Page 66 of If I Were Wind

“Interesting?” I said.

“A huge source of information.” He gestured at the chairs in front of him. “Please, take a seat. I want you to be comfortable.”

Why did it sound the opposite? I perched on the chair. Roy stood for a moment before obliging and sitting next to me.

“What’s the reason for this meeting?” he asked, appearing bored. “Do you have any questions for us?”

“No.” With a snap, Murphy closed the folder. “I have a proposition.” He nodded at another uniformed chap next to him. The man crossed the room on silent feet and left, shutting the door behind him.

Roy’s eyes darkened, a sign that his beast was stirring.

“We aren’t going to play any games.” Murphy shifted his gaze from Roy to me. “I know your field of expertise. I know you’re asking questions, sneaking around everywhere, finding gaps in security.”

I forced myself to remain blank. But confound it. I knew Murphy suspected something.

“I do believe every word you put in these reports.” Murphy tapped a finger on the folder. “Unfortunately, the prime minister and his cabinet are too scared to confront Hitler. Not even after the pogrom and the recent annexation of Czechoslovakia.” He paused and rubbed his eyes, showing the first sign of exhaustion. “They think that Hitler will stop there, that a war can be avoided. You’re both familiar with German, am I right?”

I nodded while Roy said a sharp, “Yes.”

“I need a trusted team of agents to be sent to Venlo, The Netherlands.” Murphy let those words sink in, but I wondered what Venlo had to do with anything. “We’ve contacted a member of the Gestapo, who disagrees with the regime and has important information to share with us. Our previous attempts to set up a meeting haven’t been successful. The contact didn’t show up, but then sent us a message to set up a new meeting. I need fresh blood. Someone who understands what’s happening in Germany, someone familiar with the language. Someone the Gestapo agent can trust. I can’t explain everything to you, but I believe there’s a connection between the Gestapo and the bomb at the mill. It’s a trail I must follow right now. But between my investigations here and other jobs, it’s becoming difficult for me to follow this operation, and I need more men for this covert meeting. Are you ready for this job? I need to know if you want to commit to this mission before disclosing further details.”

I opened my mouth, but Roy was faster.

“I am ready,” he said, straightening. “But only me. Not Kristin.”

“What?” I angled towards him. Why did he treat me like a child? I could take care of myself, and I could answer the darn questions addressed to me.

He ignored me. “I’ll take the job, but I work alone, or with Connor. Kristin won’t be involved.”

“You can’t decide for me.” I turned on my seat to face him, anger causing my beast to rise. “I’m ready as well.”

“I don’t doubt that,” Roy said with a tad of sweetness. “But you don’t know how to use a gun, how to drive, or how to fight in a hand-to-hand combat.”

“Is that true, Miss Easterwood?” Murphy asked.

“Well.” I cleared my throat. “Technically, yes.”

Murphy’s eyebrows lowered. “I see.”

“It’s me alone, or I’m not going to do it.” Roy’s hard stare pinned me.

I glared back. “Corporal Murphy should decide.”

The man in question shifted on his seat. “I apologise, Miss Easterwood, but Roy is more experienced. He’s the man I need. I’ll let you know if I need your help in some other matter.”

“Some other not dangerous matter,” Roy hissed.

I expected Murphy to growl in response. Instead, the infuriating man nodded, as if there was a secret language shared between them and they understood each other.

“I agree,” he said.

Bugger it all.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com