Comes a Horseman

by Anne Barwell

  Kristopher pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his face. He didn’t say anything, just bit his lip again.

  “Accusing him isn’t helping. He’s not the traitor,” Liang said, shaking his head.

  Sébastien snorted. Arlette caught his arm as he turned to walk away.

  “Stop! You can’t abandon Michel.” She spoke quickly, her words falling over each other. “He’s already hurt. You don’t understand. Holm will kill him unless—”

  Kristopher looked as though he’d been punched in the stomach. “Unless what?” He swore under his breath. “Scheisse.”

  Michel was hurt? What about Ken? Arlette was playing games with them. She knew where Ken and Michel were. Liang was right. This wasn’t just a simple lucky escape.

  “Unless what?” Matt echoed Kristopher’s question through gritted teeth, although he already had a nasty feeling he knew the answer.

  Arlette reached into her skirt. “I have a note.”

  “Give me that!” Sébastien grabbed it, ripped it open, and scanned it. He frowned. “Who’s Kristopher Lehrer?”

  Kristopher snatched the note from him and read it quickly. He glared at Arlette, his eyes bright with anger. “Du verdammte Schlampe!” He took a step toward her, his fist balled, then turned on his heel and walked away.

  Chapter Sixteen

  KRISTOPHER SLUMPED into a chair on the opposite side of the room, burying his face in his hands. Liang and Matt exchanged a worried look.

  “I’ll talk to him,” Liang said before Matt could offer.

  “I’m guessing Holm offered him a deal. Even if he trades himself for Michel, there’s no guarantee Holm wouldn’t kill Michel anyway.” Matt leaned in closer to Liang and spoke quietly so no one would overhear. Matt might have been hiding his reaction a little better, but his voice was strained, and he kept clenching and unfurling one fist.

  “That’s my guess too.” Liang didn’t think he’d be able to say anything positive, but he wasn’t about to remind Matt that Ken’s situation was even more dire than Michel’s. If the note wanted Kristopher to exchange the information he carried for Michel, it probably meant Holm had already decided he only needed one hostage.

  “My German isn’t that good. I couldn’t read much of the note,” Sébastien said, “but I’m guessing Paul—if that’s really his name—has whatever this Holm wants.”

  Liang nodded. They’d need to know exactly what was in the note before they could begin to attempt to find a way out of the situation. He walked over to Kristopher, pulled up another chair, and sat next to him. “We’ll do what we can. I’m sorry, Kit.” He didn’t see the point in using Kristopher’s assumed name, and it was obvious Sébastien had already worked out who Kristopher was. “We need to see the note.”

  “I can’t….” Kristopher looked up, his face pinched. He handed the note to Liang, his hand trembling. “Holm will kill him. Not only that, but he’ll hurt him, no matter what I do. I always said I’d never let that happen. Why did I make a promise I couldn’t keep?”

  “We all make those,” Liang said. He skimmed the note. No wonder Kristopher had sworn at Arlette. He put a brief hand on Kristopher’s shoulder before standing and rejoining Matt and the others.

  As much as they wanted to save their friends, rushing in wouldn’t help. Difficult as the decision was, they’d need to wait and plan their next move carefully.

  Matt read the note quickly, but thankfully not aloud. “Holm’s obviously finished with Arlette,” he said. “He’s named her as his informant, and probably thinks we’ll deal with her so he doesn’t need to. That figures.”

  “I didn’t tell him about the church.” Arlette hadn’t spoken since Kristopher had read the note, but instead sat quietly in the corner. Nicolas stood guard over her in case she attempted to escape, and given his angry expression, he was looking forward to any excuse to put a bullet in her. “I wasn’t followed. I was careful. It’s still safe here.”

  “How am I supposed to believe anything you say?” Sébastien snapped. “I trusted you! We’ve worked together for months. I….” He turned his back on her in a deliberate gesture. “Don’t worry. I’ll deal with her. I trusted her, so I will do it.”

