Oslo Spies: Phyllis Bowden Book 2 Page 4

  “No one I know.”

  “Which brings me to my preferred topic today.”

  Phyllis glanced over at her. Jay’s peaches and cream English complexion had two patches of pink contrasting with her hair color. Jay was such a take-charge kind of gal…was she embarrassed about something?

  “Preferred topic?”

  “A friend of mine has a problem, Phyllis. I was wondering if you could help.”

  “Sure. What’s up?”

  She watched Jay turn her head slightly and beckon to a slim blonde woman, very young, who began walking over to their table.

  “Please bear with me here,” Jay muttered quickly. “She’s Norwegian. I didn’t know who else to ask.”

  Curious now, Phyllis smiled at the pretty woman joining them.

  “Phyllis Bowden, this is Astrid Hansen. She works in the British Embassy with me as a clerk.”

  Phyllis held out her hand. “Nice to meet you, Astrid. Would you like to join us?”

  “Yes, thank you, but just for a moment.” Her sunny hair was swept back with two small combs leaving short curls to play on her neck. It was an attractive hairstyle making her look older than she probably was.

  “Pardon me for asking, Astrid, but you don’t look old enough to work at the embassy.”

  Astrid blushed deeply. “That’s kind of you to say, miss.”

  “Please call me Phyllis.”

  In the pause that followed Phyllis glanced at Jay who was looking at Astrid. When no one spoke, Phyllis cleared her throat.

  “Now that we’re all here, tell me what’s on your mind. I’m betting this wasn’t a random encounter.”

  Jay nodded and then with much effort, Astrid began to speak. “I’m from Trondheim.”

  “Trondheim? Up north?”

  “Yes, Miss Phyllis. My family has been there for generations.”

  When she paused and nervously played with the hem of her blouse, Jay leaned forward. “Phyllis is my friend, Astrid. She may not be the one who can help you, but she’s a good place to start. Please continue.”

  Even more curious, Phyllis straightened in her seat, gave her full attention to the young woman with wary eyes flitting around the room. Finally, she focused on Phyllis.

  Astrid bit her lip. “When the Nazis came a few years ago, they tore down our churches, took away our food and issued ration cards.” She swallowed so hard Phyllis could see her throat muscles contract.

  “Do you need some water?” She pushed her glass forward. Astrid grabbed it and took a quick gulp. Still clutching the glass, she began again.

  “Our ration cards were stamped with the letter J.” She watched Phyllis carefully. “Do you understand?”

  Phyllis’ eyes swept to Jay and back. “That means you’re Jewish.”

  “Yes, miss.”

  “I’m hesitant to ask this, but since you opened the door…did your family members survive the war?”

  “Several of my extended family, cousins, aunts and uncles, left for Sweden when we heard the Germans were coming. My family waited for my brothers to return from the university here…”

  “In Oslo?”

  “Yes, but as soon as they got back, the Nazis took them and we haven’t seen them since.”

  “The rest of your family was all right?” Phyllis steeled herself for the worst. She wasn’t disappointed.

  “No. My father is a rabbi and he and my mother were detained before being deported on the Donau.”

  “The Donau?” Phyllis’ eyes slid to Jay.

  “It was a German cargo ship used as transport between Germany and Norway,” replied Jay. She glanced at Astrid before continuing. “It was called the ‘slave ship’ because so many Norwegian Jews transported on it were sent to…”

  “Auschwitz,” finished Astrid. Her gaze was on the table where tears began to dot the tablecloth. Phyllis’ eyes filled up in response.

  “I’m so sorry, Astrid. Do you know what has become of them?”

  “No. There’s been no word.” She looked up then, eyes filled with resolution as well as tears. “That’s why I asked Jay to see if she could help me. She’s had no luck, but thinks that you, as an American, might have different resources.”

  “To do what exactly?”

