“Well, you see, as Einstein explained the faster you move, the closer you get to the speed of light, the more time slows for you. So if you were to say, take an anti-gravity spaceship up into orbit around the solar system moving closer and closer to the speed of light, twenty years may have passed on earth, while only twenty days have passed for you.”
“You’ve got to be kidding,” Dawn said in disbelief.
“No, my dear, I most certainly am not,” Hayes said with a warm smile.
“So Kammler escapes in Die Glocke and blasts off into space for twenty years, lands in Pennsylvania, but to him only a few days have passed,” Tom said, as much to himself as to anyone else. He turned to look at Hayes. “Alright, I’ll buy that, but how does that explain this Valkyrie?”
“I don’t know, Thomas,” Hayes said. Unless she had another anti-gravity device…” he allowed his words to trail off.
“Why don’t we ask him?” Axel said. “Where is he? I thought he was with you two.”
“He’s speaking with Mr. X,” Ian replied as he leaned back in his chair. At the order of the President himself, the mysterious man in expensive black suits—they had dubbed Mr. X because he didn’t give his name—had been calling the shots at the CSOS for months as the representative of an even more mysterious shadow organization. While at first the budget uptick that accompanied this arrangement excited the entire office, including Team Blitzkrieg, recently more and more people were becoming uncomfortable with the arrangement.
“Perfect,” Axel said sarcastically, without even attempting to hide his annoyance.
“Does anyone else get the creeps taking orders from a man whose name we don’t even know?” Dawn asked.
“Um, yeah,” Axel said.
“It is odd, Ian,” Hayes said.
“I spoke to the President directly about this,” Ian replied as he threw his hands in the air.
“Couldn’t he have at least made up a name?” Tom asked. “‘Mr. X’ just screams that he’s going to turn out to be some 007 villain by the time this whole thing is through.”
Ian shrugged. “Look, you gentlemen…and lady,” he said with a nod toward Dawn, “are more than welcome to continue inquiring about his name, but I doubt he’s going to tell you.”
“And you don’t know who he is either?” Hayes asked.
“No,” Ian said with a shake of his head. “But the President was quite specific about this, and he’s the boss, so how about if we change the subject back to finding this Valkyrie.”
Everyone glanced at one another, but begrudgingly assented. “Well, one thing we know for sure is she has a very good source and one with inside info of our goings on,” Tom said.
“How do you mean?” asked Ian.
“Well, she knew Arnulf was in the hospital,” Tom said.
“But apparently so did the Russians, so maybe she works for them,” Ian replied.
“Yes, but the Russians knew we had Arnulf because we took him from them,” Tom said. “They also knew he was wounded. It doesn’t take an ace detective to deduce that he would be in the hospital. How would they already know we had Kammler in time to have an agent waiting to kill him?”
“But if she doesn’t work for the Soviets, who does she work for?” Axel asked.
“I don’t know?” Tom said.
“And why was she so interested in Axel?” Dawn asked.
“What do you mean?” Ian asked.
“She called me by name,” Axel said.
“How do you mean?” Ian asked.
“I mean she shouted ‘Axel,’ like we were old buddies, then Tom pulled his piece, she ripped it from his hands and fired a shot at Kammler.”
“She did not have her own gun?” Hayes asked.
“She didn’t need one, Canary practically gift wrapped his for her,” Axel said using Tom’s codename.
“Hey, that woman can punch and I’ve been hit by some big fellas,” Tom said. “Including your old pal Alexi—aka the Hammer.”
“So she didn’t immediately try to kill him, but instead just called to Axel and only tried to kill Kammler after Thomas pulled a gun on her,” Hayes said more to himself than the others as he appeared deep in thought.
“What are you thinking, Professor?” Ian asked.
Hayes shook his head. “I’m not sure yet,” he replied as he rose from his chair. “I’ve got to look into something first, I’ll see you all later.” With that, Hayes took his hat from the corner where it rested on Ian’s desk and left without another word.
