FOYLE'S WAR: CHRONICLES OF MR. BLACK
November '42 - February '43
WINTER RELUCTANCE
CHAPTER I
NOVEMBER 30TH.
It was nearly eleven years. The anniversary of her death would be here in a mere three months. It felt like a lifetime ago.
DCS Foyle had reluctantly decided to revive a long lost friend tomorrow. His persona of Mr Black would make one last appearance. It had been a good idea of Sergeant Milner for him to be the one to go undercover tomorrow. Besides, there really wasn't anyone else. Privately, Paul Milner freely admitted that he had not the requisite abilities for undercover work. Foyle agreed.
"It's not the leg, Sir," Paul had started, but Foyle cut him off.
"Of course not, it is the deception… commmpletely understandable," Christopher began, blinking softly not to give anything way to the younger man. For Christopher Foyle knew only too well what type of behaviour was required for entrapment.
He knew Mr Black's cover story inside and out. It probably wouldn't need much of Mr Black's backstory to capture Mr Tremayne tomorrow, but Foyle thought it wise to refresh himself regarding the facts of Charles Black, such as they were.
DCS Foyle ascended the stairs to his bedroom. Christopher pulled out the old rectangular chest from the upper back shelf of his closet, reluctantly. He had never liked going undercover since first assigned in 1927. His then boss DCS Randall had lent him to Scotland Yards. His success propelled him to remain Mr Black until February of 1931.
Foyle moved the dusty chest to the bed and took a deep sigh. He supposed his success as Mr Black, and the entrapment of some very nefarious criminals helped him to advance to DCS when Randall had been killed in an automobile accident in 1934. He remembered thinking Rosalind would have been happy and silently proud of him for the promotion. He had been the youngest DS ever to ascend to DCS at the very young age of 35.
Foyle's nose twitched with the strong scent of mothballs when opening the case. He remembered packing all the files and some of his clothing that Scotland Yards had provided. At the very top though was one of Rosalind's dress, which he had placed in the chest after she died. He laced the dark, blue silk between one of his hands. He blinked and put her gown on the bed beside him. The memories involved with Rosalind's dress made him bite his lip, and he quickly moved his eyes back to the chest. He had to intentionally bury those memories as he felt the pressure of unhealing pain in his chest from the loss of his beloved wife and dearest friend. He removed his suit and shoes and delved into the paperwork in the back.
The top file was labelled 1931. He placed that one beside his shoes and fished out the other four records representing the previous years.
Opening the 1927 file, the first item was the dossier that Scotland Yards had given him for his undercover name and background. Christopher smiled at all the items crossed out, and other fields he had changed. Scotland Yards had his name as Gerald John Black. Christopher remembered crossing it out and writing Charles Hugh.
During the war, he had practically been inseparable from Charles, Rosalind's brother. He was fairly certain he could answer to the name Charles with ease. The middle name, Hugh, was easy enough to remember, as it was Reid's first name. Christopher smiled at how annoyed Scotland Yards had been with all the changes he insisted upon.
He ruthlessly insisted on Mr Black's overseas connections and insisting on the generic job description of importer/exporter. This would explain his absence for long periods of time. Foyle would not be undercover more than three weeks at a time. At first, his superiors tried insisting, Foyle was unbudging and they finally saw it his way. His limited availability actually proved to be incredibly useful for the London agency as it turned out.
His convincing Rosalind was another issue completely. No matter though, Christopher implored a different set of arguments to his wife.