“Testimony from Private Peter Winston is expected. Despite officials not believing his original account of what had happened at Le Paradis when he returned to London as part of a prisoner exchange, the further written record of Private Harry Cross during his release from a German concentration camp allowed officials to piece together the truth. Investigators appeal to the public to help them find Private Cross, who is believed to be in France still. He is understood to be the only other survivor of the bloody Le Paradis massacre. The trial will be held at the Curiohaus War Crimes Court in Rotherbaum, Germany, and if convicted, Commander Schmidt will be sentenced to death.”

Elise faced her sister’s grave again, looking at the fresh flowers and her name carved in the stone. “Justice,” she whispered. “I can’t believe it. I honestly can’t believe it.”

“I can’t believe Peter survived, either,” Harry said. “I was certain he’d be killed as soon as he surrendered, as much to make sure there were no witnesses as anything.”

She glanced over the article one more time, letting the news soak in. She could barely believe it.

“Would you be opposed to me going to London so I can give my full account in person to authorities there?” Harry asked, his arms warm around her. “I know I promised I’d never leave you again but . . .”

Elise took a big, shaky breath. “Not at all,” she said, relaxing into his chest. “In fact, I’ve never wanted anything so badly in all my life. You tell them everything, Harry. You tell them what he did to Adelaide, you tell them what he did to all your men. He has to pay for what he did.”

Harry’s lips were tender as he kissed the top of her head. “Trust me, Elise,” he murmured. “This is the last and only time I’m ever reliving what happened, and I’ll make sure it counts.”

“I love you,” she whispered. For a second, she imagined Adelaide there, a flower behind her ear, smiling as she watched their embrace. She could hear her laughter, see her twirling Oscar in her arms and kissing his fur before running through the field by their house where the wildflowers grew.

Goodbye, Addy. She smiled. You might be gone, but you will never, ever be forgotten.

CATE SIX MONTHS LATER

CATE
SIX MONTHS LATER

Dear Elise,