  “Find out what happened to my parents. Find out what happened to my brothers. There’s not a day that goes by, an hour, a minute that I’m not thinking of them and wondering.” She swallowed again. “I have to know. Whether it’s good news or bad, I have to know.”

  Phyllis processed her request watching and admiring the courage of the young woman. She wasn’t sure if she would be able to stand upright if her entire family had disappeared without a trace.

  “May I ask you a question?”

  “Certainly,” replied Astrid.

  “Are you the remaining member of your family?”

  “I have a sister four years younger.”

  “You obviously weren’t picked up by the Germans, so how did you escape?”

  Her blush returned deeper than before. Her eyes flitted to Jay who nodded.

  “Is it a secret?”

  “No, miss, but it could be dangerous for me if anyone found out.”

  Phyllis’ eyes narrowed. “I promise I won’t tell a soul.”

  Astrid’s bitten lip began to bleed. She blotted it with a napkin. “A…German soldier was lodged with us.”

  “He lived with you?”

  “That’s what the Germans did all over Norway. There was no housing, so any Norwegian with a house had to put them up.” She paused, glanced around the room. “First I must declare myself a true Norwegian and never did anything that was against my country.”

  “It’s okay, Astrid,” encouraged Jay. “Go on.”

  Astrid lowered her voice. “The soldier who stayed with us was not much older than me. Sometimes when my parents were gone, we would talk. I know,” her jaw jutted out defensively, “we were supposed to ignore the soldiers and not give them any attention, but I was lonely too. The Nazis had closed the schools and churches and we couldn’t gather with friends, if any were even left.”

  Phyllis nodded. “It’s okay. Please continue.”

  “So we talked some. I know a little German from my grandparents. Anyway, he was…lonely, missed his home. He wasn’t as mean as many of the other German soldiers in town. In fact, he was actually Austrian and had been a baker in Vienna. I thought maybe he didn’t like being a soldier very much.”

  “He was conscripted to fight in the German army.”

  “So he said.” She spoke to the folded hands in her lap. “One day he told me that he…liked me and wanted to help our family. When I asked him how he could do that, he whispered that my parents were probably being detained as we spoke and soldiers would be coming for me and my sister next.”

  Phyllis blinked. “What did you do?”

  “He told us to take what food and clothing we could and pretend to be going to the forest to cut wood. He told us to…hide. There were others hiding in the forest he knew, but his commanding officer wasn’t interested in finding them. So he told me to go. He even helped my sister and I pack a few things. For some reason, he was very nice to us.”

  “So you and your sister escaped.”

  “Yes, Miss Phyllis, but I am no quisling.” She looked Phyllis in the eye. “All we ever did was talk a few times. Like I said, he was homesick and said I had a nice family.”

  “Even though you were Jewish.”

  “One time he said he knew many nice Jewish families in Austria, but kept his feelings to himself.”

  “That young man doesn’t sound like a typical German soldier.”

  Astrid shrugged. “I don’t know. All I know is that he looked the other way when my sister and I fled the house and didn’t return. No one came looking for us in the forest.”

  “How did you survive?”

  “We met other villagers hiding out and lived with them until the war’s end. Eventually, townsfolk came to find us and we wen
t back into town. That’s when the British had raided,” she paused to smile at Jay, “and the Russians had come in from the north.”

  “That must have been very scary for you and your sister.”

  “It was but we had each other and prayed every day to find our brothers and parents once again.”

  She sat back exhausted. A shaky hand picked up the glass and drank down the water. When she looked at Phyllis, the tears had dried and her face was set with determination. At that moment, so was Phyllis. She nodded once.

  “I can’t promise anything, but I’ll see what I can do. Remember when all is said and done, I’m just a secretary.”

  Astrid smiled and rose. “Thank you, Miss Phyllis.” She turned to Jay. “I’ll see you back at the office.”

  When she’d gone, Phyllis pushed back her plate of spaghetti.

  “Lost your appetite?”

  “I’ll say.”

  Phyllis’ brows drew together over narrowed eyes. “Why the ambush, Jay? Did you think I’d say no?”

