Enemies and Traitors: The Norsemen's War: Book One - Teigen and Selby (The Hansen Series 1)

by Kris Tualla

  Maybe Schmidt was coming in late today.

  Or not at all.

  Teigen turned back to Tor. “Where are you staying?”

  “At your hotel.” Tor shrugged. “Figured I’d find you one way or another.”

  “Will you come to the show tonight?” Selby flashed that adorable smile she’d perfected.

  Tor smiled back. “I wouldn’t miss it for the worl—”

  BOOM!

  Tor leapt to his feet. “What’s that?”

  Smoke spewed from the front of the Nazi’s headquarters as Teigen and Selby also stood to watch. German soldiers scrambled around the front of the building like frantic ants.

  Tor looked like he was about to bolt down the street toward the chaos but Teigen grabbed his arm to stop him. “No! That’s the Nazi headquarters.”

  Tor relaxed his stance and shaded his eyes as he watched. “Someone put a bomb in there?”

  “Looks like it.” Teigen leaned closer to his brother and shaded his eyes as well, pretending to get a better view.

  He spoke so quietly he hoped Tor heard him. “Actually, I did.”

  Chapter

  Thirty

  Teigen cleared his throat. “We better get back to the theater, Miss Sunde,” he said loudly. “Back to safety until they figure out what happened.”

  The owner of the café appeared in the doorway in time to hear Teigen call the actress by name.

  Perfect.

  “Thank you,” Selby said to the woman with a trembling smile. “But I believe he’s right. I’m rather frightened at the moment.”

  The trio hurried away in the opposite direction from the offices. None of them spoke while they made their way to the theater and headed down the side alley to the backstage door.

  When they opened it, cheers erupted from the troupe.

  “You did it!” Dahl grabbed Teigen’s hand and pumped his arm. “Bennett saw it with his own eyes!”

  “It was a thing of beauty,” Bennett declared. “Noise and smoke and Nazis scrambling over each other to get away.”

  As the moment passed, the group’s curious gazes shifted to the uniformed soldier standing behind Teigen.

  “As you can probably guess,” he said. “This is my brother, Tor.”

  Introductions were made, all routine, until Ben stepped forward.

  “Hello, cousin.”

  Tor startled. “Are we related?”

  “Well done, Ben.” Teigen clapped the youth on the shoulder. “You couldn’t know if he could be trusted, even with the uniform.” Teigen grinned. “But he can.”

  Tor frowned. “What’s going on?”

  “Young Ben here is hiding from the Nazis in plain sight.”

  “I’m half Jewish, sir,” Ben offered the explanation. “Your brother saved my life.”

  Tor looked impressed yet again. Teigen was thoroughly loving this brotherly reunion. “We gave him papers as Ben Thorkelsen Hansen. We say he’s my cousin and I’m tutoring him for his university exams.”

  “But he really is tutoring me,” Ben said with clear exasperation. “He’s a slave driver.”

  Teigen laughed and gave Ben an affectionate shake. “And Ben is an accomplished artist. You’ll see that later.”

  “Teigen, why don’t you go back to the hotel with Tor,” Selby suggested. “You only have a short time together. Make the most of it.”

  “Thank you, Lieutenant.” Teigen smiled. “We’ll be back for the play.”

  *****

  Selby was touching up her makeup during intermission when Bennett appeared, ashen faced, with two SS officers behind him. Selby set her brush down and turned slowly to face the men.

  “Can I help you?” she asked gently.

  “Miss Sunde?” The officer who spoke was worrying his hat in his hands and looked extremely uncomfortable. “We need to talk to you about an explosion at Headquarters today.”

  Selby’s heart climbed up her gullet and threatened to choke her. She looked intentionally confused. “Headquarters?”

  “Yes, ma’am. The German headquarters.”

  Selby widened her eyes and put her hand to her throat. She focused on her role as Nazi sympathizer in case these men had come here thinking she was something else. “An explosion? Was anyone hurt?”

  He looked like he wanted to drop through the floor. “Yes, I’m afraid so.”

