by Anne Barwell
Ken had spent a horrible few days unsure whether Matt was dead or alive and knowing what might have been their last conversation had been an argument.
“We’ll do it together,” Ken said firmly, “but just in case….” He thought for a moment of the stories his mother had told him about her side of the family. “My grandparents are now living in Nagasaki, and she has other relatives in Iwaki. I’m certain she’d be happy going to stay with either of them after the war.”
“Nagasaki and Iwaki. Got it.” Matt nodded, but Ken could tell there was something else still on his mind.
“What did you want to talk about?” he asked. “It wasn’t just about my mom, was it?”
“No.” Matt frowned. “I’m having serious doubts about this mission.”
“It’s not gone well,” Ken agreed.
“It’s not just that.” Matt paused for a moment. “Kristopher’s told us what this weapon—this atomic bomb—is capable of. I’ve also listened to him and Liang talking about specifics. While I’m not a scientist, I’ve heard enough to know if either side gets hold of this weapon, lots of people are going to die. I’d like to believe the Allies wouldn’t use it, but I just don’t know anymore.”
“I wouldn’t have thought they’d round up their own citizens and put them in camps,” Ken said. “A lot of those people were born in America, as were their parents. They—we—think of ourselves as American.”
“Desperation and paranoia make people do things they wouldn’t normally do.” Matt shook his head. “Are we doing the right thing in delivering Kristopher to our superiors? If he helps them develop this weapon before the Nazis develop theirs….”
Although their team reported to London, it was a joint mission between the British Special Operations Executive and American Office of Strategic Services.
“London’s not going to be impressed if we don’t complete the mission,” Ken pointed out. “Although—”
“Although?” Matt met Ken’s gaze, his brow furrowing into a frown. “You’ve been thinking about this too, haven’t you?”
Ken shrugged. “So far nothing about this mission has gone to plan. They’d be angry, but I doubt they’d suspect anything if the rest of it went the same way.” He thought back to a couple of days before when he’d almost walked in on Michel and Kristopher having a very animated conversation. “Michel’s worried about Kristopher.”
“How can you tell? That guy doesn’t give much away.”
“Watch the two of them together. He thinks he hides it, but he’s worried. I saw the way he reacted in Stuttgart when he thought Kristopher might have been captured. There’s something of that in him now.”
“Hmm.” Matt looked thoughtful. “Have you tried talking to him about it?”
“I don’t do that. You do.” Ken knew his limitations. He wasn’t someone people opened up to, which was ironic, considering he’d gotten the role of wireless operator on this mission. He was good at his job; the makeshift radio he’d built was proof of that. He received the messages. Matt—as the leader of their team—decided what to do with the information and how to follow the orders.
“Kristopher’s no fool. I’m sure he’s figured out what will happen to him and the information he has if he hands himself over to either side.”
“He’s still here, and he had plenty of opportunities to disappear.” Ken doubted Kristopher would work with the Nazis. He’d already lost too much getting away from them. “Do you think he’s biding his time?”
“And using us to get him out of Germany?” Matt shrugged. “The thought had occurred to me. Michel’s planning to contact his old Resistance cell once we’re over the border. He also speaks the language. We don’t, and neither does Kristopher, although I’ve heard Michel giving him a few more lessons.” Michel and Liang had also coached the rest of their team in basic language skills, although Matt doubted they’d know enough to have, or follow, any more than a very simple conversation. “That gives Kristopher an advantage if they stick together.”
“They’ll stick together.” Of that Ken was sure. He’d wondered once or twice whether Michel and Kristopher were more than friends, but dismissed it. He wasn’t about to ask them and figured if he didn’t, neither of them would ask about him and Matt either. It was easier and safer that way.
“So the way I see it, we have two options.”
“Oh?” Ken frowned. “I hope your ideas are better than mine. I keep reminding myself they’re our friends. Despite what’s at stake, I don’t want either of them hurt.”
