The Doll’s House by Evelyn Anthony Page B

that?’
    â€˜I don’t know,’ Rosa answered. ‘I can’t make a judgement. I think I’d rather not know if it was necessary.’
    â€˜You’re not the only one who feels like that,’ he said.
    He lit another cigarette. He was absorbed in the game of question and answer.
    â€˜We had a section in the war; very brave men and women, ready to kill for their country. Nobody had scruples about them then. Afterwards it was closed up. The war was over, we couldn’t have dirty hands officially. Unofficially, it was business as usual. Now it is closed up. They’re rather an embarrassment. The Americans still go round knocking people off and calling it eliminated with extreme prejudice.’ He laughed. ‘They do murder the English language, don’t they! Anyway our licensed eliminators, if I can use the jargon, are disbanded. Golden handshakes – well, silver handshakes really – pensions, help with jobs, tokens of appreciation all round. One of their best men, a section head called Harry Oakham recently gave in his keys. Fifty-two, and starting a new life. Which is where I come in, Mrs Bennet. My job is to follow him up for a full year, just to see how he’s adapting. To make sure he’s not getting into trouble. Financial or otherwise. To give a helping hand, if need be. Or a word of advice. Like Sir Peter said, I’m a sort of welfare officer. After-care. It’s all above board, quite open. I keep in touch once or twice and then fade out. I don’t actually fade out until I can give the final clearance. That can take a long time. I’m not happy about Oakham.’
    â€˜I think our table’s ready,’ Peter Jefford said.
    â€˜What sort of man is he?’ Rosa asked. Jefford had excused himself before the coffee, leaving them alone.
    Parker spooned sugar into his cup.
    â€˜I could give you details on his file. It wouldn’t tell you anything about him, not what he’s really like. He never minded killing; that’s certain. But he never got a kick out of it. That’s certain too. That kind don’t last. They’re certainly not kept on and promoted in peace time. Very brave, physically and mentally like rock. Never got caught. Loyal to his field workers. Liked the action, hated the desk job. It all sounds like someone out of those bloody thrillers, doesn’t it? Only he isn’t. I went to see him; I had my welfare cap on. He wasn’t there. So I talked to his wife instead. Let me tell you about that.’
    â€˜It’s good of you to spare the time, Mrs Oakham.’
    She’d got a part-time job as receptionist in a local estate agent’s, and luckily for her visitor, this was a free afternoon.
    â€˜My name is Parker,’ he’d announced, ‘Jim Parker. Your husband and I worked in the same department. I’m in Welfare now, that’s why I’m here. We like to keep in touch with our old colleagues, see they’re all right.’
    She had offered him tea, and he sat drinking it with her in the tidy little sitting room.
    â€˜Oh, don’t worry about him, Harry’ll always be all right. He knows how to look after himself.’
    Jim Parker took a chocolate biscuit which he didn’t want.
    â€˜We didn’t know he’d moved,’ he said. ‘We went to your old house. The new people gave me your address. I must say, I was surprised not to get a call from him. Normally our chaps keep in touch. No thanks, no more tea.’
    â€˜He’s gone off to work in some hotel in Suffolk,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t face it, so he upped and left me. Not that I’m sorry, Mr Parker.’
    â€˜Jim,’ he suggested. He looked sympathetic. ‘That must have been very hard on you. I can’t see him in a hotel.’
    â€˜I can’t either. I never really knew what he did, not even after being married to him for all these years.’
    â€˜Well, it was