It's Now or Never by June Francis

stared at each other. ‘Perhaps it was him!’ said Roberta.
    â€˜Was he wearing a gaberdine mackintosh and a black trilby?’ asked Betty.
    â€˜Yes!’
    Betty gnawed on her lip. ‘I remember thinking he reminded me of an American detective in a film noir.’
    Roberta put a hand to her mouth. ‘Then it is him! I wonder who he is and what he wants with us?’
    â€˜Wait!’ exclaimed Betty. ‘I’m not so sure they are one and the same. Mr Anderson told me it was the daughter of the proprietor of the hotel where he’s staying who suggested he try the coffee bar in his search.’
    â€˜Is that the American’s name? Anderson?’
    â€˜Yes, Stuart Anderson, and he’s been staying at a hotel on Mount Pleasant. Does his name mean anything to you?’
    â€˜No. What’s the name of the hotel?’
    â€˜I don’t know! He just told me he was staying at the McDonalds’ place.’ Betty frowned. ‘Anyway, you’re not going to find him this evening. He was catching a train but he’ll be back next week. You have a word with your mother about him and see what she has to say. Maybe she’ll recognize his name.’
    â€˜I will! I mean, how many women called Lynne Graham are living in Liverpool? And as for my being followed from Liverpool Girls’ College – Mum was a pupil there.’ She stared at Betty. ‘But who was the man who followed me if it wasn’t him?’
    â€˜Maybe you weren’t followed and it was just a coincidence that you saw a man dressed in similar clothes who was going in the same direction as you,’ said Betty.
    When they reached Gambier Terrace, Betty stopped in front of a house and took out a key and opened the door. Roberta followed her inside and upstairs to the top floor. A door was flung open and a pregnant woman stood there. ‘So here you are,’ she said, smiling.
    â€˜Yes, here we are,’ said Betty, kissing her on the cheek. ‘Bobby, this is my half-sister, Emma Gregory. Emma, this is Roberta Donegan, known as Bobby to her friends.’
    â€˜How d’you do?’ said Emma, holding out a hand. ‘Do come in.’
    They shook hands.
    â€˜Did someone say the name Donegan?’ asked a female voice.
    Roberta followed Betty and Emma into a large room and noticed Hester over by a window that reached almost from floor to ceiling. There was also man standing by the fireplace.
    â€˜Hi!’ said Roberta, smiling at Hester.
    Hester returned her smile. ‘Have you seen any more of that man?’
    Roberta glanced at Betty. ‘We’ve some news about him. You explain, Betty.’
    â€˜What’s this about?’ asked Jared, who had dark brown hair and an attractive weather-beaten face.
    â€˜In a minute,’ said Betty, putting on the kettle. ‘I’m desperate for a cup of tea.’
    â€˜We’ve not long had a cuppa,’ said Jared. ‘So we won’t linger too long if I’m to run Hester home.’
    â€˜You don’t have to run me home,’ said Hester firmly. ‘I can catch the bus.’
    â€˜Oh yes, he does,’ said Betty quickly. ‘I’ve promised Bobby a lift home, seeing as how she lives near Hester.’ She turned to Jared. ‘You will give her a lift, won’t you?’
    â€˜Yes, of course,’ said Jared. ‘Now what’s this about a man?’
    Betty spooned tea leaves into the teapot as she told them about Stuart.
    Hester asked, ‘How old is he?’
    â€˜Mid to late twenties, I’d guess,’ said Betty.
    â€˜America entered the war in December forty-one,’ said Jared. ‘I’m pretty sure they didn’t come over here until forty-two but the majority would have left by forty-six.’
    â€˜He was over here but I doubt he’d have been here during the war or met Bobby’s mother,’ said Betty. ‘Otherwise he would have known her