May 28, 1944
The room was cold, dark and musty. Only a small, barred window close to the ceiling let some light in. Victoria could tell from the laid stone wall and the shape and position of the window that she was in a basement. A sturdy, reinforced door was at the end of her small holding cell. Victoria didn't need to try to know that the door was locked. The amenities of her confinement were Spartan. There was no furniture in the room, save for a rusty bucket, which purpose Victoria preferred not to think.
Her hand gravitated constantly towards her left cheek which was throbbing like hell. She could feel that the cheek was swollen. Victoria considered herself lucky that the blow from the rifle stock that she'd received from a German soldier had not severed any teeth, although she could taste the blood in her mouth.
It had been a consequence of a desperate attempt for Victoria to prevent the film from falling to enemy hands. When she and Kate had been told to raise their hands, Victoria had managed to slip her hand into her pocket and slowly pulled the film out of the cartridge, exposing the roll. Victoria didn't speak any German but the expletive that had come out of Frank Bauers' mouth didn't sound like a compliment. That had been followed by a smack right into her face, knocking her out cold. She hadn't regained consciousness until she was in her current confinement.
I hope Kate's all right, Victoria thought apprehensively. She hadn't seen or heard from Kate since they had been ambushed in the alley. She dared not to think about the worst possible scenario, because the only thing that was keeping her together right now was the hope that Kate would be held captive somewhere else in the basement.
I wonder if Chloé and Max are somewhere in here too. Victoria wanted to call for them, but she dared not to, in fear that it would draw the Germans' attention. She let out a quiet sob as she wrapped her arms around her knees. This was one of the few times when Victoria admitted to herself that she was scared.
Flashes of Rachelle's smug grin complimented to Victoria's despair. She couldn't believe that the devoted and enthusiastic young woman had played them all. Victoria had always thought herself a good judge of character. Now, she didn't know what to think. She and Rachelle had clicked pretty much immediately, but maybe that was just a part of her ruse. Conversely, Max, who was the person Victoria had the most reservations about, appeared to be innocent after all. She was just another victim of Rachelle's ploys.
Well, at least I'm still alive. Victoria took small consolation of the fact that the Germans hadn't kill her right on the spot after the stunt she'd pulled. Then again, she'd be facing interrogation and trial for espionage. Victoria didn't know which would be worse: to be executed as a spy or to spent the rest of the war in a prison camp.
The rattling behind the door pulled Victoria out of her grim thoughts. Name, rank, number, she tried to steel her mind as she stood up. The door was pulled open and a Wehrmacht soldier was standing there, pointing his submachine gun towards Victoria.
"Du, Raus!" the soldier ordered, waving his gun.
"Oh, why don't you go stick that thing where the sun don't shine," Victoria said, putting on her most cunning smile as she stepped out of the cell.
Victoria garnered up every bit of bravado she could muster, as she walked between the two soldiers. She had not earned the title of Queen Bee of Blackwell for being miss congenial. The soldiers led her to the other end of the corridor, where there was another reinforced door. Whatever bravado Victoria might've garnered melted away upon the sight that was waiting for her.
Kate was curled up in a corner. Her shirt was torn and soaking wet. Her hair was disheveled, she had a black eye and blood was slowly trickling from the bruised corner of her mouth. She just stared catatonically forward and mumbled: "Catherine Marsh, Leftenant, 10042013..." on repeat.
"Kate! Oh my God! What have they done to you?" Victoria cried, dashing to take the smaller woman into her embrace.
"V-Victoria...?" Kate sputtered, snapping out of her condition. "I-is it really you?"
"Shh, there now, dear," Victoria soothed. "I'm here."
"Ach! That is so sweet!" A man's voice said with accented English. "It's almost a shame to break up such a happy reunion."
Victoria let go of Kate and turned to face the speaker. Victoria hadn't gotten a good look at him in the dark alley, but she recognized the snarky, nasal voice immediately. It was Kriminalrat Frank Bauers who was sitting at the table. He'd taken off his trench coat and fedora and had rolled up his sleeves. Victoria didn't need to be a genius to determine that he was responsible for Kate's condition.
