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

She picked up the tray and turned to disappear through the door into the hallway. Evelyn watched her go and felt a wave of warmth go through her. Despite everything occurring around her and all the uncertainty of who she could trust, Evelyn felt instinctively that Else Kolstad was a true ally.

Sipping her coffee, she just hoped that one day she could return the kindness.

Evelyn looked up as a shadow fell across her small corner table in the cafe.

“Good morning,” Daniel greeted her, unbuttoning his coat. “You look well, all things considered.”

She smiled and watched as he seated himself across from her. “Thank you.”

“Any sign of your shadow today?”

“Yes. He was outside the house this morning. As far as I know, he’s still there. Have we heard anything from London?”

“Yes. You’ve been given the all clear to pursue all possible avenues.” Daniel reached into the inside pocket of his coat and pulled out an envelope, sliding it across the table. “In here are two train tickets to Stockholm and two thousand kronor. That should cover any expenses while you’re in Sweden. The train leaves tonight, and the tickets are for a sleeper car.”

She looked at the envelope for a moment, then raised bemused eyes to his face.

“Tickets and money? Just like that?”

He chuckled. “Just like that. This is how it works, my dear. They want to make sure there is nothing to prevent you from doing what you need to do.”

Evelyn shook her head and picked up the envelope, placing it in her purse.

“I have an additional message from William Buckley for you,” Daniel continued, making a motion with his hand to indicate to the waitress heading their way that he didn’t want any coffee. She nodded and turned away to go to another table. “He wants to know when you arrive in Stockholm. He said to send a telegram to your newspaper.”

She nodded. “Very well. Anything else?”

“Yes. When you arrive at the Strand Hotel, send a message to Horace Manchester at the embassy. Tell him that I send my regards. That will alert him to your presence in Stockholm and instruct him to provide any assistance you may require while you’re there. He is very limited in his resources, but he will be able to assist in travel arrangements, among other things, if needed.”

“Thank you.”

Daniel looked at her for a moment, then leaned forward.

“Where is the package from Shustov?” he asked, lowering his voice.

“It is safe.”

“Perhaps you should leave it with me until you return,” he said slowly. “It might not be the safest thing to carry with you when you are being followed by a Soviet agent.”

“Don’t worry. It won’t be found,” Evelyn assured him with a faint smile.

He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Have you spoken with Anna yet?”

“No. I’ll speak with her this afternoon.”

“If she cannot accompany you, what will you do?”

“I’ll go on my own,” she said promptly. “While I agree that two women traveling together will garner less attention, I must go regardless.”

“Agreed. If she seems on the fence about it, tell her that I can arrange the time with her employer. She need only call me.”

“I’ll pass the message on.”

Daniel nodded, picked up his hat, and got up.

“Very well. I’ll see you when you return.” He held out his hand and Evelyn stood to grasp it. “Take very good care of yourself, Miss Richardson.”

“I will.”

He nodded once more and turned to leave the cafe, buttoning his coat as he went towards the door. Evelyn watched him go, then sank back into her seat and reached for her cup of coffee.

She felt rather dazed with the speed at which everything was happening. Yesterday morning, she was concerned about meeting with Lyakhov, and today she was preparing to depart for Stockholm with the equivalent of over two hundred pounds in Swedish currency in her purse. Her lips curved faintly. Bill had tried to warn her that things would move quickly once her training was over. He hadn’t been exaggerating. Although, she supposed she should have been prepared for this after her maiden mission in Strasbourg last summer. That also had not gone as planned.

She pressed her lips together and cradled her cup in her hands, considering her options. If Anna agreed to accompany her, it would make things easier. Not only did she know the language, but she could help allay suspicion if anyone began to question an English journalist traveling through Scandinavia. If she declined, Evelyn would have to go alone. While that made her nervous in the same way she had been nervous when her ship departed Scotland for its journey across the North Sea a few days ago, she prosaically accepted that this was something that had to be done. The potential benefits of meeting Niva far outweighed any lingering discomfort she might feel at traveling to a country she’d never visited before in her life.

She finished her coffee and set the empty mug down. There was nothing for it. Whether she was ready for this or not, tonight she would board a train bound for Sweden and an unknown Soviet agent who might or might not be an ally. Evelyn stood up and gathered her purse and gloves. She couldn’t think of what could happen, but could only focus on what she had to do.

And right now, that was to make preparations for another journey.

Chapter Fourteen

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“I hope you don’t mind having a window that faces the back. It overlooks the kitchen garden.” Else said over her shoulder, leading the way up the stairs to the second floor. “It’s the last available room at the moment. Now, I do have a room becoming available in two days if you’d like to switch then. We can certainly arrange it.”

“I’m sure this will be fine, Frau Kolstad,” the man behind her said pleasantly. “I prefer a quiet room.”

“That works out nicely, then.” She reached the top of the