled. Being suspected was a possibility he had not even considered. And yet what Jacobson said was true.
Silence fell as Jacobson waited. Behind him Hampton shifted from one foot to the other.
“I cannot tell you what I am here for,” Matthew replied at last. “It would jeopardize my mission.”
“Are you saying you distrust the inspector?” Hampton asked a little sharply.
“We make no exceptions,” Matthew told him. “For anyone. I’m surprised you don’t know that. I had never met or heard of Sarah Price before her death. I have no idea who killed her. If I had, I would already have told you. I am also unaware of the movements of anyone here that night. I was asleep in a dugout a mile or two away, so I cannot offer any information of use.”
“Were you alone?” Jacobson asked.
“No. My brother was there.” Even as Matthew said it, he realized that Joseph was used to the conditions and had slept for several hours without waking. He could not truthfully swear to Matthew’s presence.
“Asleep or awake?” Hampton questioned.
He could be caught in a lie, especially if Joseph were asked without knowing the reason. He would answer honestly. “Asleep.”
“All night?” Jacobson asked.
Matthew hesitated. He had gotten up twice, walked outside, and lit a cigarette. He knew the smoke would disturb Joseph, and even more he found the underground bunker claustrophobic. The second time he had gone some considerable distance along the old trench.
“All night, Major?” Jacobson repeated.
Someone might have seen him. “No,” Matthew replied. “I got up a couple of times and went along the line a bit to smoke a cigarette. But I was the best part of a mile from the Casualty Clearing Station, and then I walked even farther away. I wasn’t gone longer than fifteen minutes.”
“Did anyone see you?”
Matthew tried to recall exactly what had happened. His mind had been on Schenckendorff and the possibility that this was one more trick of the Peacemaker’s. Alternatively, if Schenckendorff was exactly what he said, how could Matthew make sure they got him back to London alive?
“Major Reavley!” Jacobson said impatiently.