  “If she had told Holm about the church, he’d be here by now,” Kristopher said. “We’re all here. He has no reason to wait.” He scrubbed at his eyes, then stood and crossed the room to join them. “I need to do something,” he said. “To know I’ve at least tried.”

  “You can’t take part in any rescue,” Matt said. “To hell with giving Holm what he wants. If you give yourself up, Michel’s still as good as dead. I figure as long as we don’t wait until after the deadline he’s given you, Holm still has a reason to keep him alive.”

  He didn’t mention Ken. All they could do was hope and pray he survived long enough to be rescued too.

  “What else was in the note?” Sébastien asked. He glanced at Arlette again. “I know I said several times that I won’t risk my team to help, but she was one of ours. This is now a question of honor. We will do what we can to help.”

  “I’m Kristopher Lehrer, and the note was for me,” Kristopher said. “I… I have the information Holm wants, information that could win the war.” He wasn’t telling Sébastien anything he wouldn’t have already figured out. “Holm has proposed a deal. If I give myself up before curfew tomorrow night, he will consider letting Michel live. He knows we are friends and that I….” Kristopher bit his lip. “I offered my cooperation once before in exchange for Michel’s freedom. It was seven months ago, and Michel and I had only just met, but Reiniger—and Holm—wouldn’t have forgotten it. I should have never… even if I could give Holm what he wants, it wouldn’t save Michel. I can’t watch….”

  Matt put a hand on Kristopher’s shoulder. “I know,” he said softly. “We’ll do what we can. I promise. I’ll do whatever it takes to save both of them or….”

  He trailed off, but Liang still heard the unspoken words.

  Or I’ll die trying.

  Nicolas whistled. “Information that could win the war? That is quite a burden you’re carrying, mon ami.”

  Kristopher managed a shaky nod. He held himself together well, considering the situation. Liang knew how he’d be reacting if given the choice between his own life and Juliane’s. However, this wasn’t just about Kristopher and Michel—and Ken. If this weapon was built, it would kill so many more.

  “That’s typical of Holm,” Liang said. “He always makes it sound as though he’s not the one making the decisions when he is the only one with the power to do so. Kind of him to give you time to consider it too.” Waiting only made it harder not to give in to the temptation to accept the so-called offer, and Holm would be well aware of that. “Bastard.”

  He obviously thought there was a good chance Kristopher would give himself up. What the hell was Margarete Huber’s part in all this? She had to be involved, or why would she make sure Arlette escaped with the note? Had she figured out what Michel truly was to Kristopher?

  Liang remembered what she’d said to Michel in Stuttgart—“I told Herr Holm that if he found you, he’d soon have Lehrer.” If this offer was her idea, she deserved whatever harm came her way.

  “It sounds as though you speak from experience,” Sébastien said.

  Théo looked up from his radio. Although he hadn’t said anything, he’d been following their discussion closely. Liang rather hoped he’d keep out of the conversation. Given the nature of it, his abrupt and less than witty repartee would only add to the already tense atmosphere.

  “Liang and I have both had the misfortune of being guests of Herr Holm.” Matt’s tone suggested he would not answer any more questions on that particular subject. Liang didn’t blame him. He didn’t want to talk about it either.

  “There is nothing in the note about your other friend?” Sébastien asked.

  “No.” Matt spoke so quietly Liang almost missed his reply.

  “I’m so sorry,” Kristopher said.
“Perhaps if I—”

  “No! We are not making deals with Holm. He’s taken too many lives already. This stops now.” Matt strode over to Arlette, pushed Nicolas out of the way, and yanked her to her feet. “Get her out of here. We need to make some difficult decisions, and I don’t want her here, even if she won’t be able to pass on the information afterward.” He glanced at Liang and Kristopher, his expression grim. “We all know what Sébastien has offered to do. If anyone has an issue with it, speak now.” He turned to Sébastien. “I know you had feelings for her. If you want me to—”

  “She was under my command. Therefore she is my responsibility.” Sébastien drew his gun and gestured to Arlette to start moving toward the stairs. “Nicolas. Go check on Cécile and make sure this area hasn’t been compromised. I do not wish to be interrupted.” He waited until Nicolas had left before continuing. “This is the only way we will be safe.”