  Selby suddenly realized why these men were here. Relief made her feel weak, thankfully enhancing her performance. “Not—tell me it wasn’t—”

  She covered her mouth with a legitimately shaking hand.

  “I’m afraid so, ma’am. Captain Rolf Schmidt perished from his wounds within an hour of the explosion. He was rushed to the hospital, but there was nothing they could do.”

  Selby let loose a wail that brought the stage crew running. The other actors in the dressing room fell into various impromptu supporting roles when they saw the uniformed Nazis,

  Dahl fanned her while she pretended to swoon and barked for water—which Karolina brought. Gunter shoved a stool under her feet and removed her shoes. Bennett told the stage crew to go back to their positions but wait to start the second act until they knew if Selby—or her understudy—could go on.

  Teigen actually brought the smelling salts and waved them under her nose, which made her eyes water convincingly.

  Bennett faced the Germans.

  “If that’s all you came for, can you please go?” Bennett’s tone was respectful and pleading. “We have a sold-out theater expecting the second half of The Winter’s Tale and the troupe needs to figure out how to make that still happen. I’m sure you understand.”

  “Yes. Of course.” The man looked relieved to be done with the distasteful job.

  “Wait…” Selby appeared to struggle to sit up. “Did he say anything? Before he died?”

  The misery was back. “No ma’am. I’m sorry. Apparently, he didn’t have a face…”

  Selby gagged. She slumped in her chair and blinked rapidly, struggling to remain conscious. Teigen applied the smelling salts with more intent and her mind cleared—but the nauseating image of the captain with nothing left but a bloody mass on the front of his head remained.

  She barely noticed the Germans hurrying out the back door.

  Dahl turned her face to his and examined her with concern. “Can you finish the play, Sel? Or should Karolina do it?” Tor’s face rose to the front of her thoughts, and replaced the captain’s imagined lack of one. She wanted—no, needed—to perform well tonight for Teigen’s sake.

  The older brother excelled at so much, at least as far as Teigen was concerned, that Selby couldn’t let the troupe present a less than stellar performance when Tor was in the house.

  She drew a steadying breath and straightened in her seat. “We did good work today. I can’t let that stop now.”

  Teigen squatted beside her. “There’s no shame in asking for help, Selby.”

  “No, there’s not. But I won’t let the Nazi bastards steal my glory. Our glory.” She looked at the bank of concerned faces surrounding her and pushed herself to her feet. “Now let’s get back out there and perform the hell out of Shakespeare.”

  *****

  Teigen watched Selby from backstage, utterly amazed. He knew she was faking her sorrow over the announcement that Schmidt was dead, but her reaction to the damage the bomb caused the captain obviously undid her.

  I’ll add more gunpowder next time, he decided. So death is immediate.

  There was a difference between a clean kill and torture, after all.

  The troupe was cheered back onstage for three curtain calls that night. Selby’s determination clearly inspired the rest of the cast to give one of the best performances he had ever seen from them.

  Tor was impressed as well. Teigen knew because his brother said so over and over again.

  “Are you hungry?” Teigen asked when they finished cleaning up. “The hotel has a decent cook.”

  “That sounds good.” Tor’s blue e
yes twinkled with mischief. “Are you going to invite your girlfriend to join us?”

  “My—Selby?”

  “She is your girlfriend, isn’t she? You were holding hands when I found you.”

  “That was—we’re just—not exactly,” Teigen sputtered.

  “Fine.” Tor shrugged and twisted his neck to search the troupe milling in the backstage area. “Then I’ll ask her.”

  “I’ll ask her,” Teigen grumbled. “I see you haven’t changed. Still meddling in my life.”

  Tor’s expression shifted. “No. You’re wrong there, Teig. I have changed.”

  “Then why—”

  “Because I like her,” Tor cut him off. “And if you aren’t out for her, I might as well give it a shot.”

  Teigen scoffed. “But you’re leaving for America tomorrow.”

  “Which is why I’m glad I pressed the point.” Tor’s smile returned, but all trace of teasing was gone. “With you, brother, she’s in the best possible hands.”

