Page 15 of Shadows In Paris
‘What about Pierre and Camille?’ Their Resistance contacts in Reims were on her mind because she would see them when she landed, all going to plan.
‘No, don’t worry about them. They get supplies and cash from the frequent drops. It’s more difficult to reach Hannah and the Liberty Network in Paris.’
‘Alright,’ Lizzie nodded. ‘What constitutes an emergency, though?’
‘There are many scenarios, but let’s say you are stopped, and they don’t approve your papers. You may be able to pay them off, especially if they’re a French official of some sort.’
‘Are the Nazis incorruptible, then?’
Jack’s sudden laughter was like a shotgun and made Lizzie jump again. ‘They are already thoroughly corrupted by Hitler’s regime, but my sources tell me most of them are too indoctrinated and committed to the cause to be easily bought, whereas French officials might be on the fence and only collaborating because they’re too afraid to refuse. Or they are just plain greedy, which works in our favour.’
‘I see,’ Lizzie said, her stomach tightening at the thought of having to bribe officials. ‘I am way out of my depth,’ she said, her voice lowering to a tiny whisper.
‘Here we are,’ said Jack, spinning the wheel and bringing their conversation to a halt.
Once the guard had checked Jack’s papers, the barrier swung open, and the car slid into the unmarked airfield. The wheels rumbled along a bumpy track until they came to an abrupt stop.
‘It’s the same airfield I flew from last time,’ Lizzie said.
Jack nodded. ‘It doesn’t do to know too much about it, so there are no signs. Can’t risk the Luftwaffe getting their hands on this location or they’ll hammer it in their bombing campaigns.’
Lizzie saw the hazy outline of the camouflaged Lysander, visible in the moonlight's glow through the windscreen.
‘You will be spectacular,’ Jack said, his voice loud and confident. ‘Just like you were last time. Remember,whenever you are behind enemy lines, you must follow your instincts and live by your wits. Don’t trust anyone if it doesn’t feel right. You are a natural at this and you know what to do.’
Lizzie’s eyes bored into Jack’s, and she swallowed. This was their last moment together, completely alone. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes, and her throat swelled with a tidal wave of emotion. She blinked hard. This was no time to fall apart, even though the last thing she wanted to do was leave Jack. Her courage had fled now the plane awaited, and she felt small and scared.
What had she been thinking agreeing to go back into occupied France? And not just France, but Paris—the playground of German soldiers on leave, home to Gestapo HQ on the Avenue Foch and German High Command, to name but a few…
Jack lifted her hand to his lips in the privacy of the dark car. ‘Go safely, Seagrove, my darling. Message me like we arranged—I’ll be waiting at the agreed times. Always remember, I’m watching over you every step of the way.’
Jack got out of the car and came around to open the door for Lizzie. He extracted her case from the back, and for a few blissful seconds, the heat of his body melded into hers as they swayed against each other. His fingers caressed her cheek, and she drew a sharp intake of breath. As he moved back slightly, he whispered, ‘I love you. Take care and come back to me soon. I’ll be waiting for you.’
‘I love you too,’ Lizzie whispered, and a ragged breath ripped through her chest and her lip trembled.
They walked side by side towards an airfield hut and an RAF sergeant emerged to greet them.
‘Good evening,’ said Jack. ‘This is your brave passenger for tonight’s run.’
The sergeant offered them a cuppa, and they accepted gratefully after the long day of preparation and the nightdrive. Lizzie climbed into the bulky jumpsuit that awaited her on the bench and Jack helped her slip the helmet on.
‘Remember, you don’t need to put this on until you’re about to jump, but let’s make sure it fits.’
Lizzie rested her hand on Jack’s as he buckled the helmet. ‘I wish you were coming with me like you did on my first mission.’
‘Me too, but it would be too obvious if I did. I don’t accompany anyone else on their flights.’
‘Why did you accompany me on my first flight, then?’ Lizzie asked.
‘I think we both know the answer to that. From the moment we met, I couldn’t stay away from you. I had to know you were ready and so I came along. If something had gone wrong on that jump, I would never have forgiven myself.’
‘And now you would forgive yourself?’ Lizzie teased.
‘God forbid, no, of course not. But you’re more experienced now and you know what to do. The pilot will take good care of you, and the reception committee will be waiting for you. Besides, you were the first female agent we sent into France from England, on your first mission, and you had to drop in and find your own way to the safe house alone. It was a lot of firsts.’
‘It was terrifying,’ Lizzie said, remembering that night and shivering spontaneously, but the reminder that their friends would meet her in Reims allayed her fears and instantly she felt less anxious.
The sergeant indicated it was time for her to board the plane.