“I swear the old man is so smart he cannot even keep up with himself sometimes,” Tom said before stamping out his cigarette in the ashtray on the lamp table.
Chapter 4
It was a posh Washington club, dark but elegant. It was the type of club that men took women to impress them and seduce them. It, therefore, had become a place where high ranking government officials, bureaucrats, lobbyists, and politicians took their mistresses. Because of that fact, mentioning who one saw with whom there could ruin a career. Everyone minded his or her own business. Thus, it was the perfect spot for Brygida to meet her contact in the National Security Agency.
Brygida was dressed to the nines in a swank navy blue dress that revealed her toned arms and pushed up her cleavage. It fell just below the knees, revealing enough leg to make a man interested while hiding enough that he desperately desired to see more.
Jon Burrows stood from his chair as she approached. He was a shy, balding man with over-sized glasses and an undersized coat. He smiled at her as she stopped in front of him and extended her hand. He took her fingers and shook them lightly.
“It’s good to see you again, Jane,” he said, using the fake name she had given him years before.
“It’s been too long, Jon,” she smiled.
“You look…amazing,” Jon said as his eyes looked her up and down.
Brygida blushed and batted her eyes. “Why thank you, Jon, you look quite dashing yourself,” she replied coyly. “May I sit?” she asked.
“Oh, yes, of course,” he said as he rushed around to the other side of the table and pulled her chair out for her. Brygida lowered herself into the chair and crossed her legs as she reached into her purse and removed the golden cigarette case she used as a recording device. She clicked the latch to open the case which started the recording, and then removed a cigarette, placing it to her lips.
“Allow me,” Jon said as he produced a lighter from his pants pocket and flicked it open, striking it to produce a small orange flame. Brygida leaned forward, placing the tip of the cigarette into the flame and puffed.
“Thank you, Jon,” she smiled as she pulled the cigarette from her lips and blew out a stream of white smoke.
“Would you care for a drink?” Jon asked as he walked back around the table, returning to his seat.
“Yes, a gimlet, if you please,” Brygida replied before taking a drag from her cigarette.
Jon held up his hand catching the attention of the waiter who hurried over to their table. “May I have another scotch and soda, and a gimlet for the lady,” Jon said.
“Yes, sir,” the waiter replied with a nod and hurried away.
Jon turned his attention back to Brygida. “I was surprised to get your call,” he said. “Happy though. I thought maybe you had forgotten about me.”
Brygida smiled as she leaned forward and placed her hand on top of his. “I am sorry, Jon. I have been out of the country.”
“Really?” Jon asked. “Where?”
“Different places,” she smiled.
Suddenly the waiter returned and placed a cocktail glass with a slice of lime upon the rim, in front of Brygida. He then handed Jon a scotch and soda. “Will there be anything else?” the waiter asked.
“No, thank you,” Jon replied. The waiter nodded before turning and walking away. Jon’s eyes fell back to Brygida as she sipped her drink. “So what do you need, Jane?” he asked.
Brygida set her glass back on the table. She stared at h
im for a long moment and stamped out her cigarette in the ashtray before leaning forward placing her forearms flat against the table with her hands overlapping. She glanced about to ensure no one else was within earshot. “There appears to be a new addition to Operation Paperclip,” she said softly, referring to the highly secret American operation to grant valuable former Nazis immunity from prosecution for war crimes if they cooperated with the United States government in work such as science, rocketry and intelligence.
“Who?” Jon asked as he too leaned forward.
“Hans Kammler,” she replied.
Jon’s eyes went wide briefly. That was a big one. He, like everyone, had assumed Kammler was dead. Jon leaned even closer as he glanced about the club. “Are you certain?” he asked having a difficult time believing it.
“Yes,” she replied. “I saw him myself.”
“I’ve heard nothing about this at the Agency,” he assured her.
“The CSOS has him,” she replied. “I need to find out what they are going to do with him. I need to get to him.”