  “I was only trying to keep Michel safe.” Arlette glared at Kristopher. “This is your fault. Call yourself his friend? I love him. I—”

  “You’re a fool,” Liang told Arlette. “Michel does not love you. His heart belongs to another.” Had she truly believed her feelings for Michel were reciprocated? “You’ve betrayed his friendship, and there is no way back from that after everything you’ve done.”

  “I know he doesn’t love me.” Arlette replied to Liang but she kept looking at Kristopher. “I heard you talking. You were planning to stay in France. With him.” She took a deep breath before continuing. “I knew about François. I thought Michel had learned to do the right thing, but then I saw that he was about to make another mistake, and I had to save him. Don’t you see? He’d be in terrible danger if anyone found out.”

  “He’s in danger now,” Matt said quietly.

  “This is no one’s fault but your own, Arlette.” Sébastien glanced at Matt and his team as though still giving them the opportunity to voice their disagreement. If he’d worked out what Arlette was referring to, he didn’t comment on it.

  Kristopher studied the ground but didn’t say anything.

  Liang shrugged. He had no sympathy for Arlette. Although she’d acted in some misguided effort to save Michel, all she’d achieved was her own death sentence—and most likely his.

  “Thank you,” Matt said.

  Théo stood and stretched. “I need some air.” He pushed past Arlette, glanced at her for barely a second, then sprinted up the stairs.

  “I—” Arlette started to say something, but Sébastien cut her off.

  “It’s too late for words now.” He escorted her up the stairs and kicked the door shut behind them as they left.

  Matt gave Kristopher a brief hug. “I know you want to go after Michel,” he said. “I want to wrap my hands around Holm’s neck and throttle the asshole. If I find him, I’ll do it for both of us.”

  “A bullet between the eyes might be easier,” Liang said, “but probably not as satisfactory.” He knew he should have been disturbed by the easy manner in which they were discussing another man’s death, but after everything Holm had done, and now this…. The situation felt a little surreal, and he half expected to wake up and find none of it had happened.

  “We just agreed to an execution, and I didn’t say anything to stop it.” Kristopher still looked ill, but he was regaining some of his color. “All I could think about is Michel and what Holm is doing to….” He stilled. “Oh God.”

  “I know,” Matt said softly. “Believe me, I know.”

  “Verdammt,” Kristopher said. He met Matt’s eyes. “This is not easy for you either. I wish—”

  “That we could talk about what we really want to?” Matt suggested. “Don’t worry, Kit, I know, and I’m guessing you know as well.”

  Liang cleared his throat. “Right, so now we all know, let’s get on with the matter at hand, hmm? You can talk about what you know later, when your… friends… are safe.”

  Matt paled. “You know?”

  “None of you are as careful as you should be,” Liang said. “Arlette wasn’t the only one who figured things out, although I suspect it was in part because she already knew about François, whoever he is.” Given Kristopher’s expression, he’d already known about François, but thankfully he didn’t try to explain. “I hope for your sakes no one else finds out, and you take more care once this mission is over. Don’t worry. I’m not going to tell anyone.” If it had been in any other circumstance, he would have chuckled at Matt’s shocked expression. But for now, he wanted to believe his friends still had a future with the person they loved, and he’d continue to do so until he had proof to the contrary. Once they lost that hope, what was the point of any of this?

  “I’ve already had that conversation with him,” Kristopher said dryly. “Michel—”

  He flinched at the sound of the gunshot above their heads. To a passerby, it would have sounded like a car backfiring, but they all knew what it was.

  A coded knock at the door interrupted the strained silence that followed. Liang opened the door. Sébastien looked pale, and his shoulders were slumped.

  “It’s done,” he said.

  KRISTOPHER’S HEAD pounded. He’d tried to sleep the night before, but couldn’t. When he closed his eyes, he saw Michel broken and bleeding with Reiniger standing over him. In the end, he’d given up and headed outside to get some fresh air.