  *****

  Selby sat at dinner with the Hansen brothers believing herself to be dining with the two handsomest men in all of Norway. Both stood a lean and muscular half-a-foot over six feet with blond hair—Teigen’s in a longer style that was popular, Tor’s in a military cut—and both had the most expressive and beautiful eyes.

  When Tor excused himself to wash his hands, Teigen turned to her. “What are you thinking so hard about?”

  Selby felt her face warming. “That you two are the most handsome men in Norway.”

  Teigen laughed and wagged his head. “Then God help Norway.”

  Curiosity pushed her to ask, “Did Tor say anything about me?”

  Teigen paused. “He asked if I was going to invite my girlfriend to join us for supper.”

  Selby pulled back in surprise. “Me? Your girlfriend?”

  “We were, as he pointed out, holding hands when he found us.”

  “Oh. Of course.”

  “But we weren’t when we met with Falko.” Teigen gave her a significant look. “And he asked if we were dating. Or more.”

  Selby waited for her usual fear and revulsion to surface at the thought. It didn’t. Instead, she wondered if being Teigen Hansen’s girlfriend would be such a bad thing.

  It’s not an engagement, she reminded herself. Just a public acknowledgement of a mutual attraction. Nothing more.

  Teigen glanced around to see who could hear them before saying in a sotto voice, “Even Ben asked me if I kissed you.”

  Selby bristled. “What have you been saying to everyone?”

  Teigen laid a hand over his heart. “I swear, Selby, not one single word.”

  “So they all came up with the idea that we’re an item all by themselves?”

  Teigen lifted his beer to his lips. “Yep.”

  While he sipped it, Selby pulled up her mental bootstraps and made a decision, but she waited for him to set his glass down before she told him, to avoid his making a mess.

  “All right then.” It was all her nerves would allow her to say.

  Teigen frowned. “All right then what?”

  “I’ll be your—if you want me to, of course. But if not, well that’s fine, too. You know.”

  Teigen’s jaw fell slack and he stared at her. “Are you having some sort of episode?”

  Good Lord, I’m an actress. I can do better than that.

  “No. I’m fine.” Selby took another run at it. “Do you want to be my boyfriend?”

  Tor reappeared at that exact moment and dropped into his seat. “I’ll pick up the check for supper.”

  “Yes!” Teigen practically shouted. “No!”

  “Are you having a fit, brother?” Tor chuckled. “Which is it?”

  “Yes to you.” Teigen pointed at Selby.

  “And no to you.” He pointed at Tor.

  Selby burst out laughing.

  “I can’t speak for Selby, but I insist on buying your dinner.” Tor’s face was a mask of confusion. “It’s your birthday, Teig. Who knows when I’ll be able to celebrate with you again.”

  “Yes, Teigen.” Selby couldn’t stop giggling. “Let him buy your supper, for heaven’s sake.”

  “And yours, too, Miss Sunde,” Tor continued. “In gratitude for your excellent performance tonight.”

  “Let him, Selby. Tor always wins anyway.” Teigen’s smile couldn’t be wider.

  Tor sighed and rolled his eyes. “That’s settled then.”

  “Yes it is. Finally.” Teigen reached for Selby. “Come here.”

  Selby slid happily into his arms.

  *****

  The kiss was quick, intense, and left him tingling like he’d stuck a screwdriver into an electrical outlet. Mindful that they were still in the hotel dining room, Teigen set Selby back in her chair as quickly as he’d pulled her from it.

  Tor sat across the table, blinking like an owl. Selby’s face was as red as a winter’s sunset and she was still giggling. Teigen felt like he could conquer Germany single handedly.

  Tor leaned one elbow on the table. “What exactly happened when I went to wash my hands?”

  Teigen grinned at his brother. “Selby asked me to be her boyfriend.”

  “Oh. That’s great.” He blinked again. “So you weren’t talking about the supper bill then, were you?”

  “Part of the time I was, yeah.” Teigen looked at his girlfriend. “Sel?”

  She was radiant. “I tell you what, I’m going up to my room and relax before bed. It’s been an eventful day, to say the least, and I’m done in.”

