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“We do what we must, Andrée. All of us. Now go home. Be careful. The streets are more dangerous every day.”

René arrives precisely at two o’clock. Josie is in her room, giving the adults the privacy they need for their meeting. Louis, Tina, and Andrée sit around the table as René settles into the fourth chair.

“Thank you for coming,” Louis says. “I have news from Colonel Pallas. A mission.”

“A mission?” His eyebrows rise. “For whom?”

“For you and me. We leave in two days.”

Tina’s hand goes to her mouth. Andrée feels her stomach drop.

“Where?” asks René.

“Saint-Nazaire.”

René whistles low. “The port on the Atlantic coast? That’s deep in German territory. The U-boat pens are there.”

“Exactly. The British bombed it successfully last year—Operation Chariot. They destroyed the dry dock and crippled the Germans’ ability to service the larger U-boats. But Pallas has intelligence that the they are rebuilding. Possibly even expanding. London needs eyes on the ground. Detailed reports on the reconstruction, the size of the barracks being constructed, troop numbers, and defensive positions.”

“And they want us to provide those reports?”

“Yes. You’re a doctor. I may own a bookshop now, but I’ll remind you that I’m an architect and draughtsman—our papers will confirm our occupations. We have legitimate reasons to be in a port city, you for medical consultations, me for architectural assessments of bomb damage. Our cover story is that we’re evaluating civilian infrastructure for potential repair. The Germans might even facilitate our access.”

“How long?” Andrée asks, her voice tight.

“A week. Perhaps ten days. We’ll stay at the church. Our contact there is Sister Bernadette, the senior nun. She’s been working with the Resistance for over a year. She’ll provide shelter, arrange meetings with local informants, help us move around the city without drawing attention.”

“A nun,” Tina says. “They’re using nuns now?”

“They’re using everyone who’s willing to fight,” Louis says. “Sister Bernadette runs a small hospital attached to the church. Doctor René will be visiting to consult on medical matters. I will be surveying the church building itself, as it was damaged in the bombing. So, we will have legitimate reasons to move through the city, meet people, and ask questions.”

René leans back in his chair. “It’s dangerous, Louis. Saint-Nazaire is heavily fortified. The Germans are paranoid about another attack. Security is tight. If they suspect us . . .”

“I know. But the colonel believes the need for the intelligence makes the risk worthwhile. The Allies are planning something. Something big. They need to know the state of the Atlantic defenses. If the U-boat pens are operational again, if the garrison is at full strength, they’ll have to adjust their calculations.”

“When do we leave?”

“Day after tomorrow. Early train. I have all the necessary papers, travel permits, identification, letters of authorization.”

René laughs, startling Andrée. She has never before heard him laugh in all the time they’ve worked together.

“So, old friend, you and Colonel Pallas knew I wouldn’t say no.”

“I knew,” Louis says, reaching across the table to squeeze his arm.

Andrée finds her voice. “Papa, you’re sixty-seven years old. This is fieldwork. This is dangerous fieldwork. Let someone younger go. Let Félix go, or Cat . . .”

“May I remind you that I’m seventy?” says René.

But Louis answers seriously. “Cat is too reckless. Félix is too valuable in Paris. And being sixty-seven, or even seventy, is an advantage, not a liability. Old men don’t look dangerous. Old men with legitimate professions, traveling for legitimate reasons, we’re invisible, Andrée. That’s our strength.”

Tina speaks, her voice steady despite the fear in her eyes. “If you’re going, you’re going. I won’t waste time trying to talk you out of it. But promise me you won’t take unnecessary risks. Get the intelligence, get out, come home. Don’t be a hero, Louis. Just come home.”

Louis takes her hands. “I promise. The doctor and I will be careful. We’ll get the information London needs, and we’ll come home. To all of you.”

René nods. “We’re too old to be heroes, Louis and me. We’ll observe and report back. There will be no heroics.”

“What do you need from us?” Andrée asks.