Matt narrowed his eyes. “What do you take me for? I’m not about to suggest hurting either of them. I know we have a job to do, but there are always options. You didn’t leave me behind when I was captured, even though you were ordered to. I’ve gotten to know Kristopher over the past month or so, and it would surprise me if he’s planning to cross the Channel with us.”
“As I said,” Ken reminded him mildly, “I hope your ideas are better than mine. You’re in charge here, not me, and there’s a reason for that.”
“Because of my ability to follow orders?” Matt laughed bitterly. “I followed enough of your conversation with London to know they don’t think either of us are good at that. My knowledge of Morse code isn’t as good as yours, but it’s still not bad.”
“I’ll keep that in mind for future reports.” Not that Ken was about to send anything he hadn’t cleared with Matt first, but he couldn’t help but make the comment, nevertheless. He sobered. “That still doesn’t solve our problem, though.”
“I was getting to that. I figure we need to help both of them disappear. But more than that we need to convince London they’re dead. Not just London but Holm and his men too. As long as there’s any hint Kristopher is still alive, neither side will stop looking.”
“You’re suggesting we lie to our superiors?” Ken frowned. “What makes you think they’re going to believe us?”
“We provide proof.”
“Sure, so in the midst of everything that’s happening, we pause just long enough to take a photo of a convenient dead body that looks just like him? Kristopher’s not military. He doesn’t have dog tags to identify him.”
“I’m working on that.”
“Do you think it might be a good idea to talk to him about it first? Rather than just presuming he’ll happily go along with it? People don’t always act the way you think they will.”
“I’m working on that too.” Matt sighed. “I said they were options. I didn’t say I had a step-by-step plan. I figure we’ll get across the border first, and then worry about the rest of it. Meanwhile keep an eye on both of them.”
“If they disappear, it solves our problem, though, doesn’t it?” Ken didn’t want to be the one to have that conversation with Kristopher, especially with Michel around. He wasn’t in a hurry to get a fist in his face if Michel took what they were suggesting the wrong way. Not to mention that Michel had three inches on him and a hell of a lot more muscles to go with it.
“That’s a big if, and there’s always the chance they’ve vanished because Holm’s gotten hold of one of them.” Matt bit his lip and lowered his voice. “I know what I’d do if he captured you. I’d do whatever it took to get you back.”
Was Matt suggesting what Ken thought he was? “But they’re not….” He held up his hand before Matt could answer. “I don’t think that’s something we should discuss, especially if we have no proof. Some secrets need to remain that way.”
“Especially as we have one ourselves?”
“Exactly,” Ken said finally, although there was no need to answer the question as it was rhetorical. They had other things to worry about without talking about a topic that wouldn’t achieve anything. “We should get back to work, especially as we’re leaving tomorrow. These people have taken a huge risk in letting us stay here. It’s a small way in which to say thank you.”
“The next couple of days are going to be very tiring. We need to make sure we get a good night’s sleep as th
ere won’t be much chance for that until we reach Haguenau.” Matt started to stand.
Although they hadn’t seen any of Holm’s men since they’d returned to the area, it would be foolish to take any chances. With any luck, Holm still thought they were heading for Switzerland.
The journey to Gernsbach would take two days. Heading directly for Rastatt would take less time, but the detour would be safer. Gernsbach was only a few hours away from where they’d agreed to meet their contact on Friday. They’d cross the Rhine that night, under the cover of darkness and head for Seltz. It was farther north than the bridge at Strasbourg, which was likely to be heavily guarded.
“I still think we should split up.”
“And I still disagree with you.” Matt stood. “Considering what happened last time, I think it’s safer if we stick together.”
“Last time wasn’t planned, and this would be,” Ken reminded him. He scrambled to his feet, not wanting to let Matt dismiss their conversation just yet. “Five of us traveling together… I’m not convinced it’s the sensible thing to do.”
