He covered several sheets with his fast scrawl. At 2:10 the code message stopped abruptly. Michael turned down the volume of the receiver and then carefully studied the message he had received from London Intelligence.
Hunched over his desk, he was so absorbed in his task, that he didn’t hear the slight creak as the door behind him slowly opened. But he felt the light draft on the back of his neck and his muscles tensed. One hand closed slowly over the scrawled sheets of paper he’d been reading. The scrawled sheet that bore the message from London Intelligence.
“Late hours you’re keeping, Herr Faber,” a cool clear voice said behind him.
Michael turned slowly in his chair, his face and eyes expressionless.
Marie Kahn stood in the doorway, a queer smile on her lips. She was wearing a crimson evening gown and fed sandals. Her flaming hair fell to Her bare white shoulders, framing the exquisite perfection of her classically molded features.
There was no expression on her marble-white face and her cool gray eyes studied Michael with an impassive, inscrutable regard.
“Your devotion to your work is very commendable,” she said quietly, per glance moved to the paper in Michael’s hand. “That must be a very important communication, Herr Faber. You hold it as though your life depended-on it. May I see it? Or is it confidential?”
“It’s nothing important,” Michael said. “Just a dull summary or the last B.B.C. report. Nothing that would interest a beautiful girl in a hew evening gown, at least. But you shouldn’t be thinking of tiresome details on a night like this. Dressed as you are your thoughts should be of moonlight and music and the lucky young man who should be holding you in his arms. Don’t you agree, Fraulein?”
“A pretty speech,” the girl murmured. “Something I hardly expected to hear from you. One good surprise deserves another, Herr Faber.” She paused and said softly, “The time is near at hand.”
Michael remained perfectly still; not a muscle moved in his lean face; but his brain was racing feverishly.
She had said, “The time is near at hand!”
And that phrase was the pass word of the underground fighters in Nazi-dominated Europe!
The words seemed to linger in the room beating against his ears. The girl was studying him impassively, but there was a faint smile curving her lips.
“I don’t understand,” Michael said. “Did you say that the time was near at hand?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry if I seem stupid,” Michael said, smiling, “but I don’t follow you. The time is near at hand for what?”
“I’m not sure,” the girl said. Her eyes dropped again to the papers in his hand. “Perhaps that information is on those sheets of paper in your hand.”
Michael stood up suddenly, crossed the room and closed the door. He took the girl by the shoulders and stared deep into her gray eyes.
“I can’t believe it,” he said softly. “I’d have sworn you were with those devils, heart and soul. My congratulations. You are an excellent actress. But how did you know me?”
“One of our men in Berlin told me to see you,” the girl said. “Your position is becoming very dangerous. Several officials have become suspicious of your work. There is the possibility of an investigation.”
“I have been expecting that,” Michael said. “But I still have a few weeks. And that’s all the time I need.”
“No,” the girl said quickly, “the situation is more serious than that. That is why I came tonight to warn you.” Michael noticed that the girl’s cheeks were tinted with warm color and there was fire and spirit in her deep gray eyes.
She was a woman, alive and glowing, and the mantle of glacial hardness had fallen from her, revealing a vital beauty that was thrilling in its perfection.
“I have been with Captain Mueller tonight,” she said. “I left him a few moments ago at a cafe. He is bitterly suspicious of you and he has talked to von Bock. I think he has half convinced him that you should be jailed until an investigation is made. He told me that much tonight. I slipped away from him to warn you.”
Michael’s face hardened.
“I can’t let anything stop me now,” he said. “I’ve just received an order from London Intelligence. Probably the most important assignment I’ve ever gotten. I can’t fail. I have to go to Berlin immediately.”
“But how?” Marie demanded. “It is suicide now.”
“Not quite,” Michael said grimly. His yellow eyes were savagely gleaming. “I have had arrangements made for a plane for several days. I’ve been expecting this job. You’ve got to throw Mueller off my trail for a few hours at least. That will give me time to clear out of here. Can you do it?”
“I don’t know,” the girl said. “I will try.”
“Good. It will take me only a few moments to destroy everything of importance here. Then I’ll leave for the air-port. Where did you say you left Captain Mueller?”
The girl was opening her mouth to answer, when the door behind her opened suddenly.
“I hope I’m not intruding,” a harsh, guttural voice said.
The owner of the voice was Captain Mueller. He stood in the doorway, filling it with his solid bulk. His hard, chiseled face was alight with sadistic amusement. He looked from Michael to the girl, and his pale eyes were suspiciously narrowed.
“You both seem nervous,” he said slowly. “What is there to be nervous about?”
The girl stepped suddenly away from Michael and placed herself beside the captain.
“Your suspicions were correct, Captain Mueller,” she said coldly. “Let me congratulate you.” Her eyes were expressionlessly cold as she regarded Michael. “This American is a spy. He has admitted it to me. He has just received a code message from the British broadcast. The message is in his hand right now.”
“So,” Captain Mueller said softly, “I was right.” His eyes met Michael’s in mocking triumph. “American swine,” he said harshly, “you will pay for this treachery with your life.” His hand closed over the butt of the Luger strapped to his side.
Michael said nothing and his lean face was bleak and hard. The girl met his smouldering gaze defiantly.
“It would be pleasant to meet you again,” he said quietly.
“Fraulein Kahn,” Captain Mueller said suddenly. “Why did you come here to this American?”
“It was my duty as a member of the Reich,” the girl said coldly. “You said that you were suspicious of him and I felt I could trick him into betraying himself more easily than you.”
Captain Mueller grinned softly.
“You are very clever, Fraulein. I will see that your superior officer hears of your good work.” His grin broadened. “I can admit now that at one time I was suspicious even of you.”
“Such caution is commendable,” the girl said quietly. “It is impossible to be too careful in these matters.”
“We think alike, Fraulein,” Obtain Mueller said.
He drew the Luger from his holster and stepped past the girl toward Michael.
“You will come with me,” he said to the American. “Any attempt to escape will be very unwise. I would enjoy shooting you in the stomach, Herr Faber.”
“Why not the back?” Michael said ironically. His thin face was sardonically impassive, but the muscles of his body were coiled like tight springs, ready to strike at the slightest opportunity. “The back is the favorite Nazi target, you know.”
“Dog!” Captain Mueller snapped. “I should break your stupid face for such an insult to our Reich.”
Flushed with anger, he stepped forward and Michael saw, from the corner of his eye, the girl behind him reach out swiftly and pick up a heavy ash tray. Hope flickered in his eyes.