Page 40 of Whispers At Dawn
‘You could say we’re doing what we can to stop these traitors from completely selling us out to the Nazis, whilst pretending they have France’s best interests at heart.’
Jack nodded, encouraged. Lev was saying all the right things, but could he trust him? ‘Do you have other contacts who share your convictions?’
‘I might,’ Lev replied, his tone wary. ‘I’ve told you a lot about me. Now I’d like to know more about you and your wife.’
That was a massive exaggeration, but Jack let it go.
‘What would you like to know?’ he asked, his voice a low, deep rumble.
‘I’d like to know what you’re really doing here,’ Lev said, grinding the stub of his cigarette in an ashtray until the smoke fizzled out.
‘The wine business is difficult in St. Malo with the occupation, so we relocated to the château to assist my relative, Monsieur Saint-Clair.’
‘You must know a lot about wine.’
Jack blew a smoke ring above his head and let the comment hang between them. Sometimes, the best counter was to say nothing at all. It had been a while since he’d operated in enemy territory to recruit new agents. Since the war, he’d been largely confined to Baker Street, much to his irritation.
On occasional emergency missions, he had gone into France to back up Lizzie, but they had worked with existing contacts.
When Hannah left Paris, the Liberty Network was put on hold, and instead Val cultivated fledgeling Resistance cells to gain intelligence via radio transmissions. The SOE was sprouting lots of seeds and growing at an impressive ratethroughout the occupied territories. This was when Val declared it was time for them to duplicate their efforts in the South.
The thrill of being in action again instead of stuck at HQ recruiting and training was a heady experience.
‘If there’s something you want to know, I suggest you be more specific, and I’ll do my best to put your mind at ease.’
Lev took a sip of his drink and replaced his glass on the table. He raised his eyes to meet Jack’s without hesitation. ‘Very well. Are you someone with the resources to help us weaken the enemy, or are you more interested in joining us?’
‘I think we may be able to help each other,’ Jack replied after a few beats.
‘Is there something you can tell me to show I can trust you?’ Lev asked, dancing strategically around the target like an expert fencer.
Jack rubbed his fingers over his chin. He hadn’t had time to shave before joining Luc for their vineyard tour that morning. ‘What sort of information do you want?’ He joined the dance with an elegant parry.
Lev knocked back the last of his drink. ‘How can you help us?’
Jack leaned forward, and his voice was barely a murmur. ‘I belong to an organisation that can help you significantly if you’re serious about sabotaging the enemy. I’m talking training, support and equipment to build a formidable Resistance network.’
Lev straightened his shoulders and said, ‘I fought in the war, you know. I don’t need training.’
‘Everybody needs training for this,’ Jack said with an air of confidence that wasn’t lost on Lev.
‘We’re a raggle-taggle bunch, but we’re serious. Word has it some networks in other cities are better equipped.’
‘The word is correct,’ Jack said, offering Lev a cigarette and lighting his own.
Lev said. ‘I’ve been on the lookout for someone like you who can work with us to expand. That’s why Marguerite sent you my way.’
Jack ran his hand through his thick, black hair. ‘Before we go any further, I’d appreciate if you tell me a bit about your background and why you are motivated to weaken the regime?’
Lev nodded and rested against his chair as if he too had decided to trust Jack. Then he began talking and his voice was weighted with melancholy. ‘My siblings and I were born here in Toulouse. It’s all I’ve ever known—until the war. My mother and father were born in Toulouse. My mother’s family goes back generations in this region. I’m Jewish—both my parents are French Jews who have been loyal to France.’
Jack listened, observing Lev carefully.
Lev shook his head as he continued, as if he couldn’t quite believe his own words. ‘You’ve heard of these heinous anti-Jewish laws? My parents’ shop was ordered to close by the Vichy government. My mother still clutches onto the hope that it’s all a mistake and things will return to normal.’
‘What’s happening is terrible,’ Jack said.
Lev examined his hands. ‘My paternal grandparents were driven out of Baghdad by persecution under the Ottoman Empire. They wished to emigrate to the Land of Israel, but that was occupied by the Ottomans, so they settled in France in search of a peaceful life.’
