War Girls Box Set

Chapter 10

Lotte struggled in the tight grip of the stranger. She was about to kick the impertinent man in the shins when he whispered in her ear. “Would you like a piece of knekkebrød with a topping of leverpostei?”

knekkebrødleverposteiShe choked on his words, the code phrase for the resistance cell, and had difficulties remembering the appropriate response. Gratefully it took only seconds for the memorized response to kick in.

“I prefer my knekkebrød with strawberry jam.” She glanced up at him, catching the satisfied grin crossing his face. He had a certain charm that captured her, much like Johann, who wasn’t handsome in the traditional sense, but his smile always made her knees go wobbly.

knekkebrød“I’m Harald.” He smiled, his strong arms holding her tight against his chest as he led her across the dance floor with masterful and confident strides. He smelled of tobacco and soap.

“A… Karla,” she said, catching herself in the last moment. She breathed in deeply in an attempt to regain her composure.

Harald guided her into the middle of the dancers and held her close, as if they were one. His mastery of the dance made it easy for her to follow the complicated steps. The song ended and he still hadn’t spoken another word. He nodded his head in the direction of the band and as if on cue, they played a slow blues number.

He wrapped his arms around her, turning to look at her before he put his cheek against hers as if they were lovers sharing a sweet moment. Despite his brazenness she noticed he had the loveliest blue eyes and so she didn’t mind his closeness. Made somewhat heady by the strange effect his unexpected appearance had on her, she was grateful his strong arms held her steady.

“Do you know what has happened to Lina?” she whispered against his ear. He shrugged slightly as if he had no idea what she was talking about. Had she really expected an answer? Wasn’t she well aware of the rules that only essential information should be shared? Disappointed at her own oversight, she tried to distance her body from his, but he increased the pressure of his arms around her to keep her plastered against him.

“Have you got the codes?” he whispered, his warm breath teasing her ear.

Lotte had to remind herself that he was here for a reason and not to flirt with her, or she would have pushed him away. This man had identified himself as her contact for the codes. Nothing more and nothing less. Or had Lina confessed already, and he’d been sent by the Gestapo to trick her into giving up her secrets? She decided to test him.

not“How do I know if you are my contact and not some underground agent sent by the same people who have Lina?”

“You don’t. You have to trust that she didn’t know the secret code phrase you were given to use in an emergency and thus couldn’t betray it.” His deep, gravelly voice didn’t waver for the slightest moment.

Lotte furrowed her forehead, thinking. It was true. Lina wouldn’t know the secret word Lotte had been given in case… it wouldn’t make sense. The code was meant for situations exactly like this one, when her first contact was taken out by whatever circumstances. She had to take a leap of faith.

“I don’t have them on me right now,” Lotte said. “But I can write them down.”

“Not here,” he murmured into her ear.

She thought for a moment before she came up with an idea. “I’ll do it in the bathroom.”

“Yes, do that,” he agreed and steered them to the corner nearest to the ladies’ room. Once the music stopped, he released her from his embrace, saying, “I’ll wait for you right here.”

The ladies’ room was a dimly lit, smelly place and she scrunched up her nose in disgust. The fact that she had to wait for a vacant cubicle added to her misery and a dizzy spell attacked her. She popped her head out of the ladies’ room to assure herself that Harald was still waiting for her. She spotted him, surrounded by a trio of giggling girls batting their eyelashes.

She frowned at him, thinking he should keep a low profile. He caught her eye and winked at her and she quickly disappeared behind the door again, just when it was her turn to occupy one of the cubicles.

Already singing victory, it dawned on her that she had neither pen nor paper to write down the codes. But if she stepped out to ask at the bar for what she needed, she’d not only lose the stall, but also be acting suspiciously. Rummaging through her pockets she found a chewed-on stub of a pencil and grabbed some toilet paper. Her heart hammering in her throat, she settled on the toilet lid, disgusting as it was. Her hands trembled so hard she tore the toilet paper to pieces at her first attempt to transcribe the codes.

Lotte uttered a curse and grabbed some more paper. More careful with the fragile material this round, she took her sweet time writing down letter after letter. She squinted her eyes at the work she’d done so far. It wasn’t very legible, but would have to do.

Worrying her lower lip, she set out to transcribe the second set of words, when a bang on the door made her jump. With bated breath, her eyes riveted to the door handle, she sat motionless, waiting for Gestapo agents bursting through the door.

“Hurry up, love! I’m about to wet my pants!” a female voice yelled.

Lotte sagged with relief and shouted back, “Just a minute.”

“Come on, girl! I’ve got to go!”

“Sorry! I’ll be out in a jiffy!” she promised.

Someone tried to look under the gap in the bottom of the door and she kicked her foot, protesting. “Stop! Give me a moment, will you?”

As soon as she was done, she folded the paper and tucked it up her sleeve. Then she opened the door to a group of women who tried to make a desperate dive into the cubicle. In her hurry to get the secret information to Harald, she forgot to wash her hands, until the disapproving stare of another woman reminded her of the task.

She smiled her apologies and thoroughly washed her hands, trying to be as inconspicuous as possible. But how did one act innocent when the traitorous piece of toilet paper burned holes into her skin?

When she stepped out into the dark hallway next to the dance floor, her courage plummeted. Harald had disappeared.

He wouldn’t give up his waiting spot to receive the crucial information for no reason. Something must have happened… Gestapo officers appeared in front of her inner eyes and she couldn’t suppress the reflex to raise her hand to her heart. Swallowing down the lump forming in her throat, she finally decided to make her way back to the table where Gerlinde was still going strong.

“What happened to the handsome suitor?” Gerlinde asked, giggling with the abandon of a tipsy mind.

“Stop it,” Lotte protested. “Harald’s not my suitor. He simply asked me for a dance.”

“Oh, Harald, is it?” Gerlinde teased. “Not your sweetheart, eh? You and Harald have sure become best friends in a very short time. But maybe I couldn’t see so well from here.”

“Probably not, the state you’re in.” Lotte realized her mistake in disclosing the man’s name even if it was a false one. “We should go home. You’ve had enough.”

“Not going home yet. It’s our morning off tomorrow,” Gerlinde slurred her words and put her arms around Lotte, who had to laugh at her friend. Gerlinde always became quite maudlin after a drink or two.

Lotte, though, felt the anxiety of Harald’s disappearance gripping her every cell. The relaxation she’d felt earlier had vanished at the same time he had, and now pure panic swept through her as she tried to keep a smile on her face. She would have left but for the thought that he might still be somewhere in the bar even though she could see no sign of him.

After waiting for a few more minutes, she decided to leave and get rid off the evidence of her treason. But then she saw him, arguing with two German soldiers. Harald’s gaze crossed hers, and he quickly glanced away, pretending not to recognize her.

Lotte couldn"t hear what they were saying, but the Norwegian seemed belligerent and was soon escorted outside. He went off without the codes, leaving Lotte with them tucked up her sleeve and wondering what to do next.

“Why can’t things go smoothly just once?” Lotte cried out in frustration.

“What’s wrong?” Gerlinde asked.

“Nothing really,” Lotte sighed. “Just thought I’d better make my way home. Gotta work tomorrow.”