Ollie ran ahead and stepped in front of the soldiers. “The lady asked you a question.”

“We’re only following our orders to secure the farm,” said a soldier. The men, continuing to roll out the wire, maneuvered past Ollie and headed for a loft.

Susan and Ollie heard the sound of sawing wood. They turned to see a soldier cutting the pigeon landing on one of the lofts.

“Stop!” Susan shouted.

The soldier continued hacking.

“Put that down,” Susan said, reaching the loft.

The soldier paused to examine the saw blade.

“What are you doing?” Ollie asked.

“Installing alarms.”

“Alarms? No one said anything about alarms.”

The soldier shrugged and resumed sawing.

Another military vehicle sped up the drive and skidded to a stop. A plume of dust drifted into a beech tree. Ollie felt his hands curl into fists when he saw an officer with coal-black hair step out of the car.

“Don’t do anything foolish,” Susan said.

Flight Lieutenant Boar climbed the front steps and knocked on the door. Bertie answered, clenched his hands, and quickly ducked back inside. By the time Ollie and Susan reached the cottage, Bertie was on the porch waving his walking stick like a sword.

“Bastard!” Bertie pointed the stick at Flight Lieutenant Boar’s chest.

Boar raised his palms.

“Grandfather!” Susan shouted.

“I ought to knock some manners into you!” Bertie said.

Boar kept his hands raised.

Ollie stepped between the men and stared at the lieutenant.

Boar turned to Susan. “We have a change with Source Columba.”

Bertie lowered his walking stick.

“It will only take a moment of your time,” Boar said. “Perhaps we could go inside and I can explain.”

Despite their animosity toward the lieutenant, Ollie, Susan, and Bertie found themselves sitting at the kitchen table with Flight Lieutenant Boar.

“The Cooper farm was bombed,” Boar said.

Bertie swallowed. “How is William?”

Boar shook his head.

Bertie’s eyes watered. “Poor William. We raced pigeons together.”

Susan placed her arm over Bertie’s shoulder.

“The farm was in proximity to an ammunition factory,” Flight Lieutenant Boar said. “Luftwaffe missed the factory but destroyed the farm, including most, if not all of the pigeons.”

“Why have you come to tell us this?” Bertie asked.

“Your delivery date has been moved,” Boar said.

“When?” Susan asked.

“Tomorrow.”

Bertie wiped his face. “Bloody hell, I thought we had two weeks. Do we have a choice?”

“No. The men are delivering equipment and installing alarms in the lofts. Two soldiers will be stationed here during the mission.”

“Why?” Susan asked.

“Security,” Boar said.

Ollie noticed Susan clutching Duchess. Bertie’s face looked pasty white.

“I realize that things have not gone well between us.” Flight Lieutenant Boar looked at Susan. “And I want to apologize for the misunderstanding.”

Bertie interrupted. “Commander Davies order you to apologize?”