Chapter 3
My family didn’t spend a lot of time in church back in Whiskey Bayou, but I remembered a certain sermon about pride going before destruction. I probably should have paid closer attention to that one.
I knew it was because of the information I’d provided during debriefing that had allowed agents to find the camp and liberate dozens of prisoners. On a personal note, it had eased my mind immensely to have seen Graham in the debriefing room sitting in one of the high-backed chairs.
I’d found out later that night, when he’d visited me in my room again, that he was one of the agents chosen to free the prisoners. He was a kindred spirit, and I recognized part of myself in the wildness in him. There had been excitement in his eyes at the thought of sneaking his way into enemy territory. The danger was as addicting as anything I’d ever felt.
I’d woken in the middle of the night and stretched my hand across the bed, but the sheets were cool and empty, though I could still smell his cologne on the pillow. I tried to go back to sleep, but it came in fitful spurts the rest of the night, my mind occupied with nightmares that this mission might be Graham’s last.
It was a dangerous mission. But he knew the risks of the job better than anyone. The rest of that night and the day passed in a blur. And when Wagner sent roses and a note telling me he’d call on me again, for a split second, I wished they were from Graham. There was a girlish dream in my heart that the night, or half the night, we’d spent together meant as much to him as it had to me. But my experience with men had taught me not to hope too much. That way the disappointment wasn’t so great.
But I was pleasantly surprised when Graham came to my room again the next night. Truthfully, it had almost been dawn. I’d been fast asleep, dreaming of his lips on mine, when suddenly, they were, and I wondered if I’d become his obsession like he’d become mine. He’d come directly from his mission in Vitrolles to me. And that had to mean something.
Our time had been short, because he’d been gone again before I’d woken the next morning, sneaking in and out of my bed like he’d snuck into my heart. When I’d finally pulled myself together and managed to get dressed and down to breakfast, I was determined and inspired to make my mark on this war like he had. Lord Hawkeye would always be known as one of the greatest spies who ever lived. I saw no reason Bouncing Betty couldn’t be synonymous with his.
“You’ve certainly got some color in your cheeks,” Esther said when I sat across from her at the breakfast table. She gave me a knowing smile as she rang the bell for the kitchen maid to bring in my breakfast.
“Hmm,” I said, unable to keep the grin from my face.
George had left the morning paper folded on the table. It had been freshly ironed, though there were smudges of ink where he’d turned the pages.
There was no truth in the newspapers, only propaganda that the Nazis wanted the people to see. The best way to control people was to keep them in fear. But the Alliance read the papers faithfully, ferreting out nuggets of truth amid the deceptions.
I nibbled on toast as I scanned the pages until I saw what I was looking for.
“The train is coming in from Paris tomorrow with new supplies,” I told Esther. “I should send Helene a note and let her know. She always likes to be the first to see what’s new from Paris. And I need to move faster and have more opportunities inside their headquarters. Once a week isn’t cutting it.”
There was concern in Esther’s eyes, but she nodded in agreement. “You need to force another meeting with Wagner. Our time is running out with the Cordiers. You need to discover where they’re being held. They’re an important family, and an asset to the Alliance. Wagner isn’t going to be happy about the security breach at the internment camp. I’m sure he’s received the reports by now.”
I nodded in agreement. “There is an urgency to get this done. I feel the few freedoms we’ve been allowed these past weeks are dwindling. The restrictions have grown week by week. I don’t know how much longer we can be operational here.”
“George and I feel the same,” Esther said. “Just keep your bag ready. That’s why we have escape plans in place.”
The maid brought out my breakfast and I asked her for stationery so I could have Esther write the note for me. I didn’t write French as well as I could speak it, and I didn’t want to make any mistakes at this crucial juncture.
“I’ll go early in the morning and get my new cases from Monsieur LeCompte,” I said, referring to the man who owned the makeup company. He was also an Alliance member, which was how I got the job. “I’ll head straight to Gestapo headquarters from the office.”
I hesitated, wondering if I should mention the fact that Graham had given me a side mission to collect the makeup tin the maid planted inside my case and carry it to another location on my route. And then I wondered if I’d be messing something up by visiting Helene early and off schedule.
I couldn’t worry about that now. My priority mission was to discover the location of the Cordier family, and if possible, ascertain if they were still alive.
Esther sealed the envelope with wax and then rang for another servant, handing him the envelope and giving instructions on the delivery.