  “I’m sorry about that.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “Let me finish. I am sorry to have sprung Astrid on you like that, but we both know you’re more than a secretary to the Military Attaché at the American Embassy here.”

  “Whatever are you talking about?”

  “Please.” Jay rolled her eyes. “I’m not dumb. I have tradecraft training too.”

  “Are you…”

  “…We say nothing aloud and there’s nothing overt, but I can recognize one of my own when I see her.”

  Phyllis leaned back in her chair, her gaze fixed on Jay’s intent stare. “Was our meeting again some kind of set-up?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “No, it wasn’t and no one has put me up to this, but I’d like to help Astrid. There are many people in her situation, having had loved ones up and disappear and hers isn’t the last request you’ll get while you’re in Norway.” She lowered her voice. “You have good resources, Phyllis, and can make discreet inquiries without raising eyebrows. All I’m asking for is a little assistance to help my clerk.”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You saw the effort it took for her to tell you her story. She’s devastated and is trying so hard to make a life for herself and her little sister.”

  “Does she want to go back to Trondheim?”

  “No, there’s nothing left. The Germans burned most of the town when they pulled out. Her house is gone and many of her neighbors have scattered. She knows there’s nothing there for her.”

  Phyllis was quiet, composing her thoughts before speaking. She raked fingers through her curly brown hair like she was plowing a field. Her eyes caught Jay’s.

  “Every single day I learn something new, some new atrocity that happened to the Norwegians. Even though Germany wanted to annex Norway, they seemed intent on destroying it those last few years. It amazes me they thought different countries and people would just…go along with Hitler’s big plan.”

  Jay waited. She pushed back her plate as well, leaving half her lunch to wait with her.

  “I told Astrid I would see what I could do. I’ll keep my word, but it may be too soon after the war to get that kind of information.”

  “All I ask is that you try.”

  “…All right. I can try.”

  “Thank you, Phyllis Bowden. I know you’ll be successful.”

  Phyllis and Jay rose to take their trays to the garbage bins. Scraping food into one bin, Phyllis put her plate in another. “And how do you know I’ll be successful?”

  Jay grinned. “You forget I knew you in London. I know what you did to help Lt. Col. Lawrence when he was arrested for espionage.”

  “That wasn’t common knowledge.”

  “It was to people in our line of work.”

  Phyllis shrugged. “Okay, have it your way. I’m not even going to ask what you meant by that.”

  “Don’t.”

  They left on the German bus for their respective offices. When it stopped at the British Embassy, Jay nodded to Phyllis.

  “Keep in touch.”

  “I have a sneaky boyfriend just like you, Jay Lawlor.”

  “Really? How so?”

  “He always knew where I was somehow and I have a feeling you’re going to be just like that.”

  Jay laughed and stood up. “Can’t wait to meet him then. See you later.”

  When Phyllis returned to her office at the American Embassy, Ronnie was waiting for her. He buzzed her intercom.

  “Come in here, would you please, Miss Bowden?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  When she walked into Lawrence’s office, Ronnie sat there with a big smile on his face and a long, white envelope in his hand.

  “What’s that?”

  “It’s for you.”

  “For me?”

  He chuckled, extended the envelope to her. “Don’t look so surprised. It’s from Joe.”

  SIX

  A wave of happy feelings flooded through her as she greedily grabbed the envelope. Joe! Her eyes hungrily read the address written in familiar handwriting. She looked back at Lawrence who didn’t try to hide his grin.

  “Go on back to your office. Our business can wait because I know you want to read that letter.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Phyllis rushed back to her office, closed the adjoining door and sat at her desk clutching the envelope to her chest like it was a sack of treasure.

  Joe. She tried and failed to slow her quickened breathing by taking a few calming breaths. They had only been separated for a few weeks, but it felt so much longer than that. Jittery fingers didn’t wait to find the letter opener and they ripped into the letter scattering bits of envelope on the floor. Her smile grew with each word.

