The Oslo Affair (Shadows of War, #2) by CW Browning (best non fiction books to read txt) 📕

“For instance, Herr Mayer gave me the impression the other evening that he was disgusted by some of the things happening in his country. Yet he was frightened enough to cancel our dinner for fear of being caught speaking with a foreign correspondent. Does that make him complicit with what the Nazis are doing? Or does it simply make him fearful for his livelihood? Who are we to judge him?”

“He canceled your dinner?” Anna sat up. “I didn’t know that. What do you mean he was afraid of being caught?”

Evelyn shrugged. “He left a note at the desk. He said that he’d thought about it and decided that it would be unwise for him to meet with me without the approval of the Ministry of Propaganda.”

“How strange! How would they know?”

Evelyn thought of Herr Renner and his presence in Oslo, and the Hotel Bristol in particular.

“Perhaps he thought he was being watched by the Gestapo.”

Anna got up and walked over to the table between them, stubbing out her cigarette in the cut glass ashtray.

“That’s a shame. So you didn’t get any information from the Germans after all.”

Before she could answer, there was single knock on the door and a scraping noise. Both women started and turned to look at the door in surprise.

“Who on earth is that?” Anna wondered as Evelyn got to her feet.

Evelyn didn’t answer. She couldn’t. Her heart was pounding too hard in her chest. No one knew they were here, except the man who had crossed the lobby as they came up from dinner.

She walked across the living room towards the door apprehensively, wondering if she should open it. Then her step checked as her eyes fell on a white envelope on the floor. It hadn’t been there a moment ago.

“What’s that?” Anna asked behind her, pointing to the envelope.

“I don’t know.” Evelyn bent to pick it up. “It must have been shoved under the door.”

She turned it over to see two initials scrawled across the front: M.R.

“Well, it’s for you, whatever it is,” Anna said, looking over her shoulder. “How strange. Why didn’t they leave it at the front desk?”

Evelyn turned to carry the envelope over to the love seat, sinking down with it in her hands. Her heard was still beating fast and she wasn’t sure she wanted to open it, but she resolutely turned it over to slide her finger under the sealed flap.

“Wait!” Anna went over to the desk and returned a moment later with a long letter opener. “You’ll cut yourself.”

Evelyn took the opener with an amused glance at her friend. “I tend not to worry about paper cuts, to be honest.”

She used the letter opener anyway, sliding the blade under the flap and slicing the envelope open in one smooth motion. She handed the blade back to Anna and pulled out a single sheet of paper.

Den Gyldene Freden. Österlånggatan, Gamla Stan. 11:00 am.

Evelyn’s brows came together as she stared at the message.

“Well?” Anna asked impatiently, perching on the arm of the love seat. “What does it say?”

“I think it might be a location, but I’m not sure. I don’t understand it,” Evelyn said, looking up at her. “Can you read it?”

Anna all but snatched the paper out of her hand, her excitement palpable.

“Den Gyldene Freden. Well, that translates into...golden peace. Can that be right?” she frowned, staring at the message. “It looks like an address, but I don’t understand the bit about golden peace. What does that mean?”

Evelyn shrugged. “I have no idea!”

Anna studied the sheet for a long moment. “I really do think it’s an address,” she finally said.

“Could golden peace be the name of a tavern? Like a pub?” Evelyn asked. “Strange name, but I’ve heard even stranger.”

“I suppose it could be,” Anna said, passing the sheet back. “The one thing we can be sure of is the time. There’s no doubt about that.”

Evelyn nodded and slipped the paper back into the envelope, standing up.

“I’ll ask at the desk in the morning. If it’s an address, they should be able to point me in the right direction. Do you have a lighter?”

“On the table. Why?”

Evelyn walked over to the table and picked up the lighter. She lit the corner of the envelope and watched as flames licked along the edge hungrily before making their way along the paper, turning the envelope and its contents into charred ash. After tilting it to ensure that the flames were well and truly destroying the note, she dropped it into the ash tray and watched as what remained of the envelope curled and sizzled, devoured by the fire.

“Are you sure you should have done that?” Anna asked, breaking the silence once the envelope had disappeared completely. “What if you don’t remember the name?”

“I’ll remember.”

Anna stood and came over to stand beside her, staring down at the ash tray.

“This is all terribly exciting, isn’t it?” she asked. “Secret messages pushed under doors, strange addresses, and destroying the evidence. How thrilling!”

Evelyn looked at her, a slow grin curving her lips. “You’re not afraid?”

“Not in the least! I wish I could go with you! I suppose there’s no possibility of that, is there?”

“I’m afraid not,” Evelyn said, shaking her head. “It’s far too dangerous. I have no idea what I’ll be walking into.”

Anna sighed. “Very well. I’ll want to know absolutely everything when you get back!”

Evelyn laughed and turned to go to her room.

“I doubt it will make as exciting listening as you think,” she said over her shoulder. “I’ll be surprised if they even show up. Good night!”

She went into her room and closed the door, leaning on it for a moment. Contrary to what she’d just said, Evelyn had no doubt that Risto would be there at eleven in the morning. The question was why? And would her Soviet comrade from Oslo also be in attendance?

Evelyn moved away from the door and began to get ready for bed, trying to calm her jittery nerves. This was what she had been trained to do.