The Oslo Affair (Shadows of War, #2) CW Browning (sci fi books to read TXT) 📖

He walked around the desk and headed for the door to his office.

“I’ll go send this message off to London. Won’t be a moment. Can I get you anything? I think I could probably scrounge some tea.”

“No thank you.”

Evelyn waited until he’d left the office, closing the door behind him, then got up quickly and went around the desk. She had no idea how much time she had, but she was sure it wasn’t going to be long. It was best to move quickly.

Starting with the top drawer, she swiftly and methodically went through Carew’s desk, searching for anything that would shed some light on the fact that she had a Russian agent watching her every move. While she wanted to believe that the leak of her presence and identity hadn’t come from this embassy, Evelyn knew that nothing was certain. If she wanted to survive for more than a few weeks, she couldn’t fully trust anyone. That much was clear. She may be new to this whole cloak and dagger business, but even she knew that there was no way anyone could have known enough to follow her unless they had been told. It was the very fact that she was so new to this world that convinced her that someone had betrayed her. Who and where was another question, but there was no doubt in her mind that someone was feeding information to the Russians.

Once she had gone through all the desk drawers without finding anything, Evelyn turned to the tall filing cabinet along the wall. Vladimir hadn’t asked her to keep Risto Niva’s name secret, but she saw no reason to extend the risk to him as well. If no one knew his name, real or not, then there could be no leak. And she would do everything she could to keep a potential contact safe.

The filing cabinet was locked, but a few seconds with a hairpin overcame that difficulty. Opening the top drawer, she felt a rush of satisfaction at the sight of rows of neatly labeled files. Her heart was beating a steady, rapid tattoo against her chest and she glanced at the closed office door, listening. There was no sound and she turned her attention back to the files. Flipping through them quickly, she paused when she came to a name she recognized. Raising an eyebrow, she pulled it out and opened the file, scanning through the documents inside quickly.

Anna Salvesen not only spoke English, Swedish and German, but also some French. She had been to university, where she completed a secretarial course before coming to work in Oslo. Her family was originally from an area near Trollheimen, but she had come to live in Oslo two years before. Her family was still near Trollheimen, with the exception of her brother. He was a lieutenant in the army, stationed in the north. Anna was considered a class B asset, whatever that meant.

Evelyn tucked the file back into the drawer, moving on. She went through the rest quickly, looking for any that would indicate a traitor in their midst. Finding nothing, she moved on to the next drawer. She checked at her watch and her heart pounded faster. She had to be running out of time. Daniel had been gone for over ten minutes. While she had no idea how long it would take to make contact with London, Evelyn had to assume it wouldn’t be long.

It was towards the back of the drawer that her fingers paused. They had landed on a file marked EISENJAGER. Her lips tightened and she pulled the file out, glancing towards the door. All the files were labeled in English, except for this one. Eisenjager translated as Iron Hunter. It was obviously a codename, but for whom? She flipped the folder open and found herself looking at a single sheet of paper. Scanning it quickly, her frown grew. It seemed that Daniel Carew didn’t know much at all about Eisenjager. There was no known description or location. All they had were a handful of references within other communications, and one verbal confirmation by an agent in Munich named Spider. That was it.

Yet at the top was a red stamp that read High Priority.

Looking at her watch once more, Evelyn slid the file back into its spot and closed the drawer, going back to her seat across from the desk. She dared not search any longer in case Daniel came back. She pulled out a cigarette and lit it with shaking fingers, crossing her legs as she sat back in her chair, her mind spinning.

Who was Eisenjager? And why was he a high priority when they knew so little about him?

She was still considering the question a moment later when the door behind her opened and Daniel strode in.

“You’re in luck, Miss Richardson,” he announced, closing the door. “I made contact immediately. The radio operator was on when I transmitted. He hopes to have a response shortly.”

He went around his desk and glanced at his watch.

“When is your deadline?”

“Midnight. Will we hear in time?”

He frowned thoughtfully and sat down.

“I honestly don’t know,” he confessed.

They were silent for a long moment, then Evelyn got up and put her cigarette out in the ashtray on his desk.

“I’ll tell Shustov that I’ll go,” she decided. “Regardless of what the response it, I think it’s the only option at this point, don’t you?”

He nodded slowly, his lips pressed together.

“Yes. I think it’s an opportunity that can’t be missed. Furthermore, I think London will give the all clear to go ahead. As you say, it’s really the only option. And it may lead to greater things in the future.”

“It’s settled then.” She turned and picked up her purse and gloves from the chair. “I suppose I’m off to Stockholm.”

“Come by first thing in the morning,” he said, standing as she began to pull on her gloves. “I’ll make the travel arrangements. I should definitely have a response by morning,