Page 4 of Whispers At Dawn
Stella, the SOE’s beloved tea lady, tapped on the door and pushed the rattling trolley into the room, laden with a big urn of tea, mugs, and biscuits.
‘How do you always know the perfect time to appear, Stella?’ Val asked.
‘Well, I have an advantage—it’s always the perfect time for a cuppa and something sweet!’ Stella poured two mugs of tea and distributed some biscuits onto a small plate on the desk between them.
‘True,’ Val agreed, biting into thecrunchy biscuit.
Lizzie smiled warmly at Stella, who had been her underground companion when they sheltered from the first London air raid at the start of the Blitz the previous summer. They shared a bond because of the frightening experience and always exchanged a few words when they bumped into each other. ‘Heard from your son recently?’ she asked the tea lady.
‘Last I heard, he’s alive and kicking, giving those bastards what for at the Front, God bless him.’
Stella rattled out of the room, closing the door behind her.
‘Now where were we?’ Val mused, nibbling her biscuit.
‘You were saying we should discuss how to prep me,’ Lizzie prompted after she took a sip of steaming tea and replaced the mug.
‘We urgently need eyes and ears in Vichy France.’
‘Understood. Why Toulouse?’
‘It’s a fair question. The intelligence we intercepted says Toulouse is a melting pot of potential Resistance recruits, so we’ve identified it as the best location for you to set up camp.’
There was another tap at the door, and Jack’s face appeared in the crack. ‘Come in,’ called Val. ‘You’ve missed Stella, but there are some biscuits left if you’re quick.’
Jack pulled up a chair and sat near them before reaching for a biscuit.
‘What’s the latest from Amsterdam?’ Val asked.
‘Some agents seem to have got themselves in a bit of a pickle. Nothing that can’t be fixed,’ he said. ‘Gave them a few tips.’
Val knew better than to prod any further. There was a code of silence between the SOE agents, and it was an honour for Jack to be trusted by D Section.
‘We were just discussing Toulouse,’ said Val.
Jack dipped his head and hooked a pack of cigarettes from his breast pocket. He lit one and stood before crossing to look out the window. ‘You’ve got the best view in the building,’ heremarked, admiring the dome of St. Paul’s gleaming in the spring sunshine.
‘Yes, and it’s staying that way. Don’t get designs on my office,’ Val quipped.
Jack swivelled to face them, spirals of smoke looping over his head towards the high ceiling. ‘I prefer being in the field, anyway. Not cut out for being a desk boffin.’
‘Just as well we’re releasing you back into the wild, then,’ Val said.
Jack smirked. ‘Can’t say I’m not surprised. I didn’t have a chance to ask earlier. How come you and the boss have altered your position? I thought I was too much of a liability in the field unless it’s an absolute emergency?’
Val replaced her empty mug on the desk and brushed the crumbs from her lap. ‘That’s just it. This is an emergency.’
CHAPTER 3
It was a peaceful Saturday afternoon at Jack’s flat. Lizzie rested her head on his bare chest, and their limbs lay tangled in the sheet on his big bed after hours of passionate lovemaking. Her cheeks were still flushed, and she basked in the afterglow.
‘When did you tell your parents you’ll be home?’ Jack asked, his deep voice gravelly in her ear.
‘I said I wouldn’t be home. Thought I’d spend tonight here with you if that’s alright?’ Lizzie snaked her fingers over his chest. ‘You haven’t got plans, have you? Sorry, I didn’t think to check first.’
‘You never have to check. You could move in right now, as far as I’m concerned. I hate it when you’re not here, you know that.’ Jack twirled a lock of Lizzie’s chestnut hair around his thumb as he pondered the curious ways of love. ‘It’s strange because I used to enjoy living alone.’
Lizzie studied his face. ‘You were impenetrable when we first met. I never would have imagined in a million years that we would be together like this. Remember how opposed you were to me joining the SOE?’