Matt shrugged. “Perhaps we’ll revisit the idea once we meet Michel’s contact in Haguenau. We need to get across the Rhine and into France. One problem at a time.”
Ken caught his arm. “Are you going to be all right on Friday night?”
Matt flinched. He still had issues with being in the dark, although he hadn’t had a really bad nightmare for a few weeks. “Come on, let’s get back to work. I promised our hosts I’d finish fixing that section of fence before we leave. Michel’s already finished the section he was weeding, and he’s showing Kristopher and Liang—”
“Something about bud break and vines bleeding?” Ken asked. “I heard Michel talking about that before too, just before I came to find you. I swear we’ll have to drag him away from all of it tomorrow.”
Michel had experience working the land, although as usual, he wasn’t forthcoming about any details. When Ken had asked him about it, he’d just shrugged and said he knew enough to get by. The rest of them had had to learn quickly, but Ken thought they’d adapted well. Even Liang seemed to be enjoying it on some level, although he would never admit it.
“I suspect it reminds him of home. He’s been away from his longer than we have from ours.”
A shadow crossed Matt’s face. Ken recognized the look. Elise had been Matt’s family for years after he’d lost his own as a child, and they’d remained friends even after Matt had realized he couldn’t give her the romantic relationship she really wanted. Instead of the reunion in Berlin he’d hoped for, he’d been arrested by her killer and tortured for information he refused to reveal. Ken wondered if Matt would ever be able to truly put it behind him.
“Are you going be all right on Friday night?” Ken repeated. He’d given Matt enough of a chance to answer without prompting. While Ken had thought he’d done the right thing in promising Juliane not to harm her brother, he questioned that decision after learning just how badly Holm had hurt Matt. If Ken got his hands on Holm now, he’d—
“I’ll have to be,” Matt replied.
Chapter Three
“HE’S LATE.” Matt glanced toward the door again. Although he was trying to appear nonchalant, hiding his nervousness was growing more difficult.
Their journey to Gernsbach had gone too smoothly, and that made him edgy as hell. After one night there, he’d suggested they keep moving for a couple more hours until they reached Bischweier. He’d been to Bischweier years ago when he’d lived in Germany before the war. The local priest was an old friend of Father Joseph’s, the man who had run the orphanage where Matt had grown up in Pennsylvania after he’d lost his family in a fire.
“Not that late.” Michel shrugged. “If we’re not back by two, Ken knows not to stay in Bischweier.”
Michel and Matt had gone ahead to Rastatt to meet their contact in the back room of a local Kaffeehaus. The owner—a member of the local Resistance—had been kind enough to leave them some coffee to drink while they waited.
“They should be safe if they stay in the chapel,” Matt said. He hadn’t been surprised to learn that Father Markus was working with the Resistance. He was a good man, and Father Joseph had spoken highly of him.
“You didn’t trust our contact in Gernsbach,” Michel said. “Why?”
“Just a feeling.”
Now they were finally heading toward home, he kept expecting Holm or one of his men to turn up. Standartenführer Holm wouldn’t give up easily, and Matt doubted he would have spent all this time looking in the wrong direction. The last few weeks had gone too smoothly, reminding Matt of the way a cat played with a mouse, waiting until the right time to finally pounce.
“Holm is not going to give up until he’s captured his prey,” Michel said. “It’s better that both Kristopher and Ken stay away until we are sure it is safe here.” He offered Matt a cigarette, but Matt declined.
“Kristopher is the one Holm is after,” he said cautiously.
“Officially, yes.” Michel lit his cigarette and took a long puff of it. He wasn’t usually very forthcoming with information, and this was the first time he’d implied he knew about Ken’s history with Holm.
At least to Matt.
“What has Ken told you?” Matt asked. Until they’d met up again in Freiburg, he’d only met Michel briefly in Berlin. He still knew Kristopher better, as he was not as reticent. Matt had gotten the impression Michel didn’t have much time for social niceties. He was pleasant enough, though, and it was obvious as hell he cared a great deal for Kristopher.