"We weren't properly introduced in the alley last night, even though we both seem to know each other already, Fräulein Chase, or perhaps you prefer Unteroffizier Chase," Bauers said, smirking. "Yes, I know everything about your ragtag group, thanks to my little songbird, Rachelle."
A dog's bark startled Victoria. She turned her head to see a relatively large, mixed breed dog standing in the opposite corner.
"Don't mind about Pétain here," Bauers said. "He won't do anything – unless I tell him to."
"Yes, we know who you are, Kriminalrat Bauers," Victoria responded, having regained her bravado somewhat. "Another Nazi stooge who takes pleasure from abusing helpless women," she continued looking at Kate. "I swear to God..."
"I'm facing a bit of a dilemma," Bauers interrupted her. "When we apprehended you, it was most unfortunate that you exposed that film of yours. Without that, we can't determine where the Allies are going to attempt landing."
"Well, that's too bad," Victoria said nonchalantly.
"Without the photos, I have to resort to... more unpleasant methods," Bauers sighed, looking at Kate. "Fräulein Marsh here has proven to be more resilient than her delicate appearance suggests. Perhaps you might be more co-operative."
"Fat chance!" Victoria retorted. "All you're getting from me is my name, rank and service number."
"I thought you might say that," Bauers noted. "And you're probably right. I won't get what I want by torturing either of you." He walked to the door. "Therefore I need to try a different approach. Fritz! Dietrich!"
Two rather burly men entered the room. Neither of them was wearing their uniform jackets, but Victoria could tell that they were soldiers.
"Auf den Tisch!" Bauers ordered. The two brutes grabbed Victoria by both arms and pushed her onto her back on the table. "Rachelle let me in on your affection for each other." Bauers leaned over her. "So, if direct interrogation won't work, then how about indirect one?"
With that, Bauers slipped his hand under Victoria's skirt and pulled her knickers down. Victoria's eyes widened in horror when she realized what Bauers was about to do. She tried to squirm, but the two brutes had her firmly pinned to the table.
"Oh, just go ahead!" Victoria tried to put on a brave face as Bauers unbuttoned his pants and lowered them. "It'll probably be the best thing you'll ever have."
"Don't flatter yourself, "Bauers said as he spread Victoria's legs and pulled her closer to the edge of the table.
Victoria clenched her teeth tightly together and closed her eyes in anticipation of the intrusion. She felt how Bauers lifted her skirt up and a cool breeze whisked her bare mound, how the fabric of Bauers' pants touched the insides of her thighs...
"Stop!" Kate's desperate cry echoed in the room. "Please! I'll talk! Just don't touch her."
"No, Kate!" Victoria objected, trying to make eye-contact with Kate. "I can take it."
"No, Victoria!" Kate said in a disheartened voice. "I could never forgive myself, if I'd let him violate you."
"I'm waiting," Bauers said, still standing between Victoria's thighs.
"C-calais," Kate said, her voice trembling. "We photographed the fortifications of Calais."
"Ausgezeichnet!" Bauers clapped his hands together and backed away. "Alles klar!" He said to the two brutes, who immediately released their grip.
Victoria crossed her legs and rose to a sitting position, looking at Kate despondently. She'd considered Kate to be almost a superhuman being who wouldn't budge under anything. In the end, even Kate Marsh had her limits. Victoria went to her and took her again into her embrace.
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't," Kate sobbed, tears running down her cheeks.
"Shhh, it's all right." Victoria tried to comfort her. "I probably would've done the same. I'm not as strong as you."
"Now if you'll excuse me," Bauers interrupted them, rolling his sleeves down as he spoke. "I need to catch a plane to Berlin. I'm going to take this information to Himmler personally."
"What now?" Victoria asked angrily. "Are you going to kill us?"
"That would be the standard protocol for enemy spies, yes," Bauers answered. "But since you've been so co-operative, I'll make an exception. I'll have you sent to Ravensbrück," he continued with a smug laugh. "Auf wiedersehen, Fräuleine." He stepped out of the room.
-ooo-
"Kate! Victoria! Thank God yer all right!" Max exclaimed when Victoria and Kate were pushed into the cell. "We thought you were dead for sure!"