  Teigen started to object but she stopped him. “Why don’t you and Tor stay down here and have a drink. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  Teigen looked at his brother and realized the wisdom of that suggestion. “I think that’s a fine idea.”

  Tor gave Teigen’s shoulder an affectionate pat. “Me, too.”

  Selby turned and left the dining room, and Teigen watched her go. “I hope she doesn’t change her mind.”

  Tor laughed. “Do they have aquavit here?”

  The Hansen brothers stayed up talking until after midnight. Even so, when Tor came down to the lobby early the next morning to catch his ride to Telavåg, Teigen was waiting for him.

  “I wanted to say a proper goodbye,” he said and stuck out his right hand.

  Tor shook it with both of his. “It was really good to see you, Teig. I’ve missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you, too. But after this visit, I’ll probably miss you more,” Teigen admitted.

  “I feel the same.” Tor’s brows pulled together. “I joined the army, but I think you’ve been through far more than I have.”

  “It’s been tough, I won’t lie.” Teigen combed his fingers through his hair. “But I’m making up for lost time now.”

  Tor smiled. “In both love and war, it seems.”

  Teigen felt his cheeks tighten with the blush. “Yeah. I hope so.”

  “Well, good luck then.” Tor shouldered his knapsack and turned to leave, but turned back to face Teigen. “I’m really proud to be your brother. I want you to know that.”

  Unexpected emotion thickened Teigen’s throat. “Thank you for saying that. Your shoes are hard to fill.”

  Tor shook his head. “Don’t follow me, Teig. Walk your own path.”

  “I will.” Teigen wiped his wet eyes. “And you keep walking yours, Tor. Show the Americans what the Hansen men of Arendal are capable of.”

  The brothers hugged then; a tight, solid hug. The kind of hug that, if they never saw each other again, they would not find this moment lacking in any way.

  “I love you, Tor.”

  “I love you too, brother.”

  And then he was gone.

  Chapter

  Thirty One

  March 24, 1943

  “What news is there?” Teigen asked Selby as they walked from the hotel to the theater.

  “Jorgensen says there hasn’t been any mention of it on the German transmissions.” S
elby glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was within earshot. “It’s as if the explosion never happened.”

  Interesting.

  “And this Jorgensen is trustworthy?” he asked.

  “So far the information he’s given us has all been accurate.” Selby looked up at Teigen. The sun made the pale blue in her eyes look like glacier ice. “He has a closet behind a closet that he hides his radio in. I know he’s been suspected of spying, but the Nazis haven’t found his hidey-hole yet.”

  Teigen dragged his fingers through his lengthening hair. “I’m always amazed at the risks people take. What about his family? He could easily end up in the prison camp right here in Bergen—or worse.”

  “It’s a simpler choice for people like me,” Selby admitted. “I don’t have anyone else in the world I need to worry about.”

  Though that wasn’t at all true, Teigen replied with, “And I don’t have a wife or children.”

  Yet.

  “You have your parents.”

  Teigen shrugged. “And besides me, they have Tor.”

  “Don’t forget Ben,” Selby chided. “He adores you.”

  “I suppose he does.” Teigen smiled softly. “And I do care about him.”

  The pair walked on in silence, passing uniformed soldiers without looking them in the eye. The sun shone weakly through gauzy clouds and a damp and lazy sea breeze brushed Teigen’s cheeks.

  When they reached the theater he opened the stage door and held it for Selby. Ben was already there. He left the hotel early saying that he wanted to make sure the paint was dry enough on his latest creation before anyone packed it.

  The young man showed so much promise as an artist, that Teigen was rethinking how best to teach him. Once the war ended, it might turn out better for the youth to enter a fine arts program rather than a strictly academic university.

  We’ll talk about it when the time comes.

  In the meantime, he would continue their regular lessons.

  Today’s task was packing the flats, costumes, and props in preparation for the start their journey to Ålesund the next day. After so many repetitions the job had fallen into an easy routine with each member of the small troupe responsible for particular items.