Page 46 of Shadows In Paris
p.s If you want to drop me a line, remember to write to the Baker Street address. They will forward it on to me.
CHAPTER 21
Lizzie shot up from the sofa at the sound of a light tap. She froze near the back door as she listened for clues of who might be outside.
Had someone followed Margot and knew she had moved the family? Lizzie crept towards the kitchen counter and silently withdrew a knife from the wooden stand that sheathed its sharp blade. Then she heard another louder knock, followed by a third, and she rushed to the door to open it.
‘My God! Why didn’t you knock three times straightaway? I nearly had a heart attack,’ Lizzie said, her voice low despite her state of panic.
There were no nearby neighbours, but she’d learned to communicate as if someone might always be listening.
‘Sorry, sorry,’ Hannah said, wiping her boots on the mat and raising her eyes to meet Lizzie’s. Her nose and cheeks glowed red from the cold air. ‘It’s icy, and I lost my footing. I didn’t mean to scare you.’
‘I’m so relieved you’re home. It seems like a lifetime since you left this morning!’ Lizzie said.
‘It’s been a long day. You can put that away now,’ she said, assessing the big knife Lizzie clutched.
Lizzie rolled her eyes. ‘I had visions of having to stop the Gestapo from raiding the place.’
Hannah shrugged out of her coat and moved into the kitchen in search of warmth.
‘It’s late. I didn’t know what to think. Have you eaten? I can warm up the rest of the soup if you haven’t.’ Lizzie paused, smiling wryly. ‘I sound just like my mother.’
‘Well, it’s been a long time since I had any mothering, so I don’t mind at all. I’ll just take some tea though if there’s some on offer. I’m not hungry—I ate in the canteen, so at least that’s something good about working in that hellhole.’
‘Was it awful?’ Lizzie asked as she crossed back to the counter to replace the knife and make more tea, her heart gradually beating to a slower rhythm.
‘It’s not my idea of a nice day out, that’s for sure, but it’s quite a triumph for us to infiltrate their High Command. I’ve been thinking of this day for months.’ Hannah accepted the tea, and they sat at the table as she warmed her hands on the cup.
‘Youinfiltrated their High Command. The rest of us can’t take credit for any of it. Honestly, I don’t know how you pulled it off. I’m not sure I would even imagine such a bold plan.’
Hannah sipped the tea. ‘Tell me what you’ve been up to all day. I kept thinking about you and Francois. How did your meeting go?’
Lizzie reassured her that all was fine with Francois, and the next railway sabotage operation was planned for the following week.
‘Excellent. Not a bad first day holding the fort then? Well done, you. I know it’s a lot to expect of you to pick up my activities like this.’
Lizzie shifted in her seat and lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘I’m happy to do it, but there’s something I must tell you.’
‘What?’ Hannah asked, matching Lizzie’s whisper. ‘Are you alright?’
Lizzie nodded. ‘I’m fine, it’s not about me.’
‘What then?’ Hannah asked, frowning.
‘Your contact, Margot, was here early this morning, not long after you left for work.’
Hannah’s blue eyes widened, no longer hidden behind her thick glasses. ‘I told her not to come unless it was an emergency.’
‘That’s just it. It was an emergency,’ Lizzie said. ‘I didn’t feel I had any choice, and I couldn’t reach you to check.’
‘Tell me what happened.’
‘It’s probably better if I show you,’ Lizzie replied, grabbing the small torch from the table. She stood and beckoned for Hannah to follow her down the steps to the basement. The cold was oppressive, the lower they went, and she hoped she had given the family enough blankets to keep warm.
Lizzie shone the torch in front of them until they both stood by the door.
‘What’s going on?’ Hannah whispered. ‘Is it the wireless? Do you need me to help you send a message to Raven? It works best from the attic.’