“We spoke briefly in Stuttgart.” Michel shrugged. “Holm is a dangerous man, and once he has made up his mind to achieve something, he doesn’t let anyone or anything get in his way. Do not be fooled by his manner. He’s the type who would shake your hand while putting a knife in your back.”
“I’m well aware of Holm’s less than charming nature, thanks all the same,” Matt said. His meeting with Holm was not one Matt would forget in a hurry, if ever. Nor would he forgive him for killing Elise. “He’s a cold-blooded murderer.”
“That’s a polite way of putting it.” Michel narrowed his eyes and swore under his breath.
Although Matt’s French wasn’t that good, he knew enough to appreciate the sentiment.
“I believe Ken was foolish enough to promise not to harm him,” Michel continued in German. “I take it you have no problem in doing whatever needs to be done?”
“No problem at all,” Matt said grimly.
“Good.” Michel lapsed into silence again.
Matt sighed and wondered if it was worth trying to make further conversation. He glanced at his watch. “War brings people together who normally wouldn’t meet.”
To hell with it.
He didn’t want to spend the next half hour staring at the wall, thinking about memories better forgotten.
“That’s not always a bad thing,” Michel said.
“Once this war is over, we’ll go our separate ways and never see each other again.”
“That’s the plan, yes.” Michel arched an eyebrow. Matt wasn’t sure whether he was amused or puzzled. “Haven’t we already had this conversation? Or am I missing something?”
“Despite everything we’ve been through, I still don’t know that much about you,” Matt pointed out. “The next few weeks aren’t going to be easy, and I figured if there was anything I need to know, this might be a good time to discuss it.”
“There isn’t.” Michel stubbed out his cigarette. He lowered his voice. “There’s a reason I haven’t shared much information about myself, including my last name. My family is not on another continent like—”
“My family is dead,” Matt interrupted. “But yes, I understand your concern, and that wasn’t what I was asking. I’ve lost people I care about in this war. Too many people have.”
“I know, and I’m sorry about Elise. She was a good woman and helped a lot of people.” Michel inclined his head toward Matt. “I will do
what I can to keep everyone safe and get your team home.”
“We all have things we don’t want to, or can’t, talk about,” Matt said. “But we need to put those things aside and work together. As I said, once this is over, we can go our separate ways.” He’d had this crazy idea of making contact again after the war. Perhaps that was all it was. Crazy.
This was a mission, a job that needed doing. Were the friendships he’d thought they were building merely an illusion?
He’d begun to think of them as family, especially considering everything they’d been through so far. Ken was far more than just his second-in-command, although it had taken them both a while to realize their true feelings for each other. Matt also enjoyed spending time with Kristopher—he was easy to talk to and had a keen mind and a good sense of humor. Hell, even Liang was beginning to grow on him.
“Talk to Kristopher,” Michel said softly. “He is much better at these kinds of conversations than I am. He enjoys them more too.”
Matt couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I can see why you and Ken get on so well,” he said. “That’s the kind of thing he’d say.”
“Ken is more insightful than he gives himself credit for.” Michel ran one hand through his short dark blond hair before continuing. “It was his idea for just the two of us to meet this contact. I know I disagreed with it at first, but it is the right thing to do.”
“Yes, it is, although I wasn’t happy about the suggestion either.”
When Ken was right about something, he could argue his case very well.
Matt picked up his cup but put it down again without taking a drink. One sip of it had been enough. By the time he was thirsty enough for it to tempt him, they’d be long gone.
“Better that than all of us walk into a trap, if this turns out to be one.” Michel took another swig of the disgusting coffee.
However, it didn’t mean Matt was going to agree with them splitting up once they were across the border. This was a detour of a couple of hours, nothing more. Getting to the Channel would take several weeks.