““Brody, please tell me what this has all been about" I said. "The lead-up to the Second World War" said Brody, still not lowering the handout, "or so I've been assured." Frustrated, I pushed the paper away from Brody. He averted his eyes from me. "Don't be like that" he said quietly. "Are you seeing Ashley Ventwood" I asked him. "No" he said, still looking away. "Would you tell me if you were?" He didn't move.””