《A Dangerous Game》Chapter 33
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"Mila," Catherine greeted, opening the front door wide enough for Mila to enter. "Come in."
Giving Catherine a small smile, she glided past her into the foyer of the Lingards' home. After her conversation with Josef, she had been nervously anticipating her meeting with Harvey and Catherine. She wanted to tell them everything ... How General Eichmann believed there was a spy ... How Josef had been placed as head of the investigation. She had wanted to run straight to them when she had found out, but had thought better of it. If she were honest she had been too afraid to. She had almost been too afraid to attend their scheduled meeting today, having left nearly a half hour earlier than what she usually did so she could take a longer, less traveled route to their home.
She was being paranoid ... She knew that. But the thought that the man she had grown so close to was now responsible for catching her made her so nervous it felt as though her heart might explode. That's why she needed to talk to the Lingards ... She needed reassurance. Needed them to tell her she was safe ... At least as safe as an uncover Jewish agent spying on the Nazi's could be.
"Mila," Harvey nodded, already seated in his usual spot in the sitting room, a glass of Scotch in hand.
"I take it the ambush went according to plan," She said, not wanting to waste any time on pleasantries.
"So you've heard?" He arched an eyebrow.
"It has everyone at The War Office in quite a fit," She commented, taking a seat on the sofa across from him.
"I would imagine so," He snickered. "Rations and ammunition to last the Nazis another six months, and the twenty men who were transporting it all captured by Allied forces ... Makes for quite the blunder," He added, raising his glass in a mock toast.
"What are they saying in your meetings?" Catherine asked, taking a seat in the armchair beside Harvey's.
"I wouldn't know," She said, drawing in a deep breath before continuing. "I'm no longer invited to attend the security briefings."
"What do you mean?" Catherine asked, furrowing her brow.
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"Apparently non-military personnel are no longer considered essential to the higher profile meetings," She explained, watching Harvey's and Catherine's faces closely. "General Eichmann received the orders from Berlin after the ambush and a handful of people, myself included, were removed."
"Well I suppose that does throw a wrench in our plans," Harvey commented with a shrug. "But, I can't say we didn't see this coming. It's only natural for them to tighten the reigns a bit when something like this happens. There are other ways to gather information though," He added, giving Mila an insinuating look.
"There's something else," She said, her mouth going dry. "They think there's a spy ... It's the only way to explain how the Allies knew about the supply transports," She added when Harvey and Catherine exchanged surprised looks.
"What's being done about it?" Catherine asked.
"Jo-," She began but corrected herself. "Captain Fisher is in charge of the inquiry."
"Does he suspect you?" Catherine asked,
"No ... I mean, I don't know ... I-I don't think so," She paused, her mouth even drier than before. She didn't know what she had expected them to say once she had told them the news. But she had certainly been wishing for a bit more bolstering than she was currently receiving. "He certainly doesn't act like he thinks I'm the mole, but ... I can't be sure."
"Well you need to be sure," Harvey said, sitting his Scotch glass down on the side table.
"How can I?" She asked, the edge in her voice evident now. "I'm sure he's just as capable of deceiving me as I am him."
"Is he keeping records?" Catherine chimed in.
"He had a big pile of files on his desk ... Said he was going through them one by one."
"Well then he must be keeping notes," Harvey said matter-of-factly, as if he had just unveiled the answer to all of their problems. "Find them, and see what they say."
"He has no reason to suspect you," Catherine said, giving Mila a reassuring nod. "You're unassuming ... That's what made you perfect for this job."
"No one suspects the pretty, little, dutch girl," Harvey added, a bit patronizingly. "And they're not going to start now ... So long as you don't give them a reason to."
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"Nevertheless," Catherine cut in, "I don't think it would be wise for us to keep meeting like this ... I think we should suspend all meetings until other, less conspicuous, arrangements can be made," She added, looking to Harvey for a sign of agreement. He nodded, picking up his glass and taking a longer pull than usual.
"What am I to do until then?" She didn't like the idea of being on her own, with no life line if she were to need one. As much as she wanted to believe her relationship with Josef would keep her safe, she couldn't be that naive. If Josef, or anyone else for that matter, were to discover the truth, she would be finished.
"Exactly what you're doing now," Harvey replied. "Get ahold of those notes, and anything else you can, but play it safe ... Now's not the time to draw too much attention to yourself. We'll get word to you when we can meet again."
"How will you get word to me if we won't be meeting?"
"Don't worry about that," He shook his head.
"Well," Catherine began, standing to her feet. "Best not to drag on if we don't need to. You should get going."
"I'll walk you out," Harvey interjected, standing to his feet as well.
"Well alright then," Catherine shrugged, exchanging a look of bewilderment with Mila. "We'll talk soon," She nodded, giving her a reassuring smile.
Standing to her feet, Mila followed Harvey out of the sitting room, and into the foyer. Opening the front door, he stepped aside, motioning for her to go in front of him. She obliged, stepping out into the bitter, January air.
"I want to give you something," Harvey said, once they had both stepped out onto the front porch, the front door closed firmly behind them. She watched as he fiddled with something in his pocket before extending his hand, which held something firmly inside a closed fist. She opened her hand to accept whatever it was he planned to give her. Grasping her hand with both of his, he dropped whatever he had been holding into her palm. As he pulled his hands away, her eyes fell on two pills.
"What are they?" She asked, but she thought she knew exactly what the capsules, and their powdery white contents, were for.
"Every agent is issued two of these when they enter the service," He said matter-of-factly. "These are mine."
"I can't take these ... What if you need-"
"They fit inside this," He continued, not allowing her to argue. Fishing inside his pocket again, he held up a small cylindrical tube that resembled a bullet. Unscrewing the top, he uncapped it, and took the pills from Mila. Pushing them down into the tube, he replaced the cap and handed it to her. "Catherine would think me mad giving you these ... And God forbid you ever need them, but if you do..." He trailed off, as if he were searching for the words to say. "Well ... A quick death is preferable to some things. Keep it with you always, do you understand?"
She nodded. Turning the tube over in her hand, she examined it. The thought of taking her own life had never crossed her mind, but Harvey was right. If something were to happen ... If she were to be caught ... A quick, painless, death would be the best she could hope for.
"I know these last few weeks haven't been easy for you," Harvey spoke, breaking the silence and her train of thought. "But you've done well."
She looked up at him. The stern expression he so often wore, looked strained, as though it was fighting for dominance over the worry within his eyes. "Thank you," She said with a nod. He nodded back, shoving his hands into his pockets awkwardly.
"Get going ... Best not to dawdle out in the open like this," He said, his usual, solemn expression taking over again. She nodded, slipping the pills into her purse as she turned and descended the steps. "Mila," Harvey called when she had walked a few paces away. She looked over her shoulder at him. "Be careful."
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