Page 29 of The Island Girls

Later that night, they walked hand in hand to the dance hall, and meandered home as slowly as possible afterwards, careful to say goodnight properly, well out of sight of Mr and Mrs Symonds’ bedroom window. And on Sunday, he came to meet her after church and walked her home along the quay, where her mother asked him inside for dinner with the family.

In just two days, Darrell had become a firm favourite with the whole family and now, walking back into work on Mondaymorning, Peggy knew, without doubt, that her life had changed forever. And she was about to find out that her life would change in ways she could never have expected.

As Peggy dropped in to the harbour master’s office to pick up the launch key, Patricia came out to meet her.

‘Peggy, would you mind just stepping into the office, please? There’s someone here to meet you. From London,’ Patricia said with meaning. Peggy had never been asked to meet anyone from BOAC outside of those few people who were running the show here in Poole, and she wondered quite what this could be about. She straightened her cap and walked into the back office, fully expecting to meet someone else wearing some form of the BOAC uniform. But the gentleman who stood to greet her was in no uniform at all.

‘Miss Symonds, thank you for coming,’ he said brusquely as Pat left the room, closing the door behind her. ‘Please, do sit down.’

Peggy sat in the chair opposite him, eyes wide in wonder.

‘I’m sorry if this comes as something of a surprise, but the government has need of your services. I am about to share with you information that is top secret. It is not to be shared with a single soul outside this room – ever. I do not have to share this information with you, and if you choose, you may leave now and remain in blissful ignorance. However, the war office feels that you may be able to help us in a matter of extreme importance to the safety of this country.’ At this, he sat back in his chair, folded his hands in his lap and watched her. Intently.

Peggy blinked, her mouth open, a feeling of utter stupefaction flooding her mind.

‘I’m sorry,’ she said at last, ‘but who are you?’

‘Oh, my apologies, Miss Symonds. I cannot tell you my full name, owing to the department for which I speak, but you may know me as Fletcher.’

She nodded dumbly. ‘Thank you, Mr Fletcher. And what is this information you have for me?’

He continued. ‘If we go ahead and I release this information to you, you will be bound for the rest of your life by the Official Secrets Act, and to that end, you would sign this document,’ he said sliding a single piece of paper on the desk a little closer to her.

Peggy was stunned into absolute silence, and realised at length that her jaw was hanging open in a most undignified manner. She snapped it shut and stole a quick glance at the door, wondering what Pat was doing right now. Did Pat even know what this was about? Peggy thought. She looked again at the contract and back at Mr Fletcher.

‘If I don’t help, will people be in danger?’ Peggy asked, eventually.

‘Very likely, yes. And we believe that you can help us alleviate that danger and remove a problem that is a threat to the security of the nation,’ he said.

‘Is there any particular danger to me, or my family?’ she asked, concern making her voice crack a little.

He thought hard for a few moments.

‘I suppose it is possible, but I don’t believe it very likely, no,’ he said at length.

‘Well, then, I cannot see any reason why I should object. If I can do any more than I already am doing to help us win this war and protect our nation, I can do it. Imustdo it, I think,’ she said, quietly.

Mr Fletcher smiled slightly. ‘Thank you, Miss Symonds – Peggy, may I call you Peggy?’

She nodded her assent.

Fletcher bent over the desk, took out his pen and briefly went through the legal requirements of signing the document that signified Peggy was now bound by the Official Secrets Act.Forever. And then he relaxed back into his chair a little and explained what he wanted of her.

‘Let me explain the issue in clear terms, Peggy,’ he had begun. ‘A few days ago, we heard from one of our regular agents who operates here in the harbour – don’t be surprised, Peggy, you will probably never find out who that is – that there is a member of BOAC staff who is suspected of not being exactly who he says he is. The information came to the operative from a woman working on the quayside here. She tells us there is a gentleman working on the launches who claims to be someone that he is not. We know him as Charlie Edwards.’ Fletcher paused to take a sip from his coffee cup and allow Peggy to take on the information, which seemed so ludicrous, she almost laughed.

‘Charlie seems perfectly genuine to me, sir,’ Peggy said, feeling suddenly protective towards her new colleague. ‘Surely this is a mistake?’

‘It could well be, but there are a few things we would like to know. When he arrived here, Major Carter checked his papers in the usual way and nothing seemed amiss. But after we had received the alert that he may not be whom he claims to be, we put in some enquiries in the docks at London. It does appear that Mr Edwards’ true identity is in question, and as we know that you are forming a friendship with him…’ Peggy began to object at this presumption, but Fletcher simply held up his palm to her and continued, ‘we need you to find out all you can about him. Get to know him – in every way. Become as close to him as you feel able, and get to the bottom of this for us.’

‘But, you can’t mean that I should be seen to be courting Charlie, sir?’ she pleaded.

‘Is that too much to ask, do you feel?’ he asked.

‘I am already courting an airman from the RAAF. What on earth will he think of me?’ She felt tears beginning to prickle her throat.

‘Miss Symonds, ask yourself this: if you are able to help your country uncover a spy, and possibly save every one of your fellow Englishmen from the threat of Hitler, is it too much to ask that your love affair with a visiting airman might be put on hold? Hmm?’ His tone was demeaning as well as demanding, and Peggy knew that she was fighting a losing battle. He did not care if she lost Darrell because she was saving her country. She would simply have to trust that all would be well. Trust and hope.

As Peggy walked across the quay towards the launch that morning, she prayed that this nightmare would be over soon.

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