The Oslo Affair (Shadows of War, #2) by CW Browning (read after .txt) 📗

Once again, a feeling of apprehension rolled over her and she looked at Jasper almost with misgiving.

“What do you mean?”

“Robert and Shustov got to know each other quite well over the years,” Jasper told her. “In relationships like these, trust must be built and, over time, many sources and contacts become rather close friends. Vladimir shared anecdotes about his family with Robert and, of course, Robert reciprocated.”

Evelyn sucked in her breath, suddenly realizing why she was here.

“Dad told him that I could speak Russian.”

“Among other things,” Bill said, returning to his seat. He lit a cigarette for himself and looked at Jasper. “That’s why we’re all here today. Jasper approached me and requested your assistance. I told him that it was entirely up to you.”

“Shustov will only meet with you,” Jasper told her bluntly. “He knows what you look like, knows stories from when you were a girl, and knows that you speak Russian. He advised that any attempt to send an impostor would result in all communication immediately ceasing. If we try to send someone else, we’ll lose one of our most important sources within Moscow.”

“I don’t understand,” Evelyn said, lifting her cigarette to her lips. She inhaled and blew a stream of smoke up into the air. “If he already gave whatever it was to my father, and it has subsequently disappeared, why meet with me?”

Bill and Jasper exchanged another look and she frowned.

“He’s willing to try again, with you.”

Evelyn looked from one man to the other, her mind spinning.

“How? I can’t go to Poland. It’s already fallen.” She hesitated, then gasped. “You don’t honestly expect me to go to Moscow!”

“No.”

Evelyn breathed a sigh of relief. Over the past six months, it had slowly been born upon her that, at the end of the training, she would be expected to go back into France, and even possibly as far as Belgium and Denmark. While she was fully prepared to traipse across the continent, she drew the line at going into enemy territory. The idea of starting her career with MI6 by going straight to Moscow frankly terrified her.

“Shustov suggested Oslo,” Jasper said. “He’s scheduled to go in November and has agreed to meet you there.”

“That’s why you wanted to know if I spoke Norwegian.”

Jasper shrugged. “It would have made it a bit easier if you did, but we have someone at the embassy there who can put you in contact with a translator.”

Evelyn stared at him. “You want me to go to Norway in November?”

Bill grinned.

“Might I suggest that very warm clothing may be in order?”

Chapter Four

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Evelyn climbed out of the taxi in front of the Savoy. Darkness had fallen, and with it, the blackout that had engulfed London every night since war was declared. She squinted up at the familiar facade of the hotel before turning to collect two garment boxes from the back seat. After leaving the drab yet enlightening house on Broadway, she had felt decidedly out of her element and particularly overwhelmed. With plenty of time before she was due to meet Rob for dinner, she did the one thing that always cheered her up and made everything better: she went shopping.

Closing the taxi door, she turned towards the entrance as the doorman came forward to help her with the boxes.

“I’m dining in the restaurant. Would you mind carrying them to the coat check?” she asked with a smile as he took the boxes.

“Of course, miss.”

“Thank you.”

Back on familiar territory, and looking forward to dinner in her favorite restaurant, Evelyn felt herself begin to relax. The revelations of the past few hours slid to the back of her consciousness, as did the sudden and irrevocable realization that there could be no turning back now. She was on her way to Norway in a few weeks, and nothing could stop the course she had chosen, or her role in this war. For better or worse, she had agreed to be a spy for MI6. While she had been shaken to her core to find that her father wasn’t exactly who she had always thought he was, learning that he was a spy before her only strengthened her resolve. If he could do it, then so could she.

“Evie!”

A voice called across the lobby and Evelyn turned to find a tall woman in evening dress coming towards her on the arm of a handsome man in tails. She smiled in greeting and lifted a hand in a half wave.

“Maryanne!” she exclaimed. “Lord Gilhurst!”

The doorman stepped back to wait, bowing his head in deference as the couple to drew near. Leaning forward, Maryanne kissed the air beside her cheek and Evelyn was engulfed in the strong, French scent that the woman was partial to.

“Evelyn, it’s been an absolute age since I’ve seen you!” she exclaimed. “Wherever have you been?” She turned to the man at her side. “Tony, hasn’t it been it ages?”

“It has indeed,” Lord Antony Gilhurst agreed with a smile. “How are you, Evie? I was sorry to hear about your father.”

“Yes, absolutely shocking and terrible news,” Maryanne said with a vigorous nod. “When was the funeral?”

“It was yesterday.”

“I’m so sorry to have missed it. But what are you doing here?”

“I’m meeting Robbie for dinner. He had to come down on some business with the solicitors, so I came along to do some shopping. I had absolutely nothing appropriate to wear for mourning. We’re dining in the Grill.”

“Rob’s here as well? And we’re on our way to the theatre! Of all the rotten luck!”

“Yes, and we have to get moving if we’re going to make it,” Tony interjected. “With this ridiculous blackout, it takes forever to get anywhere now.”

“Really, Tony!” Maryanne exclaimed in exasperation. “Evie, don’t mind my brother. You know we’d stay and say hello to Rob if we had the time.”

Evelyn laughed. “Of course I do! Go!”

“We really must arrange to go out soon. I miss you dreadfully!”

“We’ll arrange something, I promise,” Evelyn assured her with a smile, accepting another kiss