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

“Many don’t, or don’t think anything of it if they do know,” he replied with a shrug. “They’re inferior, you see.”

Catching the sharp note of censure in his tone, Evelyn shot him a look under her lashes. However, his face was void of any emotion and when he spoke again, his tone was even.

“You said you write for a newspaper?” he asked, reaching for his drink. “Are you here on business?”

“Yes.” Evelyn nodded and sipped her cocktail. “I’m covering the symposium.”

Hans brightened. “Are you?”

“Yes. I’m not much of a scientist myself, but my editor wanted a piece on the people rather than the science, so here I am. Oh! I’ve just thought! You’re a scientist, aren’t you? Would you mind if I interviewed you?”

Hans looked startled. “Me? Why?”

Evelyn laughed and tossed her head. “Silly boy! Because you’re here and you seem very nice and why not?”

He laughed a little uneasily. “I suppose so. What kind of questions will you ask?”

“Well, I’ll start with the basics, and then see where it goes from there. As I said, my editor is more interested in the people angle than the science. He says the science will be covered well enough by other papers. When are you free tomorrow?”

Hans blinked. “Well, I’m not sure. I’m in two panels, and then there’s a workshop in the afternoon.”

She tilted her head and smiled at him. “You’ll have to eat, won’t you? Why don’t we meet for dinner? Where are you staying?”

“Right here, actually. In this hotel.”

“Perfect! I’ll meet you in the restaurant! What time shall we say?”

“What time for what? What are you two cooking up?” Anna demanded playfully, returning to the table with Aldrick close behind.

“Herr Mayer has agreed to allow me to interview him,” Evelyn said. “We’re just arranging when to meet.”

“That’s a stroke of luck, isn’t it?” Anna dropped into her seat and reached for her drink. “You have an interview for your article and you weren’t even trying!”

“Article?” Aldrick looked interested. “For your newspaper?”

“Yes.”

“Look at that, Hans. You’ll be famous in London!” he said with a laugh, slapping him on the shoulder.

Hans looked decidedly uncomfortable, but he managed a weak smile.

“Seven o’clock?” he asked Evelyn.

She nodded. “Perfect!”

Hans nodded and stood up. “Until then,” he said, bowing slightly. “I’m sorry to excuse myself, but it’s getting late and I have a long day tomorrow.”

Aldrick looked at his watch in surprise. “God, is that the time?” he exclaimed. “I must be off as well. I’m on the first panel tomorrow.”

The two men made their farewells and went off towards the lounge doors, leaving Evelyn and Anna at the table. As soon as they were out of sight, Anna held up her cocktail.

“Well done, dear,” she toasted. “Don’t be late tomorrow night. I’m not sure I trust him not to scamper away if you’re a minute late.”

Evelyn nodded and lifted her glass. “He seemed very unsettled, didn’t he?”

“I think he prefers his work to socializing,” Anna said, finishing her drink. “I’m rather surprised you got him to agree to meet with you.”

“So was I, actually,” Evelyn admitted. “Now I just have to come up with a list of questions to ask him.”

“Check with Carew in the morning,” Anna advised, standing. “He’ll know just what he wants to know.”

Evelyn nodded and stood, turning towards the door with her new friend.

“I think I’ll do that.”

Chapter Ten

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Evelyn waved goodbye to Anna and turned to walk down the street, turning the collar on her coat up against the bitter wind. She had waved goodbye to Anna three blocks from the boarding house after assuring her that it was an easy walk back. Used to walking for miles across English countryside, it wasn’t the distance that had Evelyn gritting her teeth, but the cold. She couldn’t feel her toes, and her face had gone numb a few minutes after stepping outside. Bending her head against the wind, she lowered her eyes and forged into the night. She would be very grateful to get into her nice, warm room with a roaring fire.

She turned the corner and the wind shifted to her back. Lifting her head, Evelyn cast a quick look around the dark street. The street lights were widely spaced apart and there were few cars on the road at this time of night. Aside from a couple walking hand in hand ahead on the other side of the road, she appeared to be the only person hurrying along the sidewalk. The only person foolish enough to come out in this cold, she thought to herself as a shiver racked her body.

Her shoes echoed on the pavement as she walked quickly along the walkway. Out of nowhere, Miles popped into her head and Evelyn wondered what he was doing. Had he gone to the pub with Robbie? Or was he in bed asleep? Her lips curved despite the cold. Somehow, she couldn’t imagine Miles going to bed early unless he was ill. He seemed much more likely to be getting into trouble somehow. Then again, so did all the pilots she’d met. Strange breed, pilots. They all seemed to be a bit crazy.

Evelyn smiled faintly, recognizing the irony of that thought as she made her way through a foreign city in the dark. At least Rob and Miles were on English soil doing what was expected of them. She, on the other hand, was skulking around Oslo trying to pump information out of German scientists while waiting for a Soviet agent to make contact with her. Without a doubt, she took the prize for being the most insane out of all them.

A sudden gust of wind howled down the street, smacking her in the face and pushing against her with gale-like force. Gasping, Evelyn caught her breath as the collar on her coat blew back and a streak of icy air went down her back. With a violent shiver, she yanked the collar back up and