In the street, a man in a coat and a trilby pushed away from the house across the way and followed Fern. Another man, similarly clad, read a newspaper outside the house next door.
Ivy shut the door. She leaned back against it and clutched the sides of her head. They were being watched. If she searched for Charlie, she’d be followed.
Her breath came hard, in erratic bursts. In recent weeks, many had escaped by boat—or tried to. When they did, the German field police searched homes of family members.
“Oh no. Aunt Opal.” If they searched the farm, they’d find Bernardus—and Gerrit. Gerrit had little work lately and spent Saturdays at the farm.
She had to warn them, and she spun to the doorknob. No, she’d lead the Germans straight to the farm.
The telephone. Two steps, and she slammed to a stop. The farmhouse didn’t have a telephone. She’d ring Joan, give her the code to move a patient straightaway.
“No, no.” If the Germans were watching the house, they were certainly listening to the telephone line. The code might be secure, but the fact that Ivy rang so soon after a raid would raise the alarm and place Joan under scrutiny. And using the Jouny name might lead them to unravel their codes.
“Oh, Lord.” A sob rent its way up Ivy’s throat. “Lord, what do I do?”
St. Peter’s Parish
“Oh, Gerrit.” Opal Jouny grabbed his arm, drew him into the farmhouse, and shut the door behind him. Red rimmed her eyes and stained her cheeks. “Charlie’s escaped.”
“Escaped?”
“By boat. We found a letter on the kitchen table this morning.” Opal dashed to the kitchen, and Gerrit followed.
She thrust a piece of paper into Gerrit’s hands.
Dear Uncle Arthur, Aunt Opal, and all,
By the time you read this, I’ll be in France! I’ve left with three of my friends from Victoria College. Now that we’re seventeen, we’re old enough to serve in the British forces. I’m no longer able to help the Allies in Jersey, but I can once I arrive in France.
My departure will also help Ivy, since she’ll no longer need to support me.
In addition, I’m taking Gerrit’s diagrams. After overhearing Gerrit’s argument with Ivy, I know how important it is that his new diagrams land in Allied hands. By doing so in person, I’ll be able to verify the source of previous deliveries and assure them of Gerrit’s and Bernardus’s good work and loyalty. I left one sample behind for Gerrit to show upon liberation.
Please show this letter to Ivy, Bernardus, and Gerrit, and then promptly burn it. You all have my deep love and affection,and I look forward to seeing you upon the liberation of this island.
By leaving now, I hope to hasten that day.
Yours sincerely, Charlie
Gerrit’s mouth flopped. What had Charlie done? Over the past few weeks, many young men and women had tried to escape. Some had succeeded. Some had been arrested when their boats blew back to Jersey. Some had drowned when their boats were dashed on rocks.
Opal stuck wood into the oven. “Radio-Paris announces the names of those who arrive in France. In the meantime, you need to leave straightaway. When men escape, the Germans always search homes of family members. They’ll certainly search the farm.”
“Bernardus.” Gerrit’s gaze sprang to the ceiling.
“He’s packing, destroying evidence.” Opal grabbed the letter from Gerrit and tossed it on the fire in the oven. “Arthur is asking a neighbor if he can hide Bernardus temporarily.”
Bernardus swept into the kitchen with a bag over his shoulder and a pile in his arms. He dumped the pile on the table. “Burn it all.”
Gerrit snatched out his civilian clothes and the last silk map. “I’ll keep this map. It’s our only proof in case...”
Bernardus’s gaze crept up to him, stark and gaunt. In case Charlie was arrested. In case he didn’t survive.
And if the Germans captured Charlie with Gerrit’s maps?
He’d heard hushed tales of torture at the field police headquarters at Silvertide in Havre des Pas. If the Germans suspected the use of secret ink, they could develop the images, and Gerrit, Bernardus, the Jounys—even Ivy—would be in great danger.
“I’ll do one more search, make sure I didn’t leave anything.” Bernardus set his bag on a chair and rushed out of the kitchen.
