response she was expecting. Nervously she wondered if she’d got the wrong place.
‘I’m sorry. Maybe I made a mistake,’ she blurted out. ‘I was looking for a café that maybe sold that to eat.’
‘No, you’re in the correct place, mademoiselle. But the swordfish only comes on Tuesdays,’ he stated, now replying to her with the response that she had been expecting to hear. He then added with a hint of sarcasm, ‘I’m just not used to a woman desiring to eat such a delicacy. The flesh can be very tough.’
Vivi knew he was doubting her abilities and wanted to tackle him right there and then. She pictured placing him in a chokehold she had been very accomplished in to prove her salt. But instead she pinched her mouth into a smile.
The ash from the end of his cigarette dropped down his apron, and he screwed up his left eye as the smoke spiralled its way there, too. Eventually, he shrugged his shoulders, nodded his head, and shuffled into the kitchen. A young boy came out and, mounting his bicycle, pedalled off down the street.
If Jepson was correct, once she’d had this conversation, the man would alert someone who would take her to the next part of her mission. She also knew the name of the operative, an agent called the Terrier, allegedly named that in response to his ability to get in and out of challenging situations with ease.
The café owner arrived back at the counter and nodded his head.
‘I am looking into your swordfish,’ he informed her in a dull monotone. ‘Would you like some breakfast, instead?’
She wasn’t hungry. In fact, her stomach was churning, but she realised that sitting there without a drink or anything in front of her would look suspicious. So she scanned another tray of pastries that his wife had just carried out from the kitchen as she continued to stare at Vivi with wariness. The plate of croissants smelled delectable. Vivi pointed at one and ordered it along with a café au lait. Then, passing across her fake French ration card, Vivi positioned herself back at her table, keeping her wireless at her feet.
It was more than two hours, just past nine, before the Terrier eventually came to meet her. By this time the café had filled up and all around her people were making conversation as they started their day. Vivi didn’t notice him straight away. It was uncanny the way he blended in until he sat down at her table. He had an energetic charm, appearing a couple of years younger than herself, with thick, dark hair, and soft brown eyes that assessed Vivi.
At first, she assumed he was someone making a nuisance of himself, and she told him in French in no uncertain terms that the chair was taken. But the Terrier ignored her, continuing to occupy the table, and pushing back the beret on his forehead, he smiled.
‘You are not what I was expecting,’ he said, revealing his identity to her. ‘But, of course, if the seat is taken and you prefer to sit here for the rest of your life, I’m happy to go back to my bed. I’m not used to taking care of customers with your taste in seafood so early in the morning.’
This handsome Frenchman was her agent; once again she’d expected someone more professional-looking. The man who sat in front of her seemed like he’d be good for an eventful evening with a glass of beer and a game of poker, but not for serious espionage. Vivi nodded, hastily picking up her suitcase. He stopped her by lifting his hand.
‘I need a cup of coffee, mademoiselle. If I am to be up so early, I need some help to stay awake.’ He signalled to the café owner, who brought him what was plainly his regular drink, and he sipped it slowly as he watched Vivi with interest.
5
After Terrier was revived by his second cup of coffee, Vivi quickly understood where he’d picked up his nickname. He took off down the road, and even with the weight of her wireless under his arm, Vivi found it hard to keep up with him. He scurried down alleys, snaking across town in a manner that made her feel dizzy, finally arriving at a dark doorway, which she guessed was his home, where two rusting bicycles stood leaning against a fence. He handed one to her.
‘We have to cycle to Morlaix, which is the closest town with a train