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

his shoulder as Otto huffed after him, his face turning red from the exertion. “It’s the last boarding call!”

He reached the bottom of the stairs and ran along the short, wide corridor towards the platform ahead. The whistle blew just as he emerged onto the empty platform and he let out a string of curses at the sight of the train pulling away from the platform.

“Too late!” Otto gasped, stopping next to him and staring at the train pulling away. “Did you see her?”

“Nein.” Renner turned away as the train began to pick up speed.

“Perhaps she’s not on it,” Otto suggested breathlessly. “There are other trains.”

Herr Renner nodded and began to walk back towards the stairs. Suddenly he felt the hair on the back of his neck raise and he swung around, nearly plowing into Otto as he did so. With a scowl, he pushed him out of the way and took a few steps towards the departing train. The front had already left the station and the back was just sliding by when he saw her.

She was in the second-to-last car, staring at them. As the car flew by them, she raised a hand to her lips and blew him a kiss, her lips curving in what could only be described as an impish grin.

Chapter Twenty-Six

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Evelyn stood on the deck, her hands deep in her pockets, with a strong, bitter wind whipping at her hair. The sun had set and the sky was clear, sparkling with thousands of bright stars. If it weren’t for the cold, it would be a lovely night on the water. A fierce shudder went through her and she burrowed her chin into her coat as she watched the coast, glittering with lights, slip by. They were moving through what looked to be a sound now, with small, coastal islands on either side. If she looked to her left, she could see the port in the distance with the lights of Stockholm shining brightly. When she looked to the right, she saw more lights dotting the horizon as the ship made its way towards the Baltic Sea.

Another shudder went through her, but Evelyn ignored it. She couldn’t go back to her cabin until she knew she was safely away. The city was still just too close for comfort.

A young sailor stood a few feet away and he kept glancing at her as she stood at the railing, watching the land slide by. He must have thought she was absolutely insane. She was the only passenger on the deck. The cold, frigid wind had already driven the others inside to where it was warm and they had access to a light supper. Her stomach had ceased rumbling long ago, but she supposed she would have to go in and eat something soon.

“Ursäkta mig, är du inte kall?”

She turned in surprise as the young sailor addressed her, a friendly smile on his face.

“I’m sorry. I don’t speak Swedish,” Evelyn said in French, shrugging apologetically.

Instead of looking confused at the language, the young man visibly brightened.

“You’re French!” he exclaimed in kind, a grin breaking across his face. “So am I! I’m from Marseilles!”

Evelyn smiled. “My family is from Paris.”

“I haven’t spoken to another Frenchman in over six months,” the young man said, moving closer. “My name is Lucas,” he added, shoving his hand out.

“I’m Clare.” She pulled her hand out of her pocket to shake the offered hand, then shoved it back in quickly as another violent shudder went through her.

“You’re cold,” he said unnecessarily. “It’s very cold tonight. Why don’t you go inside where it’s warm? You’ll get sick out here.”

“I just want to watch until we get to the sea,” she said, nodding to the passing coastline. “I love to watch the lights go by.”

“I suppose I’m used to it,” Lucas said, following her gaze. “How long were you in Sweden?”

“A few weeks. I was visiting an old school friend,” Evelyn lied smoothly. “I wasn’t due to leave until next week, but I received word that my grand-mère is ill.”

“And so you grabbed passage on the first ship you could,” he said with a nod. “We dock at Copenhagen, but there are always liners coming in and out of port. You should be able to get passage relatively quickly.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.”

“You really shouldn’t be out here without at least a scarf. Do you have one?”

“I’m afraid not.”

He clucked his tongue and shook his head. Then, after a moment of thought, he patted her arm.

“Wait here,” he told her. “I’ll be right back.”

Evelyn watched her new acquaintance turn and hurry along the deck to a door, disappearing inside. She smiled faintly and turned back to look at the lights. They were getting more sporadic now and further away as the ship got closer to the sea. It was nice to talk to someone in a civilized language, she reflected. Anna had been lovely, of course, but it was comforting to hear French again.

The smile faded as she thought of Anna. Had she reached the train in time? Had she managed to lose Herr Renner and his thugs? Evelyn hadn’t liked leaving her to play the part of the decoy alone, but Anna had insisted. As soon as she found out that Evelyn could contact the embassy and get out of Stockholm, there had been no swaying her. She had quite logically pointed out that the Germans could hardly detain her. She was Norwegian and, not only was Norway neutral in the war, but she had done nothing except accompany a new friend to Sweden. There was absolutely nothing they could do except threaten her. And, Anna had said with a martial glint her eyes, she’d just like to see them try.

In the end, Evelyn had agreed, knowing that it was paramount that she get out of Sweden with her intelligence. She never mentioned the Soviet agent to Anna. Her new friend had enough to worry about with Herr Renner. The other one would