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

“Thank you.”

Daniel nodded and held out his hand.

“It’s my pleasure. I’ll summon my car and have it take you home.”

“That’s really not necessary,” she protested, but he shook his head.

“I insist,” he said firmly. “It’s late and we don’t know if your constant companion is out and about.”

Evelyn hesitated, then nodded. He was right. If he was offering the safety of a diplomatic car to take her home, she’d be a fool not to accept. At her nod, he smiled.

“Good. After all, we don’t want to lose you on the eve of a new mission, do we?”

Josef came in through the kitchen door just as dawn was lighting the sky. The smell of coffee greeted him and he breathed deeply.

“That smells good,” he said, setting the milk bottles on the counter and walking over to get a cup from the shelf.

Else turned from where she was slicing a loaf of bread on the kitchen island. She set her knife down, wiping her hands on her apron.

“You went out early,” she said.

“I went to check on Alistair,” he said, pouring strong black coffee into his mug. “I didn’t like the look of his hoof yesterday.”

“And?”

“It’s much better today. I was afraid I’d have to have Karl come and look at him, but I think he’ll be all right.”

“Maybe that will teach him not to try to climb through the fence to the pasture.”

Josef grunted and sipped his coffee, falling silent as he watched her go back to slicing the bread.

“Our visitor is back again this morning,” he said after a moment.

She glanced at him sharply. “Where?”

“Across the street, down by the Nikols old place.” He frowned thoughtfully. “He’s changed sides. Yesterday he was up the other end.”

“I suppose he thinks he’s being clever. Who is he watching? Is it the gypsy in room 4?”

“I think it’s the Englishwoman. She came through the back fence yesterday when I was out there.”

“She’s just arrived!”

“I know.”

Else shook her head and clucked her tongue. “She’s a sweet girl. I don’t like the idea of her being followed by a strange man.”

“She’ll take care of herself,” he said with a surprising amount of compassion in his voice. “She has a good head on her shoulders. He stood out there all day yesterday and she’d already gone. She knows he’s there, and how to avoid him.”

Else was quiet as she finished cutting her loaf and turned to wipe off the knife. Once she’d placed it back in the block on the counter, she looked at her husband.

“Do you think Anna is also being watched?”

He shrugged. “He seems to be only interested in Miss Richardson.”

“She came home last night in a black car. It dropped her right out front.”

“You see? There’s nothing for you worry over. Carew is obviously taking additional precautions with her.”

“I suppose so,” she said grudgingly. “Will you carry the dishes through to the dining room? The guests will be down soon.”

Josef gulped down the rest his coffee and set the mug down. He looked at her and gave a rare smile, laying a hand on her shoulder.

“You care too much, Else,” he said gruffly. “Don’t ever change.”

She laughed and patted his hand. “I’m not likely to this late in my life.”

He turned away and was just lifting a tray piled with plates and cups when there was a light knock on the door from the hallway.

“Miss Richardson!” Else exclaimed as the object of their conversation poked her head into the kitchen. “God morgen! Good morning!”

“God morgen!” Evelyn repeated, stepping into the kitchen. “Am I disturbing you?”

“Not in the least. Josef was just taking the dishes through to the dining room,” Else said cheerfully. “Come in. Would you like some coffee?”

“That would be lovely, if you don’t mind.”

“Sit down over there, then.” Else took a mug from the shelf as Josef disappeared through the door with the tray. “Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, thank you. I’m sorry to be down so early. I thought I’d try to get out before...well, it doesn’t matter.”

Else shot her a look under her lashes as she poured coffee into the mug.

“Sugar?”

“Please.”

“I suppose you’re referring to the man lurking across the street,” Else said a moment later, handing her the mug of coffee.

Evelyn started, almost sloshing hot liquid out of the mug. “You know?”

Else nodded and turned to get blocks of cheese from the sideboard, carrying them over to the island and beginning to prepare a second tray with the chunks of yellow and brown cheeses.

“Josef noticed him the first day. He thought he was watching you. Who is he?”

“I...I’m not sure,” Evelyn said, sipping her coffee. “I was hoping to make it out today before he came. How long has he been there?”

“You’d have to ask Josef.” The older woman looked at her. “He’s the one who saw him. I don’t think he’s been there long. He must be determined to be out there this early.”

“Yes.”

“If you leave through the back, he won’t see you. I understand you came in that way the other day.”

Evelyn nodded sheepishly. “Yes. I got the impression Josef didn’t approve.”

Else snorted a short laugh. “Josef approves more than you realize,” she said with a flash of a grin. “When will you be back?”

“This afternoon or early evening.”

“Good. I will be in here preparing dinner or clearing up from it. Come back the same way if he is still there. The door will be open.”

Evelyn nodded. “Thank you. I appreciate that, Mrs. Kolstad.”

“No need to thank me. Just take care of yourself. You’re too nice a girl to be doing what you’re doing, but I know you have your reasons. One day soon, we might all have reasons to do the same. Until then, we just have to go on as we always have and hope the world rights itself.” Else finished arranging her cheese tray and looked at her with a smile. “And now I’ve got to take this into the other room. Sit and drink your