Evelyn’s lips tightened. “It’s beginning already,” she murmured. “They haven’t even invaded yet and they’re already using the French police.”
Josephine shrugged. “There is nothing new in that, as you saw yourself. The Gestapo have been coming and going freely, and it has only intensified since the war began. They’ve increased their presence in the city, and their influence. They are building many supporters. It is their way, no? They convert a few, and then use them as an excuse to march in.”
They passed out from under the arched stone fortress and into a cobbled walkway between the gate and the two tall stone turrets of the castle. Stone arches stretched to their right, and on their left was what remained of the low medieval wall with its curved alcoves. There were a few other people in the walkway joining the two gates, but Josephine ignored them as they strolled towards the other gate. Beyond it, Evelyn could see the street.
“I suppose Bill wants to know if there’s been any activity with the German troops,” Josephine said in a low voice. “Is that why you’re here?”
“Something like that, yes.” Evelyn glanced at her. “We have the reports from the fortifications and the French army, but I don’t think he quite trusts them.”
Josephine let out a sound suspiciously like a snort.
“And he would be right not to,” she muttered. “The forces at the line are being shuffled around and there is talk of the bulk of the Metz forces withdrawing and moving east along the Maginot towards Belgium. If they do that, there was no point in establishing these fortifications at all.”
“Why would they do that?” Evelyn asked, startled. “With the weather turning mild, it can’t be very long before Hitler moves.”
The other woman shrugged.
“Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps because the Germans haven’t built up their forces on their side? They haven’t, you know. There’s no real change in the troops positioned along their border.”
They walked under the second gate and emerged onto the street beyond. Evelyn paused and turned to look up at the two towers behind them now.
“I’d have thought they would have been attached to something,” she murmured.
Josephine laughed and glanced up at them. “You would, wouldn’t you? They were at one time, I’m sure.”
“Why is it called Porte des Allemands?”
“They say there was a house of German knights near here in the 1200s. So the gate became known as the German’s Gate.” Josephine smiled wryly. “If they have their way, it will be theirs once again. This region has always gone back and forth between the French and the Germans, throughout history.”
“And now it will begin again.” Evelyn turned and fell into step beside her as they moved away from the gates and down the street. “There hasn’t been any change at all on the German side of the border? Are you sure?”
“As sure as we can be without going over ourselves and looking. We receive news from people all along the border and there haven’t been any indications of increased troop movements yet.”
“What are they waiting for?” Evelyn wondered, her brows creased in a frown.
Josephine glanced at her. “They may not be waiting for anything,” she said slowly. “I said there have been no troop movements along the borders with France.”
Something in her tone made Evelyn look at her sharply.
“Meaning?”
“There has been significant movement in other parts of Germany.” Josephine paused to look in the window of a hat shop. “They’re moving large amounts of troops and supplies north.”
“North!”
She nodded. “Yes. Several divisions in the past few days alone.”
“But the only thing north of Germany is...” Evelyn’s voice trailed off and Josephine nodded.
“Precisely.”
Evelyn exhaled. So Hitler was going for Sweden or Norway next.
“He will eventually turn his attention to France, but right now Hitler seems more preoccupied with Scandinavia,” Josephine continued. “It won’t last long, but it seems that our borders are safe. For now.”
Evelyn nodded. “For now. But as you say, it can’t last long.”
“The North?” Bill stared across the desk at Evelyn, his brows pulled together in consternation. “Is she sure?”
“That’s what I said,” she replied with a short laugh. “She’s sure. The Germans have been shifting whole divisions and supplies to the north of Germany.”
She paused and opened her purse to pull out a slender tube much like a lipstick. She twisted the top off and tipped it upside down. An oblong roll of paper slid out and she stood up to pass it to Bill.
“She sent these. They’re detailed lists of trains and mobile convoys carrying supplies north.”
Bill raised his eyebrows and unrolled the papers, glancing through them.
“Where did she get these?”
“She didn’t say. Only that they came from a verified source in Germany.” Evelyn sat down again and crossed her legs. “She said they were to go to her own government, but she thought they would be of more use if they came to you instead. I’m afraid she doesn’t seem to have a very high opinion of her own people at the moment.”
Bill grunted and set the sheets down on his desk.
“I’m not sure that I blame her,” he said. “Deuxième Bureau has been consistently ignoring certain information, while accepting less than reliable intelligence as fact. However, at least they are trying. The Netherlands are a disaster in that department. Unfortunately, much of the information the Deuxième passes on to the generals is discarded.”
“That’s what Josephine said as well.” Evelyn frowned. “I don’t understand. Why would they ignore information from their own intelligence service?”
Bill sighed and sat back.
“It’s very difficult right now. They have leaders who are set in their ways and determined to fight this war the way wars have always been fought. They don’t acknowledge that perhaps the enemy has changed and evolved. There is significant in-fighting going on at all levels in Paris. Many are calling for Daladier to step aside. They’re disgusted with his handling
