Shadows of Deceit
quieter, wistful voice,
    “It’s knowing where to go, which club, which pub. People tend to seek you out. You’re right of course; one has to be very careful. But I manage pretty well.”
    A pause followed. Andrew took a long draught of beer and then sat forward again, the usual confidence and sparkle returning to his eyes -
    “But enough of that, tell me about your background. The truth, nothing but the truth.”
    Andrew leaned back in the seat and relaxed again. He smiled at one of the R.A.F. Officers, and waited.
    “The truth, in confidence of course. Here goes.”
    Harry still wanted to keep some details back. But he felt that Andrew deserved to know a bit more of what he had been up to recently,
    “After the blast injury, I told you about, I went to Ireland, the Free State, for a while and did a few jobs, some legal and some not quite so. But I was forced to leave at the end. A job went wrong and I was beaten up by a rival gang and had to scarper to England. I found out where my brother and his family lived and spent some time there hiding until all my injuries healed. I met my nephew, Tad.”
    “Tad?”
    “Yes, short for Tadeuz, met him for the first time. Great little kid he is, we really got on well together.”
    “A Polish name?”
    “Yes, my sister-in-law, Anna - although she’s English - was brought up over there by her gran. This was between the wars. So their baby has a Polish name. Just as a reminder of the connection. Anna, and David my Brother, had a lucky escape. They were in Poland as the war started and had to evacuate quickly. I’ll tell you all about it some time; it was quite an adventure apparently. Anyway, I left them in London to move up here and just managed to get odd little jobs which sort of paid my way.”
    “Legal?”
    “Most were, but again, I slid a bit on occasions. My real regret is, it still makes me feel a shit, I took a ring belonging to Anna. It was her gran’s. That’s the one I redeemed when I had sufficient funds and now, as you know, I’ve lost it. When I’m fully fit I can return to my old job down south where I was injured. They paid me for a while but after a few weeks that stopped. I could have claimed some benefit from my Union apparently but I knew I could improve on my income by doing a little work on the side.”
    Andrew still found it difficult to believe Harry’s earlier description about his reserved occupation but decided not to reveal his doubts.
    Harry continued,
    “So you see I do need a decent source of income for a while, before I decide to go south again. So yes, I’m grateful for your assistance. The suit, shirts etcetera, especially since my digs and most of my clothes have now been cindered.”
    Harry sipped his beer,
    “You also mentioned the Irish connection with regard to your ‘shadow’ jobs, as I’ve just been there I may be able to assist you in making some contacts?”
    Andrew smiled at this suggestion,
    “When the full story is revealed to you you’ll understand that ‘our’ Irish contacts are very influential over there!
    Anyway Harry, I guess you may need some more cash right now, here take this.”
    Andrew pulled some notes from his wallet and handed them over.
    “I can’t deny that I do need a bit of a top up, but only on condition it’s a loan, I will repay you.”
    Harry quickly stuffed the money away without anyone in the club seeing the transaction .
    Andrew leaned forward towards Harry.
    “The next thing is for me to arrange a meeting with Dermot; he has to agree to you joining us. From what you’ve heard are you committed to help us or not?”
    “I don’t have to think too much about it. If you want me in, then yes, I guess I do want to join.”
    They shook hands and as they did Andrew cupped his left hand on top of Harry’s right.
    “Andrew, this signal you’re giving me, is it some part of a Mason’s ritual?”
    Harry smiled, peering down at the continuing handshake.
    “Sorry.” They parted hands,
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