  Holm had given Kristopher until curfew the following day—Monday—to surrender. It would take until then to put everything in place and to get the uniforms and false identity papers ready, so it wouldn’t leave them with much time to make their rescue attempt.

  Nicolas found them some blankets before he and Cécile headed home for the night. Sébastien had taken first watch, Théo the second. Kristopher didn’t recognize the woman who relieved Théo, although she clearly knew Matt and his team were now a part of their cell. She’d warned him not to go far, and suggested a small alcove behind the church so he couldn’t be easily seen from a distance.

  A few minutes later, Matt had joined him. “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?”

  “I’d prefer not to.” Kristopher kept telling himself they had more chance of rescuing Michel and Ken if they waited, yet it was getting harder and harder to believe it.

  “I want to storm that bunker and do whatever I need to keep Ken safe.” Matt put an arm around Kristopher. “We’re doing the right thing by waiting,” he said softly. “Getting ourselves killed or captured isn’t going to help either of them.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Kristopher didn’t shake free of Matt’s loose embrace. “Watch the sunrise with me? If I start talking about any of this, I’m afraid I won’t be able to stop. Not just that, but it will make it real.”

  “I wish it wasn’t real either,” Matt said, “but yes, I know what you mean.” He grew silent for a moment. “If we don’t get through this, it’s been a privilege knowing you, Kit.”

  “And you, Matt.”

  They’d stayed there until dawn and then quietly returned to their hiding place beneath the church. That morning neither spoke of their conversation the night before, focusing instead on what needed to be done. Keeping busy helped, and Kristopher went over their plan several times, working through all the possible scenarios he could think of.

  It had a good chance of succeeding.

  It had to succeed.

  The rest of their team had left a short time ago, leaving Kristopher alone with Théo. Nicolas kept watch in the church above them.

  Kristopher rapped his fingers on the table, replaying one of Bach’s fugues in his mind, forcing himself to analyze the chord progressions. The music in his head grew louder as his attempts at distraction failed, and he heard Michel crying out in pain above it.

  He winced, gritted his teeth, and began to pace. C major, a passing note leading to the dominant—

  Théo turned to Kristopher, his eyes shining with excitement. He’d spent the night at the church too, although he must have slept for some of it, as he looked
much brighter than Kristopher felt. “They’re broadcasting the second part of the code!” He turned the radio up so Kristopher could listen.

  “D’une langueur montone.”

  Kristopher caught the last part of the broadcast. He felt excitement bubble up inside. This was the distraction they needed to rescue Michel and Ken.

  “It’s a good thing we didn’t wait for this, oui?” Théo grinned.

  They’d discussed waiting, but both Matt and Kristopher were adamant that if they did, it would lessen Michel and Ken’s chances of survival. Sébastien’s contacts had discovered Holm’s current whereabouts, and a truck had been seen pulling up there the evening before, so it had to be where Ken and Michel were being held.

  The command post near the coastal battery was heavily guarded, although the Resistance had a contact on the inside willing to help. Matt and Sébastien would pose as German soldiers delivering a prisoner to Standartenführer Holm. It was a calculated risk, as Holm would be expecting Kristopher. Liang had suggested acting as their prisoner and pretending he had given himself up in order to betray his colleagues after he’d discovered they’d been working with a Japanese man without his knowledge.

  Matt hadn’t been happy with the idea but admitted it sounded realistic and would hopefully be enough to get them into the building. After all, lies worked best when there was some truth to them.

  Once inside they would split up. Matt insisted he’d look for Ken, while Liang and Sébastien found Michel. The Resistance contact had promised a diversion to aid their escape, yet too much of the plan depended on him being trustworthy rather than it all being an elaborate trap.

  No one had any idea who he was, only that he was a German with some serious reservations about the methods Holm used to get results. With an invasion so close, perhaps he had decided it was time to take one last chance, especially considering what was at risk? Nicolas had suggested he take Sébastien’s place, but Sébastien would hear none of it. He had introduced Arlette to the cell and accompanied her on the mission to get Matt and his team to Normandy safely. This was his responsibility, and he would complete his mission.