“Yes, sir. I am aware. I am hoping you will exercise compassion.”
“Give me an excuse to do that.”
She cleared her throat. “Sir, I have not allowed this mission to impede or affect my work. I have gone above and beyond what has been asked of me on both Operation Fortitude and Operation Overlord, just as I do with every operation. I have never shared knowledge or secrets with anyone. I believe my service record stands for itself.”
“I am aware of your exemplary service.” He pointed the smoking end of the cigar at her. “But you used our personnel and resources, and you did not discuss it with me first. I have already spoken with Bill about this, in case you are wondering.”
Her face burned. “Please do not blame him, sir.”
“I do not, though he should have known better. Back to you. Tell me why you used our resources for personal reasons.”
“I used Hydra because that was where I was already working, and it was the only way I could think of to achieve my goal,” she said, staring straight ahead and speaking to the wall instead of him. “I was able to do my job and my personal mission simultaneously, with neither interfering with the other. With regard to the agent you mentioned, I have not heard back from him. He does not know I am trying to reach him. I… still hold out hope that he will reply.”
“At ease, Dot.”
Her feet automatically separated, her hands going behind her back, and she lowered her gaze to watch the major.
“You should not have done this.”
“No, sir,” she agreed, unflinching. “But I had to.”
“Explain.”
“My twin sister has gone missing.” It was that simple. “She is a Wren, and she is also a civilian, flying with the Air Transport Auxiliary. She has been performing essential military support by ferrying airplanes around Europe.”
“I see.”
“Pardon me, but I’m not sure you do. Because of her contribution to the Allied forces in this conflict, I feel she should be regarded as equally important to a serviceman. In fact, I might even suggest that the military owes my sister a debt of thanks for all that she has done in her civilian role. But I am aware my feelings on this matter have no bearing on reality.”
She did not often speak so plainly with him, and she wondered if her manner had been out of place. But it was too late to stop now.
“Sir, I could not possibly ignore what was happening and leave her out there. Especially if I had the means to try to find her. And I did not ask you because I knew you would say no.”
His eyes had softened, watching her. “Is your mission complete?”
“No, sir.” Dot stepped closer to his desk. “I love my job, sir. I love what we do. But I love my sister more than anything in the world, and Dash is in trouble. I first heard she was missing on June 4, after she was assigned to ferry a plane to a military designation in France. I have heard nothing since then. I am petrified about what that might mean.” She gritted her teeth and squeezed her hands tight. “But Camp X is the clenched fist that will provide the knockout blow, sir, and I work within the brain of the centre for Intelligence. If she is out there, I will find her.”
There was a beat while he considered her speech, and though she wasn’t great at reading people, she thought he looked impressed. Then again, she had come on a little strong. Maybe he was laughing at her. She couldn’t tell for sure.
“You are communicating entirely by radio, am I correct? Trying to reach someone on the ground to help find her. Specifically, Agent Gus Becker.”
She nodded.
Another beat. “This is not interfering either with your job or with Hydra itself.”
“No, sir.”
There was a knock on the door, which he ignored. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh of resignation. “Fine. Go ahead. Find your sister. But Dot, I do not want you sneaking around anymore.”
Her knees weakened with relief. “No, sir. Thank you, sir.”
The knock came again.
“Come in,” Gerald called, rising.
Frances entered, looking sober. “This just arrived, sir.”
Gerald picked up the page, and Dot watched the lines of his face fall as he read. Her gut tightened instinctively.
