The Lost Girls of Paris: A Novel

Content Warning: This section of the novel contains descriptions of torture and murder.

It has been 10 days since Julian left France to attend meetings at SOE headquarters in London. Arrests of agents are increasing as the German intelligence forces gain a foothold in Northern France. Will tells Marie that a personnel drop is expected this evening; they are both surprised that news of the drop has come from a neighboring SOE network rather than through Marie’s wireless. Meanwhile, the planned bridge explosion has been moved forward because a large German convoy will be crossing the bridge in a few days. Will tells Marie that Josie, who was supposed to lay the charge to blow the bridge, is missing and is assumed to have been either killed or captured. Marie volunteers to fulfill Josie’s role in the mission. She will lay the charge and then walk to the drop point where Julian is supposed to land.

Marie waits alone for night to fall, then climbs the bridge support and places the charge, setting it to detonate at 10 PM the next night. She meets Will at the arranged rendezvous. They wait for hours, but Julian never comes.