"Chloé! Max!" Victoria responed. "Are you two all right?"
"We're fine," Chloé said. "They've just kept us here since we were caught. You seem to have gone through a rougher patch, though."
"Compliments of Kriminalrat Bauers," Victoria said, taking Kate back into her embrace.
"Here, take this bench," Max rose up to make room.
"Thank you!" Victoria said as she helped Kate lie down. "How are you doing, sweetie?"
"I... I need a moment," Kate answered faintly.
"I can't believe Rachelle sold us out!" Chloé said, as she paced around the cell, knocking her fist against her forehead. "I've known her for years! I mean, she was there for me when you weren't, Max."
"Aye, even I have a hard time believing Rachelle betrayed us," Max admitted. "It does explain why the Jerries knew about the train heist, though."
"About that..." Victoria turned to look at Max humbly. "Max, for what it's worth, I'm sorry I thought you were the traitor."
"It's all right, Victoria," Max said. "To be honest, your suspicions of me were not completely unfounded, although not for the reasons you might've thought."
"What do you mean?" Victoria asked.
"I have a past, that I'm not very proud of," Max began. "I've done... things that would mean a death sentence, or at least a lifetime for prison for me, if they would ever come to light."
"Max, are you sure about this?" Chloé stopped her.
"They deserve to know, mo ghrá," Max assured, turning to face the two other women.
"Before this, I haven't told of the time before my arrival to France to anyone but Chloé," Max began. "Not even Rachelle or Joyce know of what I'm about to tell you." She looked bashfully at Kate and Victoria. "During that time, very few people knew me by my actual name. By everyone else, I was known as the Eilit Bán."
"Now wait a bloody minute!" Kate blurted, springing up to a sitting position with newfound energy. "Are you saying that you're the White Doe?"
"What's a White Doe?" Victoria asked, completely bemused.
"The White Doe was one of the most sought-after IRA terrorists on the British Isles," Kate explained. "I first heard about her when I joined the SOE. We didn't know her right name, or what she looked like. About the only thing we were certain of was that the White Doe was a woman. We thought she had died in a backfired bombing attempt soon after the Coventry bombing back in '39. Her body was never recovered, though."
"Maybe it's better that I start from the beginning," Max said. "Shortly after I had returned to Ireland for the last time before the war, I got involved with people belonging to the IRA. I'd witnessed the tumultuous times that had followed the forming of the Irish Free State. I'd always idealized about the whole of Ireland being free from the English reign. I suppose I was receptive to what the IRA was offering and wanted to do my part."
"So you joined the IRA?" Kate asked.
"Yes," Max confirmed. "I became actively involved with the S-Plan that was a sabotage campaign against England. I've always been a bit of a tinkerer, and found out that I had a knack for devising bombs. Quite a few of the bombs set off during the campaign were my design. I painted a picture of a white doe to sign my work, and since I planted some of the devices myself. I soon earned the nickname Eilit Bán, the White Doe."
"I can see why IRA used you to plant the bombs," Kate remarked. "You're the kind of person that doesn't attract much attention. I've read from the testimonies that there might have been a woman present at the location just before the bomb went off, but the but the testimonies were indecisive and vague at best."
"Long story short, I soon became aware that some of the bombs had been used in civilian locations, causing casualties. I refused to make any more bombs, but they assured that the bombs would be used only against infrastructure from now on. That was a lie of course, and after the Coventry bombing, I decided I wanted out."
"But you don't just leave the IRA, do you?" Kate asked.
"No, therefore I had to stage my own death," Max answered. "I insisted to plant the next bomb myself. It needed to look like that the bomb had gone off prematurely while I was taking it to the location. It required a lot of planning and preparation on my part, and I knew I was taking a tremendous risk in order to make it look good."
"I chose a secluded alley and I made sure that I was seen entering it. Then I set the timer on a short delay, dropped the bomb to the ground and ran for the cover I had scouted beforehand. It was a spectacular explosion with a lot of debris, but with no casualties, except, of course, yours truly."
"But that was in 1939," Kate said. "What did you do during the years before your arrival to France?"
