So far, she liked what she’d heard.
Chaisley leaned toward Melanie. “Once we arrive, you go on in and see Grandmother. I need to speak with Mr. Zimmerman.”
Her friend stiffened beside her. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. We’ve just met this man.”
She released a tiny huff. “Fine. If you wish, you and Grandmother can watch out the window for our every move and have her butler come out and stand in front of the car as a guard. But I’m going to speak with him. Alone.”
A measured exhale slipped from Melanie, but no words for several seconds. “I can agree to that. But I’ll return when I see you exit the car.”
The limousine went around a curve, and Chaisley was shifted toward the door. Anticipation shivered up her spine as the car slowed and went up a slight incline.
They’d arrived.
As the car pulled to a stop, she leaned forward on the edge of her seat, found the driver’s shoulder, and tapped on it. It was firmer than she’d expected. Then again, her drivers were normally older ... rounder gentlemen. Mr. Zimmerman’s voice and movements seemed closer to her own age. Switching back to Dutch, she began, “Mr. Zimmerman, I’d like to have a word.”
“Certainly, Miss Frappier.”
Melanie gripped Chaisley’s right hand, squeezed, then released it. Her dress rustled a bit as she slid on the velvet seat to exit the vehicle.
Once Chaisley heard the firm latch of the door, she continued. “I’d like to know a bit more about you since we will be spending so much time together.”
“Yes, ma’am. What would you like to know?”
Now was not the time to mince words. Melanie had been so protective of her, it washerturn to make sure her friend and confidante was in good care as well. With a deep breath, she clasped her hands tight in her lap. “How old are you? Do you have a family? Where are you from? And most important, do you align yourself with the Nazis?”
Rick studied thewomanin the rearview mirror while a tall gentleman walked in front of the car and stood there. To stand guard?
An extra precaution, no doubt, since Miss Frappier’s assistant had gone inside. Most of their conversation had been in English, so he’d been right to say he didn’t speak it well. A lie that would serve him well on this assignment.
Was she about to tell him whatever her secret was?
He studied the woman again. She was beautiful, with blonde hair and light blue eyes that sparkled as she spoke. In the light outside the ship, those eyes appeared almost silver. But now, inside the vehicle with the deep blue velvet interior, they were darker.
She didn’t meet his gaze in the mirror. It appeared she was focused on the back of his head. He had better answer her questions. “Well, first, I am thirty years old. My father was killed in the Great War, and my mother died soon after. I’m the only one of my family left. I am not married, so if you are concerned about me being away from anyone, don’t be. My parents were both born in Germany but met in Switzerland. I was raised here in Amsterdam.” All true. Now came the part he didn’t like.
He took a breath. “I do not align myself with any political party. I am a simple, uneducated man seeking to do good work and make an honest wage.” He watched her face. No reaction.
“Mr. Zimmerman, you just lied to me.”
His eyebrows shot up. How on earth...? “Pardon me?”
She continued to stare at the back of his head. “Your age is true, as is the information about your family and where you are from. But the last part wasn’t. Just like earlier when you said you didn’t speak much English.” She leaned back against the seat, her jaw firm and set. “Now, let’s try again, or I shall have to find another driver for the next eighteen months.”
How did she know? Without even looking him in the eye? He cleared his throat.Please, Lord, don’t let mynext wordsgetme fired. “Doyoualign with the Nazis, Miss Frappier?”
A wry laugh softened her face for a moment. He shifted his gaze away from the mirror. It wouldn’t do to be caught staring when he was trying to keep his job. “Nice try. Do you often seek to appease whomever you work for by siding with them?”
“It’s gotten me this far.”
“I don’t believe it has.” She leaned forward again. “You see, I can hear it in the tone of your voice. You are not an uneducated man at all. And I believe that youdohave very strong feelings about the political climate in this world. So why don’t you just tell me the truth now? It would save us a great deal of time and trouble.”
So. She wanted an answer, or he would be fired. She was fromEngland. Her grandmother was from Amsterdam. Her last name was clearly French. His best guess was that she was not a Nazi sympathizer. But what if he was wrong? His job was to spy. On her. And whomever she came into contact with.
Lord, please let that be the right choice.
“I indeed went to university.”
“Aha, I knew it!” Her smile lit up her face. “Now about the other thing?”
