Page 7 of Shadows In Paris
Jack’s stern expression transformed into one of regret and diffused the tension in Lizzie’s chest. ‘Wait for me here, please. Sorry, I didn’t mean to snap.’
Lizzie smiled at him. They rarely disagreed, but when they did, it was inevitably something to do with Jack trying to protect her. She couldn’t be angry at him for that. He was both her commanding officer and her love, and they already knew the two didn’t always blend harmoniously.
‘Work on these in the meantime and see what you can decipher.’ He pointed to the codebook and passed some more messages over for her to decipher.
Then she was alone with a jumble of letters, wondering what the future held for her in Paris. Nerves darted around her stomach as she tried to focus on cracking the coded messages.
When Jack returned, he looked even more troubled.
‘What is it?’ Lizzie asked.
‘It’s happening whether we like it or not, so all this discussion about whether you should or shouldn’t go is a moot point.’
‘Why, what did they say?’
‘I was overruled. The boss was there, and he and Val had already agreed you are the best agent for the job.’
His words evoked conflicting feelings in Lizzie. On the one hand, she was nervous about going on another mission,but on the other she couldn’t help being proud that they believed she could do a good job.
They had chosen her.
Hastily, she reminded herself; they only had a tiny pool from which to choose. There were new agents in training, but that didn’t mean they were mission ready. By some strange twist of fate, Lizzie was in the right place at the right time.
‘It will be fine,’ Lizzie said. ‘I will be fine. We have to believe that.’
Jack’s jaw hardened and she could see he was working to get a grip on his emotions.
‘You are right, of course. We have no choice now unless you reject the mission and you’ve made it clear you won’t do that,’ Jack said, a wistful note in his gravelly voice.
‘No, I don’t want to do that. I believe we were brought together for a reason and it’s not only about us loving each other.’ Lizzie paused and her eyes welled up.
Jack pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair as he held her tight. They didn’t move for several minutes, and the strong, steady beat of his heart tapped against her chest, comforting her. No words were needed.
They both knew what was at stake. In the short time they’d known each other, an unbreakable bond had been forged.
When they drew apart, Jack asked how she had got on with deciphering the codes.
She showed him what she had done. ‘It definitely makes more sense to me now. Thank you for taking me through it all again.’
‘I only wish I could do it in your place,’ he said, his dark eyes mournful.
‘Will I take a codebook or use Hannah’s?’ Lizzie asked,diverting Jack from the sadness of their imminent separation.
He shook his head as if to bring himself back to the moment. ‘We’ll have to decide. Taking another book is a risk in case it falls into the wrong hands, but it will restrict our communication if you only have one between you.’ Jack pursed his lips and stared into space. ‘Every message you send puts you at risk. Please, please always remember that.’
‘I guess we won’t be sending daily love missives back and forth, then,’ Lizzie said, smiling and shrugging her shoulders as if they were discussing something light and fun.
‘Every day you’re gone will seem like a year and I’ll be waiting to hear from you,’ he said. ‘But yes, we must put our feelings aside to keep you and the network safe. Only send a message when it’s absolutely vital. And I will do the same. I shall have to resist messaging you every day, even though my love-ravaged heart will be stricken in your absence.’
Lizzie laughed at his dramatic response. ‘So you’ll decipher my messages personally?’
‘I’ll make damn sure I do, even if I have to sleep in the cipher room!’
‘That gives me courage.’ Lizzie smiled. ‘It’ll be as if we’re writing to each other even though we can’t say much.’
Jack’s eyes shone as he looked at her. ‘You have such a powerful spirit, Seagrove. You and Hannah will make a formidable team. You already have all the courage you need. There’s no doubt about that.’
Lizzie took this as a compliment of the highest order. Hannah had achieved incredible feats in early acts of Resistance in Germany and France.
