Madeleine took Boar’s arm and helped him to the sofa. The lieutenant leaned his head back and mumbled something neither Ollie nor Madeleine could understand. Seconds later, the lieutenant began to snore.

“Jeez,” Ollie said, “no wonder he hates me.”

“What should we do?” Madeleine asked.

“Let him sleep it off. I’ll get him under the floor later.”

She pointed to Duchess. “And what about her?”

“I’ll release her in the morning.” He picked up Duchess and fastened the canister to her leg. She squirmed, then fluttered to the door.

“She wants to leave,” Madeleine said.

Duchess pecked the door.

“I don’t think pigeons fly at night.”

“How do you know?”

“Just a guess.” He kneeled to Duchess, then stroked her back. “You need to rest.”

Duchess blinked, then pecked.

“Okay.” He peeked through the curtain, then opened the door.

Duchess waddled over the threshold, flapped her wings, and disappeared into the night.

CHAPTER 39 - AIRAINES, FRANCE

CHAPTER 39

AIRAINES, FRANCE

Ollie sat in the barn with the decoded messages on his lap. He blew on his fingers, numb from the cold, and read the words again. And again.

For the past five days, he had corresponded with Susan. Each afternoon, Duchess swooped down from the sky and gracefully landed on Madeleine’s doorstep. And considering that the pigeon’s flights had become keenly accurate, like the arrival times at a train depot, Ollie was often already peeking through the curtains, prepared to snatch her inside.

After removing Duchess’s canister, he’d stroke her wings and give her fresh water, while his pulse quickened with anticipation. Then he’d open the canister to retrieve the note. And there, on a small piece of rolled yellow stationery, were Susan’s words, hidden under a plethora of codes.

Susan’s messages, which Flight Lieutenant Boar had demanded be read out loud, confirmed that the intelligence on the airfield was being relayed to the RAF. But there was nothing directly from the RAF, which rankled Boar. It didn’t surprise Ollie that the RAF wasn’t communicating with them. After all, Duchess was Susan’s pet, and the British military had recently fled France and were occupied with Luftwaffe bombings, not to mention preparation for their own German invasion. Besides, there was nothing the military could do for them. Behind enemy lines, they were on their own.

Mostly, Susan’s notes contained bits of news and words of hope that were directed toward Ollie, which he purposely left out during his readings to Boar. It wasn’t that he feared the lieutenant, although he’d have to admit, the man was intimidating, even blindfolded. The fact was, some of what was in the messages was none of Boar’s business.

He leaned against a barn stall and read the deciphered messages, focusing on Susan’s closing words. Whispering somewhere deep inside his head was the sweet sound of her voice.

Ollie gently touched the paper, then retrieved another message.