Sophie stumbled through the forest, her path illuminated by a handheld lantern. Thankfully, the rendezvous point wasn't far from the farmhouse. All she had to do was follow the road. She tucked her free hand deeper in her pocket and shivered. Somehow, it felt colder when she was alone. She sighed with relief as the dim lantern light shone over the crossroads. Stumbling out towards the road, she glanced around for her new friends.
"Hello?" she whispered. "Newkirk? LeBeau? Anyone out there?"
A hand slapped over her mouth, stifling her scream. The unseen attacker yanked her back into the shadows. Sophie kicked and squirmed, desperately trying to escape until someone clicked on a flashlight. She nearly melted with relief as LeBeau stepped forward. Even with the flashlight, it was difficult to recognize him as he was dressed all in black with some sort of grease smeared across his face. As soon as she relaxed, the hand, presumably Newkirk's, dropped from her face.
"Did you have to scare me like that?" she breathed.
LeBeau snatched the lantern and blew it out. "Do you want us all captured? Walking out in the open with a light that anyone can see?"
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize," Sophie stammered, struggling to maintain a steady voice.
"Don't worry about it," Newkirk comforted, "every agent makes a few mistakes on the first mission. Right, Louis?"
"I suppose," grumbled LeBeau, though he didn't seem any less upset.
"Right then," said Newkirk, "shall we go?"
Sophie nodded in silence and followed the two POWs to the site. The journey was much farther than she anticipated. By the time they reached the lab, her limbs trembled with cold and exertion. She tried her best to hide her misery as she hunkered down between the two men in a grove of bushes. They sat on a hill overlooking the laboratory. Faint lights glimmered from the windows of the building, revealing its shape and size. Newkirk produced a pair of binoculars and scanned the area between them and the fence surrounding the building.
"See anything dangerous?" Sophie asked in a voice louder than necessary.
Newkirk shot her a warning glance before replying. "We'll have to get closer for a better look. Right now, I'm looking for patrols." After another moment of silence, he said, "Coast is clear. Let's move. I'll circle around to the left. LeBeau, you and Sophie can head right."
"And who put you in charge?" scoffed LeBeau.
"You have a better idea?"
"I was going to suggest the same thing, but I wanted to be the one who said it."
Newkirk rolled his eyes and gave his friend a shove.
"Get moving."
LeBeau tugged Sophie's sleeve and they both crept down the hill towards the fence. Sophie's heart leaped at every snap of a twig. She pressed closer to LeBeau as he scanned the area. He didn't seem to notice or care.
"Every inch of the perimeter is guarded," he whispered. "Armed guards at the gates are checking every truck. Looks like they're planting land mines just outside the fence."
Sophie peered over his shoulder to see all he was talking about. All she could make out were some shifting shadows in the darkness. She squinted and leaned forward. To her surprise, a rock slipped out from under her foot. Sophie toppled over, landing with a deafening thump. Someone not far to their right shouted in German. LeBeau winced and grabbed her by the back of her coat as footsteps hurried towards them.
"Quick, Sophie. Run!"
He grabbed a large stone and tossed it, diverting the patrol's attention while the two spies scrambled for cover. They curled up in the shadows. Sophie held her breath, resisting the urge to whimper as a set of polished boots marched by inches from her face. After a few minutes of waiting, silence once again took over. Sophie relaxed a touch, but LeBeau didn't seem convinced.
"We have to go," he whispered.
"Go? But we just got here," Sophie protested.
"That doesn't matter. They know we're here now. We have to leave before they find us."
"But what about Newkirk?"
"Don't worry. He'll hear the commotion and take cover. Let's go."
He pushed her back up the hill. Sophie glanced over her shoulder at the laboratory. They'd hardly even started and she already messed up. Sure enough, Newkirk waited for them at the top of the hill.
"What happened back there?"
"Sophie blew our cover," LeBeau spat. "I don't know why the Colonel insisted we bring her with us. Anyone can see she's no agent."
Sophie leaned against a tree and kicked at the ground in defeat. He was right. She was nothing but a burden to them. Before she could consider confessing this, Newkirk interrupted her thoughts.
"Take it easy, LeBeau. You've fouled up a fair amount of scouting missions yourself. Besides, between the two of us, I bet we have enough information to come up with a fair plan."
LeBeau shrugged and grumbled, "I suppose."
An awkward silence settled between them. Sophie hesitantly cleared her throat.
"So, that's it then? We all go home?"
A cheeky grin spread across Newkirk's face. "We don't have to head back to the stalag quite yet."
"What do you mean?" huffed LeBeau.
"Why don't we stop in town and have a drink? By the time we get there, all the shops will be open. We'll grab something to calm these anxieties and be back in time for roll call."
"Dressed like this? We'll be stopped in a heartbeat."
"No worries. The Hammelburg tailor is one of our contacts. He'll be more than happy to lend us something."
"How do you know the tailor?" Sophie asked.
"Where else do you think I get the fabric to make all those uniforms?"
"Seems like an awful lot of trouble for one drink," LeBeau grumbled, but in the end, he agreed.
Sophie wasn't so sure about the idea. Her father would have a heart attack if he realized she was missing. Still, it wouldn't hurt to enjoy a milkshake after a successful mission.
Sophie followed them back towards town where a friendly tailor provided them all with fresh new outfits. As expected, they were the first customers in the café. Newkirk must have changed his mind on the way because instead of the alcohol he'd been craving, he ordered a hot coffee. LeBeau followed his friend's example. Sophie preferred a glass of hot milk. Newkirk took a large sip from his steaming mug and leaned back in the booth.
"Isn't this grand? Three friends out for a good time in the town."
"Yes, lovely," said LeBeau, stealing a glance at the door.
The first few rays of sunlight illuminated the cobblestone streets. Sophie shared the Frenchman's anxiety. It wouldn't be long before her father woke up for the morning chores. What would he think when he found her empty bed? She started to stand up.
"Thanks, boys, for the warm milk and everything, but I really need to get home before my father…"
Newkirk snatched her arm and yanked her back in the seat.
"Hey, what was that for?"
His sudden change in attitude concerned her. He leaned forward stiffly to cover his face, beckoning towards the door with his thumb. Sophie followed his gesture and gasped. The Gestapo major from the day before had just walked in, flanked by two of his goons.
"I knew we should have gone straight to the stalag," LeBeau hissed. "Now Hochstetter is going to catch us. This could ruin everything."
"He hasn't seen us yet, Louis," Newkirk muttered.
The major and his fellow officers settled in the booth beside the POWs. A waiter approached to take their order.
"Now's our chance," said LeBeau, fiddling in his pocket for some cash to cover the bill. "As long as we keep our heads down, they shouldn't pay us any attention."
Sophie nodded. Together, the three of them cautiously rose and headed for the door with their noses buried in their coats. As Sophie passed the major's table, she caught a snag of his conversation.
"Ja, several of my men reported late-night activity at his residence last night. There is no doubt about it. We must arrest Johan Weidler for sabotage and treason."
Sophie jolted. Johan Weidler? Papa!