"I disguised myself as a man and signed up on a merchant ship," Max explained. "I served on multiple neutral ships, doing all kinds of odd jobs. Eventually, I decided to seek up Chloé, and caught a passage to Vichy France. Getting to the occupied part of the country wasn't easy, but I finally made it there in the fall of 1943. Chloé and Rachelle had already established the resistance group, and I put my skills to good use."
"I'm not proud of what I did in IRA, and I'll probably spend the rest of my life to make amends," Max said, hanging her head.
"Hey Max, you did what you thought was right at the time," Chloé comforted her, wrapping her arm around her. "I probably would've done the same thing if I were in your shoes. Hell, that's what I've been doing since the Boches invaded my country."
"So, now you know," Max said looking at Victoria and Kate, mostly Kate. "What are you going to do?"
"Bringing the White Doe to justice would probably be the crowning moment of my career," Kate contemplated, getting an incredulous look from Victoria, before she continued: "Too bad she died in that explosion back in 1939." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Go raibh maith agat, Kate!" Max said, clearly relieved. "Thank you!"
"What about you two?" Chloé asked. "Did you manage to get those photos from wherever you went?"
"Calais," Victoria said, sighing. "I guess it makes no difference now if you know. And yes, we got the photos. The film is gone, though. I managed to expose it when we were caught. Not that it helped anything." Victoria wrapped her arm around Kate. "Bauers is probably on his way to Berlin even as we speak."
"If only we could get the word to the Allies that Calais is compromised," Kate said. "But our chances of escaping look pretty slim."
Right there and then, a spit of a silenced gun was followed by a sound of a body collapsing on the floor right behind the door. A moment later, a key was turning in the lock and the cell door was opened.
"Vite! Come with if you want to live!" Rachelle Ambre said in an agitated voice.
"Why the hell should we trust you one bit?" Victoria asked sardonically.
"Потому что всё не всегда так, как кажется," Rachelle answered, surprising everyone.
"You're... Russian?" Kate finally managed to ask.
"Well, yes and no," Rachelle switched back to English. "But this neither the time nor the place to discuss this. Someone, take his Schmeisser and help me to drag him in!" she pointed at the dead guard.
Victoria grabbed the guard's weapon while Chloé and Rachelle dragged the guard inside the cell. They all stepped out into the corridor.
"Follow me! I have a car waiting outside," Rachelle said as they rushed forward.
Rachelle led them to a staircase. In no time, they all climbed the flight of stairs and went through the door that led them outside. Right behind the door, there was a black Mercedes-Benz 170 V with its engine running.
"Frank was kind enough to leave this at my disposal," Rachelle said. "Get in!"
They all got inside the car, Rachelle taking the wheel, and took off.
"Keep your heads down!" Rachelle told as they approached the gate. She slowed her speed down a bit and raised her hand to the gatekeeper as he lifted the gate to let her go through. As soon as she was through, she accelerated to normal road speed.
"Okay, you can sit up straight now," Rachelle said. "The local forces know that this is Frank's car and won't try to stop it. I've arranged a pick up for you and Victoria," she said to Kate.
"Not trying to sound ungrateful, but what's the deal with you and Frank anyway? And how come you can speak Russian all of a sudden?" Chloé was the first to ask.
"You have to excuse my small deception," Rachelle said. "I am a Captain in the GRU and was sent here to infiltrate the German forces."
"GRU... so you are Russian!" Kate commented.
"Well, not exactly," Rachelle said. "I was born in France. My parents were French communists who left to Soviet Russia back in the 20s to help build the ideal socialist society. They died in an accident soon thereafter and I ended up in a state orphanage. From there I was picked to a school run by the GRU. There, I was trained to be an operative to infiltrate enemy forces. When the war erupted, I was assigned to France to get signed up as an informant and seduce the local Gestapo official. I suppose I don't need to tell you who I'm referring to."
"Once I'd gotten in, Frank assigned me to infiltrate the local resistance group that consisted solely of women. My job was to keep him informed about all the sabotage attempts that we were planning. In reality, I was collecting information about the occupying German forces and passing it on to the Allies."
"So, all this time you've been with us, you've been passing information to Bauers," Chloé said.
