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

step into the cage. The porter followed and once they were in, the attendant entered and pulled the grate closed. He said something in Swedish and Evelyn looked at Anna helplessly.

“He wants to know which floor,” she said with a grin. “Where are we going?”

“The fourth floor.”

Anna told the attendant and he nodded, putting the lift in motion. The ride was a quiet one as Evelyn and Anna dropped the topic of Hitler for the moment, choosing instead to watch the floors of the hotel go slowly by. It was a small lift and between the boy with the luggage and the attendant, there was very little room. Evelyn stood still, watching the floors, her mind spinning.

Someone had really tried to kill Hitler! While it was completely unexpected, she supposed it shouldn’t have been. Even though the press in Germany portrayed him as a beloved Führer, it stood to reason that there would be those who were less than enthusiastic. There always were. But to openly try to kill him? And the amazing thing was it would have worked! If he hadn’t moved his speech up an hour, it would be a very different world today. It would be a world on its way back to peace.

The lift came to a stop and the attendant opened the gate, nodding to them with a smile. Evelyn stepped out and looked at the porter. He nodded and led the way to the left, saying something over his shoulder.

“He says to follow him,” Anna said unnecessarily.

Evelyn looked at her. “I would never have guessed,” she said dryly.

Anna grinned. “You wanted an interpreter. I’m simply doing my job.”

“I wanted a companion as well,” Evelyn retorted, tucking her arm through hers. “And you’re doing that fabulously. Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me. I’m enjoying myself! This is a nice change from transcribing legal notes, I assure you.”

The porter stopped before a door and set two of the bags down so he could unlock it. Once the door was opened, he handed the key to Evelyn and picked up the bags.

“Oh! How lovely!” Anna exclaimed, following Evelyn into the room and looking around.

They had stepped into a very modern sitting room with two arm chairs, a love seat, and a table in the center. A set of French doors opened onto a narrow balcony, and an ornate desk stood to the side of the doors. On either side of the sitting room was a door leading to a bedroom.

The porter set the bags down and turned to leave. Evelyn murmured thank you in Swedish as he passed and he bobbed his head. A moment later, the door was closing softly behind him.

“The view is outstanding!” Anna exclaimed from across the room, opening the doors to step out onto the balcony. “Come and see!”

Evelyn smiled and walked across the room to where a cold breeze was blowing in.

“It’s freezing!”

“It’s not. It’s lovely! You’re just not used to it.” Anna gazed out over the water. “Well, perhaps it’s a bit brisk,” she admitted a second later as a gust of wind caught them in the face and she reached up to hold her hat on her head.

Evelyn laughed, shivering. The hotel overlooked the harbor. Directly across the water stood the Royal Palace, imposing and elegant in all its timeless grandeur. The sun glistened off the surface, making the waves look like moving, glittering glass, and Evelyn breathed deeply. It truly was a wonderful view.

“Stunning,” she said, turning to go back into the sitting room. “But too cold!”

Anna chuckled, shaking her head. After taking one last look across the water, she turned and went in, closing the doors behind her.

“I’ll tell you this: if this is how you travel, I’ll be your interpreter any time you like!” she said, taking off her hat and tossing it onto the table. “It’s marvelous! We even have our own rooms!”

“You can thank Daniel Carew for that,” Evelyn said, unbuttoning her coat and beginning to pull off her gloves. “He’s the one who made the reservation.”

“Perhaps I should take him up on his offer to come and work for him,” she said with a grin, undoing her coat and shrugging out of it. “He’s asked more than once.”

Evelyn removed her coat and turned to pick up her bags, heading for the door on the right.

“I can’t imagine this is the norm for embassy employees,” she said over her shoulder. “Never mind. You can enjoy it while you’re here.”

Anna followed her to the door, leaning against it as she watched Evelyn set her suitcase down and turn to place her smaller travel case on the dressing table.

“What did you mean when you said that the Gestapo were nothing if not efficient?” she asked suddenly.

Evelyn looked at her in surprise. “What?”

“The way you said it, it sounded as if you had personal experience with them. Have you?”

“No, thank heavens. I’ve heard stories, that’s all.” Evelyn dropped her gloves next to her case and turned to face Anna. “They’re the Nazi police. They must be good at it or they wouldn’t have the reputation they do.”

Anna made a face and straightened up from the door jam. “There’s a difference between being good at something and being a bully,” she muttered. “My brother says they’re all thugs.”

“Your brother?” Evelyn grasped at that, thankful to turn the conversation from herself and the Gestapo. “I didn’t know you had a brother!”

“Yes. He’s with the army up near Trondheim. His name is Erik.” Anna turned to leave the bedroom. “He likes to think he knows everything.”

“Don’t all brothers?” Evelyn demanded with a laugh before she could stop herself.

Anna picked up her cases and looked back at her.

“You sound as if you have one of your own,” she said. “Do you?”

“Yes. He’s in the RAF.” Evelyn glanced at her watch. “We just have time to get dressed for dinner,” she said, turning back into her room. “Are you hungry?”

“I’m always hungry!” Anna went across the sitting room to the opposite