Labrador met his summary of the last chapter of John Peterson’s book with a shocked silence that lasted a long five seconds. Alistair waited as his listener gnawed at the possibility that there might be a grain of truth to the author’s preposterous claim, but then protested, “I don’t believe it. The others all say they watched the execution from their cell windows. Peterson just made up that cock-and-bull ending to fit his ‘ruse’ scheme.”

“I’m inclined to think the same,” Alistair said, “but I want you kids to read it for yourselves and get back to me with your analysis. Meanwhile, I am going to try to track down John Peterson.”

“If he’s not living, we’ll never know.”

“There are ways to find out. I’ll begin working on it.”

“Good grief, Major, what if…his conclusion is correct?”

“Then we’ll go from there and follow the path to wherever it leads.” (No one said Good grief anymore, a throwback to the ’40s, Alistair thought, amused.) “The book is out of print, I’d think. If you and the others can’t locate a copy, I’ll xerox the chapter and mail it to you.”

The others received Alistair’s news with the same degree of shocked silence, for the last chapter of The Greatest Ruses of World War II maintained that the missing member of Dragonfly had survived the firing squad that three of the group had witnessed. The execution had been carefully planned to fool the Nazi SS. Comments ranged from an explosive “Nonsense!” to expletives prompted by rage at the cruelty of the author’s claim. None of the team members had ever discussed their exploits with anyone nor had they been approached for an interview by a man named John Peterson.

After the last call, Alistair pushed back from the telephone. What if the chapter’s conclusion was correct? What if the missing member of Dragonfly was alive and well and living in Europe as the chapter claimed? The execution had occurred on June 11, 1944. It had been eighteen years since three members of the team had witnessed the brutal death of one they had loved and still mourned. What if Dragonfly was not missing one of its wings after all?

There might be one quick and easy way to find out.