Open Door

      Introduction

      During World War II (1939–1945), countries at war were divided between the Allies and the Axis. The Allies worked to control the aggression of Germany, Italy, and Japan. Germany’s leader, Adolf Hitler, was trying to take over Europe. Hitler was the head of the Nazi Party. Many people feared the Gestapo, the Nazis’ secret police. The United States tried to help defeat Germany by sending soldiers and spies. General George Patton was in charge of the US Army. America’s first spy agency, the Office of Strategic Services, was headed by William Donovan.

      Chapter One

      It was September of 1944. Pearl Dubois arrived for her first day of work at the Office of Strategic Services. (It was called the OSS for short.) She was an American, but she was working in Paris. Her husband was stationed in Hawaii.

      Pearl’s heart beat fast as she imagined her first assignment. The OSS was a spy agency. It hired people from various backgrounds to gather information. That intelligence could help the Allies fight the enemy.

      Pearl usually wore silk gowns, but today she was dressed in a uniform. The skirt and jacket were made of wool. The fabric was scratchy. It was gray like the bleak autumn sky.

      “Good morning!” Pearl said, stepping into the office.

      “Good morning,” the secretary said. She peered at Pearl over her spectacles. “You must be the new girl.”

      “Yes,” said Pearl. “I’m ready to get to work!”

      She was not able to get any other job supporting the cause. The American Red Cross turned down her services because she did not have a college education. But the OSS was something new and different. Its director, Bill Donovan, hired a movie director, a writer, and even a prince. Pearl’s renowned and wealthy New Orleans family impressed him. Also, she spoke French.

      “You may see Mr. Donovan now,” the secretary said.

      Pearl went into his office. Her new boss was sitting at his desk. An unlit cigarette was between his fingers.

      “Hello, my dear,” he said. “Can you guess what this is?”

      “A cigarette, sir?” Pearl thought it was a foolish question.

      Mr. Donovan’s eyes twinkled. “Yes, but not just any cigarette. This one was dipped in a truth serum. If an agent can get an enemy officer to smoke it, she will find out some very interesting things.”

      “Yes, sir.” Pearl felt a shiver run down her spine. How thrilling it will be to work as a spy, she thought.

      Mr. Donovan put the cigarette down. He gave her his full attention. “You will translate French documents. My secretary will show you to your desk.”

      “Will I go into the field, sir?” Pearl wanted to infiltrate groups of German sympathizers and learn their secrets.

      “I think that is too dangerous for you,” Mr. Donovan said. “You will be safe here.”

      “Yes, sir,” Pearl said. She tried not to roll her eyes. Dangerous? Pearl knew how to fire a gun. She had been on safari in Africa. Plus, she knew how to hypnotize people. She learned it at a party where a famous hypnotist was the entertainment. She was not afraid of the Germans.

      Nevertheless, Pearl did her job. She translated documents, day after day. Letters between German officers and their French mistresses were intercepted. She translated them. She sometimes chatted with her colleague Molly. Molly was once a knife thrower in a circus, but for now, she was just filing papers.

      “Did you hear about the plan to strap firebombs onto bats?” Molly asked.

      “That’s crazy,” Pearl said. “How could that work?”

      “It didn’t. But they also developed an explosive powder that was baked into bread,” Molly said. “That was more successful.”

      Pearl realized that Mr. Donovan was open to ideas. If she invented a good one, he might let her go into the field and try it.

      One day, a field agent brought in some microfiche along with a letter in French. The work was delivered to Pearl’s desk. She translated the text into English. The microfiche had photos and names of German spies. She immediately brought it to Mr. Donovan’s attention.

      “Good work, Pearl. We need to get this to General Patton as soon as possible. I will ask Molly to go.”

      “But, sir . . .”

      Chapter Two

      If anyone is going to bring classified information to General Patton, it should be me! Pearl thought.

      “Please, Mr. Donovan,” she said. She stood up from behind her desk. “Let me handle this mission.”

      Her boss glanced over at Molly, who was tall and sturdy. She looked like an athlete. She looked like someone who could dodge bullets or leap over a wall.

      “I may look delicate,” Pearl said. She was suddenly conscious of her Southern accent. It made her sound like a belle. “But I assure you that I am as tough as nails. And I have many skills.”

      “Yes, I know that you can speak French,” he said, “but if you got into trouble, there would be no one to help you. If the Germans knew you held this information, they would probably kill you.”

      If something bad happened to her, Mr. Donovan would have to explain it to her rich and powerful father. He was probably worried more about that than the risk involved in the mission.

      “Well, actually, I can do other things as well. I’m good at . . . hypnosis.”

      Mr. Donovan perked up. “Could you show me?”

      “Sure.” She reached into her desk. She took out a pocket watch on a chain. “Molly, would you come here for a moment?”

      Molly looked up from the form she was filling out. She crossed the room and sat in a chair in front of Pearl.

      “I want to