  Dearest Phyllis,

  I miss you more than words can say. After seeing you off at the airport, I felt all the air has been sucked out of London and I’m waiting for my heart to begin beating again. Sorry to be mushy, as you Yanks say, but it’s heartfelt and honest.

  Lorraine and all your friends at Seven Addison Bridge Place say hello and that they miss you too, even the nosy Mrs. Stewart.

  I hurried to get this letter to you because, thanks to your boss, I will be coming to visit you next week.

  Phyllis had to stop reading. A fat tear rolled out of one eye to land directly on the letter. She had to wait for the paper to dry before she could continue.

  Don’t cry, sweetie, I’ll be seeing you soon. Lt. Col. Lawrence will notify you of the transport plane bringing me in. Can’t wait to see you.

  Love, Joe

  She glanced around the room. How did he know she was crying? But that was the Joe Schneider she knew. Since they first met, he’d always been sensitive to her feelings, her moods. The man had an uncanny ability to ferret out what she was holding back, to see her as she really was. And she loved him for it. She had never met a man like Joe Schneider. Besides being loyal, handsome and brave, he’d literally saved her life that scary night in Canning Town. Both she and Lorraine would have been goners, had Joe not shown up when he did.

  Smiling shyly, she pressed her lips to the letter with a sigh. Phyllis knew she was being ridiculously romantic and perhaps idealistic, but it had been a long war and these feelings were worth fighting for. They were worth everything.

  And he was coming soon! She tucked the letter in her purse and buzzed Ronnie.

  “Yes, Phyllis? Finished reading your letter?”

  “Yes, sir. Are you ready to begin?”

  “Any time you are. Come in.”

  She grabbed her steno pad and walked briskly back into Lt. Col. Lawrence’s office. He put down his pen and returned her smile.

  “Joe say anything you want to share?”

  “Yes sir. You know that he’s coming to Oslo?”

  His grin deepened. “I invited him.”

  Her jaw dropped. “You invited him? You mentioned that earlier, but somehow I thought you were joking
.”

  “Phyllis.” He motioned her to a chair. “Please sit down.” When she was comfortable, he began again. “I told you I was going to invite him for a visit. I guess you didn’t believe me.” He paused. “I know you don’t realize the scope of what you did for me in London, but I do.”

  “Sir, I didn’t do that much.”

  He held out a hand to stop her.

  “I would be in Leavenworth had it not been for you and your friend Lorraine’s efforts. My wife and daughters will be arriving in a few weeks to join me and to thank you in person.”

  Phyllis blushed deeply. “Sir, that’s really not necessary.”

  “I think it is and I won’t dwell on it, but know this: if I can do a favor or two for you, just ask. Understand?”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you, Colonel.” She stopped, thought a moment. “Actually, there is something.”

  “What is it?”

  “Could you tell me how to find Jewish Norwegians who were deported to Germany?”

  He frowned, toyed with his pen. “Why do you want to know that?”

  “A young woman approached me and asked for my help. Is there a way I can find anything out?”

  “What’s the story?”

  “The woman is from Trondheim. Her older brothers were university students and her father was a rabbi. Apparently, the Nazis took the brothers as well as the parents. She said the parents were deported on the Donau, but she’s no idea what happened to the brothers.”

  Ronnie nodded solemnly. “That’s not good, Phyllis. You know the story of that cargo ship, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but wouldn’t there be a record somewhere of who was on the ship and where it went?”

  His eyes were wary. “It went to Auschwitz.”

  Phyllis sucked in a breath. Lawrence didn’t seem to be breathing either. The implications of what he said sat in the middle of the room like an elephant.

  “Her name?”

  “Astrid Hansen.”

  “And the other names?”

  “I’ll get them for you.”

  “I’ll see what I can find out, but Phyllis…at the end of the day, I’m merely a Military Attaché.”

  They smiled broadly at that comment.

  “Thank you, Colonel.”