"Just bits and pieces to keep him happy," Rachel explained. "Nothing that would've really harmed us."
"But what about the train heist?" Max asked.
"While Frank was willing to play the long game, he was beginning to grow impatient about my results, so I had to give him something juicier. Therefore I tipped him of the heist."
"And our mission," Victoria noted.
"That was part of a bigger plan," Rachelle said. "The Allies needed to draw the Germans' attention away from the actual landing point of the invasion, so a plan was devised to send operatives to photograph the fortifications in Calais, and I received orders to tip Frank about it."
"Are you saying that our mission was just a diversion?" Kate asked in disbelief.
"And we got beaten and almost raped for nothing?" Victoria added, slightly agitated.
"Well, not for nothing," Rachelle answered. "Frank took the bait. Hook, line and sinker."
"So I wouldn't have to have exposed the film after all?" Victoria asked.
"That probably would have saved you from most of the unpleasantries, yes," Rachelle confirmed. "But, in the end, it may have added to the credibility. I'm sorry that you had to endure what you did."
"Well, I'm just glad that we're not on our way to Ravensbrück right now," Kate said. "That would've probably been a worse fate than death."
"So where does the invasion take place, if not in Calais?" Victoria asked.
"I don't know," Rachel said. "All I knew that Calais was a diversion."
Rachel turned onto a side road. It was still dark, although the eastern sky was beginning to show signs of dawn. The road led to an opening where Victoria could spot the shape of a Westland Lysander. Rachelle flashed the lights of the car three times, which was responded by two flashes by the plane. Rachelle proceeded forward and parked the car next to the plane.
"You made it just in the nick of time," Trevor Cade said as they stepped out of the car. "Any brighter and I would've had to leave to avoid detection."
"This is where our paths diverge," Rachelle said to Kate and Victoria.
"What will happen to you?" Kate asked.
"We need to find a new hideout, but we'll keep on fighting the good fight," Chloé answered.
"What about you, Rachelle?" Victoria asked.
"I think my cover will be eventually blown, so I'll probably join Max and Chloé until I can establish a connection with my handler, assuming these two will still have me." She cast an apologetic glance at her companions.
"Of course we'll have you!" Chloé said cheerfully. "But no more secrets!"
"Promise!"
"Thank you so much for everything!" Kate said, hugging each woman on their turn.
"Look us up when the war is over!" Chloé said as she gave Victoria a hug. "We'll show you France at its best!"
"We'll take you up on that," Victoria responded. "Best of luck to you!"
"Go n-éirí an bóthar leat," Max said to them. "Have a safe trip home!"
"Da svidanija!" Victoria said to Rachelle, offering her hand.
"Your Russian is as bad as your French," Rachelle said, giggling and took Victoria into a hug.
"While it's still dark, ladies!" Cade hurried them.
Victoria and Kate climbed into the plane, taking their familiar positions. Cade followed to the pilot's seat and the plane began to slowly roll forward. A few moments later, they were in the air and the opening and the people on the ground grew smaller.
"Do you think we'll ever see them?" Victoria asked.
"I'm sure of it," Kate answered.
"Even Rachelle?"
"Who knows?"
-ooo-
May 8, 1945
Victoria looked from her apartment window how Lancaster bombers, escorted by Spitfires, flew over Camden as part of the victory celebrations. The streets were packed with celebrating people who were cheering, singing and dancing.
Victoria was planning to join the celebrations as soon as Kate would come. She'd gone to fetch a bottle of Champagne that she'd managed to get using her contacts. The war might be over but the end of rationing lied still somewhere in the future.
Victoria turned to look at the document on the dressing table. The document stated that Sergeant Major Victoria Maribeth Chase was honorably discharged from the OSS, fully served. Next to it, was a casing that held the Medal of Honor. David Madsen, who himself had been promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General sometime after the invasion, had presented the medal to her on behalf of the President of the United States. Kate, who had been promoted to a rank equal to Captain, had received the Victoria Cross, from King George himself.
