operative who had been killed. Vivi made sure to avert her eyes.
‘This man managed to give us information that the Allies will indeed attack, and though he wasn’t clear about the target destination, everything I am receiving continues to point to an assault in the Calais area.’
‘How can we be sure this is not subterfuge?’ stated Von Klaus as he rocked back in his chair.
Marcus continued, ‘To be fair, sir, we can’t. But I think we have to go with the best available information we have as it comes in. My task, as you know, is to coordinate and gather all that information. So, please, anything you get, bring to me, and then we’ll continue to have these weekly meetings, where we can see any pattern emerging, so we can defeat this enemy and their pathetic network of underground spies. It should not be hard; they are only a group of women and Frenchmen.’
There was a ripple of arrogant laughter around the table as Marcus gave up the floor for another senior official, who wanted to update them on what was happening on other fronts.
During the meetings, Vivi purposely kept her head down and proceeded to take notes of everything that was said. At the end, it was her responsibility to make copies for everybody. And she made sure they all got them in good time. Her role, she decided, was to make herself invaluable, yet keep a low profile. No one knew about her and Marcus’s affair. They kept that very quiet, travelling home separately and leaving home at different times. The evening was the only time they could relax. And for those moments, those few hours a day, they lived for being like any other loving couple.
Every day her love for him grew. Not only did she love the strength she saw in him, but also his kindness and gentleness. For a man who had lived his whole adult life as a soldier she was amazed at his depth of compassion and caring for her. He adored her, and his love for her was immense and he showed that love however and whenever it was possible.
She generally tried not to think about where this affair would go. She feared they’d both be captured and killed, but she pushed those thoughts from her mind. At night she lay in his arms and for the briefest of moments all she had to be was herself and to love him.
Deceiving the Germans in their office seemed to work more smoothly than she’d expected. No one appeared to suspect either Vivi or Marcus. Vivi was amazed how easy it was to lie as long as she was convinced of it herself, even though it was a balancing act to know what intelligence to let filter through.
However, a few weeks into their mission, Von Klaus informed them he had requested their office receive a visit from high command.
‘Is there something you are unhappy with, Captain Von Klaus, that I should be aware of?’ Marcus enquired with obvious irritation.
Von Klaus walked over to the adjoining door that belonged to Vivi’s office and closed it. Vivi quickly moved to the door and pressed her ear to it to hear the muffled conversation.
‘I met with Field Marshal Rommel on my last visit to the north, and he has some interesting theories about the possibility of an upcoming assault. I think it wouldn’t do any harm to have his opinion on this matter. So, I believe he will be sending someone to work with us, to help you with your assessments of the situation.’
Marcus sounded agitated as he responded. ‘It is, of course, kind of Field Marshal Rommel to assist us in this matter, but I am surprised he has the manpower to extend to us when we have been having such a high success rate here on our own. Do you have concerns about my work I should know about?’
Vivi noted Marcus’s last remark was framed as a question, but it sounded accusatory.
Von Klaus responded, matching Marcus’s inflection. ‘I think, with something as important as a potential invasion, it doesn’t hurt to have all the expertise that is available to us. I’m sure you are doing’ – he paused as she heard him open Marcus’s office door – ‘your best.’ His last comment sounded derogatory. But before Marcus had a chance to respond, she heard Von Klaus salute with a ‘Heil Hitler’ and leave the room, closing the door behind him. His footsteps echoing down the