Page 40 of Shadows In Paris
‘Sorry, I’m not used to holding strangers’ hands.’
‘We won’t be strangers for long with Angel busy elsewhere.’
‘True. Talking of which, what train will we catch to Vichy?’
Francois was quick-witted and knew she was asking what train they planned to sabotage next. Briefly, he told her it was all under control. He and Philippe would handle it with the help of a few members of the network.
‘Do you want me there?’
Francois said, ‘It’s better we only call on you when we are low in numbers. Angel is usually in charge of the logistics.’
Francois released her hand and lit a cigarette that he passed to her, an amused smile on his lips as she took a puff and handed it back to him.
He smoked and reeled off what the network needed in the next drop from London, as though he were reading from a shopping list.
‘How’s your memory?’ He asked.
‘Quite good.’
‘Let’s see. Repeat the list back to me,’ he said, the challenge in his warm eyes.
Lizzie repeated the list word for word.
‘Excellent. You’ll do,’ he said.
‘Just as well, because there’s no one else waiting in the wings.’
Lizzie found him charming, if a little cocky.
‘I will let you know when to expect the supplies,’ she said.
They agreed on a day and time for their next meeting and walked to the gate of the park where Francois took her by surprise and kissed her passionately on the lips.
‘I suppose that was necessary for our cover too,’ she said, raising an eyebrow.
‘You’re getting the idea, Jacqueline. Perhaps when all this is over, I can ask you on a proper date.’
‘That’s gallant of you, Francois, but I have a boyfriend.’
‘Too bad,’ he said.
They parted and Lizzie thought about the intriguing Resistance member whom she was certain was not really called Francois.
But then she wasn’t really called Jacqueline and was only just getting used to her new cover name.
Life was never dull as an agent. She had already met two unusual characters today, and there was still a busy night ahead of her when all going to plan, the family would arrive at the farmhouse.
It was an enormous risk she was taking when the Germans were searching for the Jewish scientist, especially with Hannah undercover at German High Command. Had she miscalculated, and in trying to save one family, endangered the whole network?
She passed long lines of people queueing outside shops,looking weary and hopeless. Lizzie pedalled faster, turning sharply to avoid a group of soldiers in the distance. Once out of the city, she breathed freely again, and the fear gradually dissipated.
Lizzie had made her first solo rendezvous with the network member Francois. No one had stopped her, and she had arrived back at the farmhouse safely. A glimmer of excitement flickered in her.
Now she would send her first message to Jack using their own codes.
CHAPTER 18
Hannah didn’t see the major general that afternoon, but the hours passed quickly as the secretary showed her how to fulfil the demands of the job. Her eyes kept straying to the clock on the wall as she thought of Lizzie and Francois, wishing she were with them.