Victoria lit up a cigarette. As she exhaled the first drag, she stopped to think how long the last year of the war had gone by. Their return to Britain had been uneventful. They'd returned to the OSS and given their debriefing to David Madsen. Less than ten days from their return, the Allies had launched the invasion successfully in Normandy and begun to liberate continental Europe from the Nazi regime. The Allied forces have been met with heavy opposition, despite of the diversion, but Victoria liked to think that her and Kate's little operation had made some difference. The brass had seemed to think so, as both Kate and Victoria had received their promotions and awards at the end of the summer.
Paris had already been liberated at the end of August, and Max and Chloé had sent pictures of the celebrations. Rachelle had been no longer with them, as she had received orders to return back to Soviet Union soon after the invasion had begun. Max and Chloé had not heard from her since.
Although the tide had turned, the progress of the Allied forces had been far from a parade, with the Operation Market Garden and the Battle of the Bulge being examples of the setbacks that the Allies had faced. Nevertheless, the outcome of the war had been inevitable, and little by little, the Allied troops had taken hold of the European continent, culminating in the fall of Berlin and death of Hitler in the end of April.
Even though the guns had silenced in Europe, the war still raged on in the Pacific. Victoria had wondered, if she would be transferred there, but instead, she had received her discharge papers. It seemed evident that women's services were no longer needed in the war effort, and they could return to their traditional roles. Kate had also been honorably discharged from the SOE, and they both found themselves at a crossroads. Neither of them knew what they would do next. Only thing that they were sure of was that they would do it together.
The door of the apartment opened. Victoria stubbed her cigarette and turned to look at Kate who closed the door behind her. Victoria walked to her and took her into embrace, exchanging a heartfelt kiss.
"Happy Victory Day, darling!" Victoria said.
"Happy Victory Day, love!" Kate responded.
"Did you get it?"
"You mean this," Kate answered, lifting a bottle of Bollinger from her bag. "You got any glasses?"
"Well, no champagne glasses, but some glasses at least." Victoria walked to the cabinet and took out a couple of faded drinking glasses. "They don't look much, but at least they're clean."
"Those will do nicely!" Kate commented as she removed the seal from the bottle and popped the cap. "Oh, it's really foaming! Get those glasses over here!"
Victoria rushed to collect the surging beverage into the glasses. A moment later, the foaming had settled and glasses filled. Victoria passed the other glass to Kate.
"To peace," Kate said, raising her glass.
"I'll drink to that," Victoria joined to the toast. "Mmm, it's been a while since I've had good champagne, or any champagne at all."
"I see you received your discharge papers too," Kate noted.
"Yup, came in yesterday."
"So, back to being a civilian?"
"Yup, like you."
"So, what now?" Kate asked.
"I don't know." Victoria looked out of the window. "There's really nothing left for me in the States."
"You know..." Kate put her hand into her pocket. "Max sent me a letter. She said that she, Chloé and Joyce would be glad to help us settle in if we decided come to live in France."
"That's an interesting prospect," Victoria contemplated. "What do you think?"
"I'd like that idea," Kate admitted.
"Me too, but I'd like to aim a little higher than a country village in Normandy," Victoria said, wrapping her arms around Kate."
"What did you have in mind?"
"Paris, my dear. I know how to photograph, and I know where I stashed that Leica that we used on our mission. We could rent a small boutique and open up a photography studio," Victoria explained. "Didn't you say you're a pretty good illustrator? You could sell your works, take on commissions and such. How does that sound?"
"You're putting up an even more interesting prospect, Miss Chase," Kate said, resting her own arms on Victoria's shoulder."
"What do you say, Miss Marsh?"
"I'd say..." Kate paused to place a kiss on Victoria's lips. "That's worthy of another glass of champagne."
"I have an even better idea," Victoria said, taking Kate's hand and led her to the bed.
A/N:
Hi and welcome back! There will be an epilogue following shortly, but this chapter concludes the main storyline. This story started three years ago almost to date. It started before Russia invaded Ukraine, and this has affected some of the plot choices I made, mostly concerning Rachelle's origin, but also her future, which will revealed in the epilogue.
I want to express my most heartfelt thanks to Lyta Halifax for beta reading and providing valuable feedback in the writing process. This story would've not happened without you.