Jon sighed and adjusted the glasses on his nose. “I’m sorry, Jane,” he said, “I’d like to help, but the NSA no longer has any oversight of the CSOS. Rumors are that they work directly for some private organization.”
“A private organization?” Brygida asked as she narrowed her eyes to stare at him. “Who is it?”
“I’m not sure,” Jon said as he took a sip of his drink before setting the glass back down on the table.
“Is it the International?” Brygida asked in a concerned voice.
Jon closed his lips tight as he stared at her. “I have seen no evidence that this so-called ‘International’ exists,” he said but his eyes dropped from hers down to the table as he did so.
Brygida leaned back in her seat. “Well, this is a change in position, Jon,” she said.
Jon nodded and allowed his eyes to rise to hers once again. “Things are changing in Washington since Dallas,” he replied. He then glanced about the club one more time. “Be careful Jane.”
It was in that moment that Brygida realized that they had gotten to Jon and he was trying to warn her. They were probably watching them at that very moment. She stared at him. He was scared and he should be. Their enemy was ruthless and powerful with tentacles that stretched even further than Brygida had realized. “Thank you for the advice, Jon,” she said as she lifted her cigarette case and placed it back inside of her purse. She stood with a friendly smile. “It is late and I have had a long day. It was nice to see you again,” she said sweetly.
Jon stood as well. “Take care, Jane,” he said. She nodded.
“Thanks for the drink,” she said and then turned and hurried to the door and out of the club.
After exiting the club Brygida strolled along the sidewalk casually not wishing to call attention to herself. As she strolled, she noticed the sound of footsteps behind her. She reached into her purse and pulled out a makeup mirror. She flipped it open as she raised it to eye-level, pretending to check her lipstick. Brygida peered into the mirror, but looked past her own reflection noticing two large bruiser type men several yards back who appeared to be following her. She snapped the mirror closed and dropped it back into her purse, quickening her pace slightly as she turned a corner before slipping into a doorway. She watched as the men rounded the corner after her. When they didn’t see her they stopped and glanced around, which confirmed to Brygida that they were indeed tailing her.
The two men suddenly spotted her in the doorway and their eyes met hers. She noticed a brief moment of panic flash across their faces. Brygida stepped out of the doorway and removed her cigarette case from her purse. She opened it and pulled out a cigarette.
“Would either of you gentlemen happen to have a light?” she asked as she moved closer to them while placing the cigarette between her lips.
The men were dumbfounded at first, but eventually spoke. “Um, sure,” one said as he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a lighter just as she reached them. He flicked the flame and she leaned forward lighting the cigarette. She blew the smoke into the air.
She took another drag off of the cigarette and smiled at the two men. Suddenly her hand shot forward and she shoved the burning tip of the cigarette against the cheek of one of the men as she kicked up and into the crotch of the one directly in front of her doubling him over in agony. Brygida then turned and slammed her left fist into the jaw of the man with the burn, knocking him flat on his back. The other man straightened and reached for the gun, holstered beneath his jacket. She grabbed his arm as it slipped across his chest, preventing him from aiming it, and then brought her elbow into his nose, splattering blood everywhere as he screamed in pain. The other man was attempting to regain his feet so Brygida turned and kicked him. She felt his jaw shatter as her foot smashed it and the man fell backwards.
Brygida took off at a sprint. She surveyed the area as she ran concerned that there would be more agents out there watching her. She cursed herself for not being more careful. She could not go back to her apartment, that was certain, as there was too great of a risk that it was already compromised. There was a safe house outside of the city that she could use, but first she needed to lose anyone that might still be following her.
Brygida ran for several blocks before she slowed to a walk, composed herself, and hailed a taxi. She quickly leapt inside slamming the door closed as she peered out of the window to see if anyone was following her. “Where to?” the taxi driver asked.
“Dupont Circle,” she replied.
