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

Jean-Pierre said. “That’s our one lucky break. If she answers, tell her the men left something at the restaurant and you just want to leave a note.”
    “I know we talked about that, sorry.”
    “Nervous?”
    “Very,” Madeleine said, turning towards her father.
    “Don’t look at him, just do it like we discussed.”
    “I’m ready,” Madeleine said kissing her father on the cheek. “Give me some time, and then I’ll meet you down at the boat.”
    “Do it for all of us. Do it for Yves and yourself. Death to the Boche,” Jean-Pierre said, gripping her shoulder.
    Madeleine crossed over to the doorway of the small concierge. She was thankful that the light over the door was turned out. She reached out and knocked firmly. She knew the other tenants moved out when the SS Captain moved in. She heard heavy footsteps on the stairs and then someone fumbling with the latch.
    “I knew you would come,” he said his speech slurred, as he reached out to usher her in the doorway. Madeleine put her arm around him as he leaned heavily into her body. His uniform was partially unbuttoned and his jacket was off.
    “Of course I came,” Madeleine said, giving him a quick kiss on the lips. “We better get you upstairs and out of those clothes.”
    “That sounds like fun,” he said grabbing the handrail as he pulled himself up the stairs.
    At the top of the stairwell Madeleine helped Hirschman into his apartment. “What a nice place,” Madeleine said, guiding him into the living room adjacent to the bedroom. The apartment had a small kitchenette and a sitting room that overlooked the street. Inside the bedroom, Madeleine lowered Hirschman onto the bed. He immediately fell to his side with his feet still on the floor.
    “Let’s get those boots off,” Madeleine said raising Hirschman’s feet so that he was fully on the bed. She tossed the boots off haphazardly remembering not to leave any indication that he’d been helped. I don’t suppose they’ll care much about that when they find a dead body, she thought looking down at the man. Now that she was in his room she felt her resolve strengthen. He was alone and vulnerable. Once he passes out all I have to do is pull the trigger. “I’ll be right back. I have to use the toilet,” she said leaning over his body. He grunted as he rolled onto his front.
    Madeleine opened the door and looked out into the hallway. She took off her shoes and carried them down the hall. Once inside the bathroom, she slipped off her outer clothes revealing a thin negligee she had spirited out of her mother’s drawer. It was old and small and she wondered whether her mother still wore it, or if she would even notice that it was gone. She clicked on the bare bulb over the sink and looked in the mirror. She looked herself in the eye and whispered, “Do it.”
    Pulling the cord on the light, she opened the door and stepped out, carrying her clothes. Maybe he’s already asleep, she thought as she opened the door to the apartment and slipped inside. Hirschman had shifted onto his back and was snoring loudly. Madeleine sat down on a chair next to a writing table and watched to see if he was awake at all. She waited several long minutes. Satisfied, she stood and pulled her clothes over the negligee. The pistol was still strapped to her inner thigh and she placed in on the table as she dressed. When she was finished, she picked up the gun and glanced around the room, moving over to a shaded bedside lamp that gave off the only light in the room. She turned it off and moved towards the front of the apartment. The drapes over the front window were partially closed. She pulled them quickly together, giving Jean-Pierre the prearranged signal that she was in place.
    Madeleine moved back to the bed and removed a pillow. She covered the pistol with it, holding it with her left hand, careful to cover the end of the barrel to suppress the sound and any flash the gun would give off. Madeleine looked down into