Cold Lonely Courage (Madeleine toche Series Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

Madeleine said.
    The restaurant cleared out as the evening progressed, and the soldiers’ party got louder. Madeleine and Jean-Pierre worked to keep the men’s glasses full and to serve them whatever they wanted, pushing stronger drinks when they could.
    “Have some more schnapps, men. You haven’t tried this one yet,” Jean-Pierre said as he brought another tray of overflowing glasses of the strong liquor over to the table.
    “A soldier never refuses a drink,” the Captain said raising his glass unsteadily as his men followed suit. “A song, Carl,” he bellowed, pointing at a young sergeant at the far end of the table. As the men broke into another drinking song, Madeleine bent down and whispered into the Captain’s ear.
    “Don’t forget later,” she whispered.
    “I won’t,” he said awkwardly gripping her arm. “Come by my apartment on the Rue de Marche. You know the one run by that old widow, whose name I can’t remember,” he said reaching out for his wine glass.
    “Madame Thomas?” Madeleine said.
    “Yes, yes that’s it. I’ll head over there and you follow me,” he said trying to focus on Madeleine’s face as he swayed in his chair.
    “I’ll be there as soon as you send these men on their way.”
    The Captain drained his glass. “Men, let’s take this party out in the street. Time for us to get home before you miss breakfast and your train,” he said as he unsteadily got to his feet. Madeleine took his arm and led him to the front door followed by the other men, most of whom held onto one another for support.
    “For the party,” Madeleine said handing the least impaired soldier a small bottle of brandy, as the group lurched out the door onto the sidewalk arm in arm.
    “He’s gone,” Madeleine said as Jean-Pierre walked up.
    “Thank God. I don’t think the wine cellar could take anymore,” Jean-Pierre said. “Let’s clear the dishes and get you ready to go.”
    Madeleine watched as her father moved over to the table and began to stack glasses onto a tray. She realized that the time to act had come. Jean-Pierre turned as he noticed that she hadn’t answered him. “You can back out anytime, Madeleine. My advice would be to forget the plan.”
    “He’ll be expecting me. Maybe not tonight when he passes out, by he’ll be back. It has to be tonight. Did you make arrangements down at the port?”
    “Everything is ready, but we have to get going. You’ll have to leave before dawn and get out ahead of the other boats.”
    “Let’s go, then,” Madeleine said, gathering the rest of the glasses. She followed her father back to the kitchen.
    “Your bag is in the cupboard. The pistol is there and all of the ammunition just in case. Do you have everything else?”
    “I’ve got what I need.”
    “Then let’s go.”
    As they walked back through the kitchen, she opened the cupboard door and removed the pistol and ammunition. “Here, hold onto these, Papa. I have a place to hide the pistol but not the shells.” Jean-Pierre took the box from her hand and placed it in the pocket of his coat.
    Madeleine stopped and looked around, giving her father a tight smile as she turned and walked out the door. “I’ll be back, you know,” Madeleine said, following Jean-Pierre out onto the patio.
    “I know you will. We’ll be here.”
    Using the back alleys, they walked steadily towards Hirschman’s apartment. It was well into the early morning hours and the streets were deserted. Most of the street lights were not in use to conserve energy and to avoid illuminating a port that might be a target for Allied bombing, if any ever came. It will be over in an hour or so, Madeleine thought as they slowed down. “Tonight is the night you send that bastard to hell,” she said to herself as the alley opened up onto the Rue de Marche.
    “I see a light on upstairs. That must be his room,” Madeleine said. “When I knock, what happens if Madame Thomas answers?”
    “Remember she’s deaf,”