“Yes, ma’am,” the driver replied before shifting the car into gear and driving away. Brygida turned around in her seat to watch traffic behind her. She did not notice anyone tailing them, but that did not mean for sure that there wasn’t someone there. They soon entered Dupont circle.
“Here we are, where would you like me to let you out?” the driver asked.
“Nowhere, just keep circling,” Brygida replied.
“Okay, it’s your fare,” the man replied. The taxi drove around and around Dupont Circle. As they drove loop after loop, Brygida watched the cars that entered the circle. All of them exited at one point or another. None were following them.
“Get off at Connecticut Avenue,” she said.
“Alright,” the driver said and followed her directions.
Brygida reached into her purse and pulled out a five dollar bill. “Here you go,” she said as she handed the bill to the driver. “Please let me out at the corner of K Street,” she said. “Keep the change.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the driver said with a broad grin. They soon reached K street and the taxi pulled over to the side of the road, allowing Brygida to exit. As soon as she did, she darted for the shadow of some trees. She hid there and waited, watching. Brygida remained there in the shadows watching to see if there was anything suspicious or out of the ordinary. An hour passed before she stepped out of the darkness. She quickly hailed another taxi, climbed inside and the cab sped away. Brygida watched the traffic behind them, but felt confident that no one was following.
Twenty minutes later the taxi stopped and let Brygida out. She paid the driver, closed the door and walked up the steps of an apartment building as if that was where she lived. Once the cab was out of sight, she quickly scrambled back down the steps and walked two blocks south before taking a right and walking five more blocks. She came to an apartment and rang the door bell. She saw a light flip on and soon the door was answered by an elderly woman with white hair.
“May I help you?” the woman asked with a friendly smile.
“Yes,” Brygida said. “I am visiting my Uncle Herman.”
“You must be Julie’s sister,” the woman said.
“Older sister,” Brygida replied and then handed a slip of paper to the woman. “It’s urgent,” she said before turning and walking away. The woman closed the door. She would send the message to the Moscow Centre. Brygida just hoped the Centre would relay the message to Alena.
Chapter 5
Axel sat on a blue cushioned chair in Professor Hayes’ living room in his house in Georgetown. Axel sipped a cup of coffee, following a delicious dinner of roasted chicken, sauteed green beans and red skinned potatoes. Axel and Hayes ate dinner together at least once a week at Hayes’ home, the meal generally prepared by the Professor’s sweet old housekeeper of ten years before she left for the evening.
Professor Hayes got really lonely sometimes since the passing of his wife. He had no children of his own and he really enjoyed Axel’s company. For Axel, Hayes was the closest thing he had ever had to a father, so he enjoyed spending time with him. The mentoring relationship the two had also gave Axel a male role model to seek advice from. The older man lowered himself into a chair near Axel with his own cup of coffee. The Professor preferred it black, but Axel liked a little cream and sugar in his. Hayes always claimed he became accustomed to black coffee during the war when cream and sugar were extremely hard to come by.
“So how are you Axel?” Hayes asked as he peered over his glasses at the younger man.
“I’m good, Professor,” Axel replied.
“How are things with Dawn?” the Professor asked before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Good.”
“She’s a looker, no doubt. Smart, funny. You two make a nice couple…” he let it trail off, but clearly wanting to say more and Axel picked up on it.
“But?” Axel asked.
Hayes sighed. “Getting involved with someone on your team might not be the best idea, Axel.” Axel didn’t say anything, but simply stared down into his coffee cup. “Does Ian know about the two of you?” Axel shook his head. “Good, because I can assure you he would not approve of any romantic relationships between his agents.”
“Look, I know it’s not the smartest move, ever,” Axel said. “In fact, Dawn and I have discussed it a few times. We’re in a strange sort of position right now because of it.”
“What do you mean?” Hayes asked.
“Well, we’re kind of stuck in this not quite boyfriend and girlfriend stage, but certainly more than friends.”
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