“Your job is to gather information. A job that you do rather well.” A shadow crossed Allen’s face. “My job is to decide if said information is distressing enough to support your claims that a new war is coming.”
“They’re not claims, sir,” I said, earning a glare from Allen. “Germany is on the warpath.”
“The information you gathered is extensive.” A crease formed between the commander’s brows. “But can you tell me Germany’s first military objective? What are the Nazis planning to achieve? How many soldiers are they gathering? Where do they want to strike first?”
I sank my teeth into my bottom lip. Our report wasn’t that detailed. We had evidence of Germany’s growing army, of their militarisation beyond what the Treaty of Versailles allowed, and of the massive building of weapons, but as for what the Nazis were planning exactly, we could only guess.
“They’ll go east first,” Roy replied without hesitation.
“Why?” Allen asked.
“Because German people live in Sudetenland and Poland, in territories that once belonged to the kaiser, but that were taken away from Germany after the end of the war. The Nazis already took the Rhineland and Austria back. They want to reunite all the Germans. Hitler himself expressed his desire to do so in one of his public speeches. We were there. We heard him.”
Worry lines wrinkled Allen’s forehead. “We don’t have any proof of that.”
Roy leaned closer. “But the Anschluss—”
“The Anschluss was done through a legal referendum. We can hardly argue it was an act of war.” Allen’s voice rose. “If the Austrians want to join Germany, there’s little we can do.”
“What about November’s pogrom?” I clenched my fist, remembering the screams, the fire, and the horror of that night.
Allen’s shoulders slump a fraction. “It was reproachable, and our foreign minister talked with the German dignitaries, stating that we strongly condemn what happened. But that’s an internal matter of Germany. Antisemitism is nothing new for the Germans.”
“With due respect, sir,” I said, swallowing past the knot in my throat, “but you didn’t see the cruelty and the devastation caused by the SS, stormtroopers, and rioters, the way the Jews were beaten and dragged out of their houses, the humiliation they suffered.”
“And you didn’t see a battlefield soaked in blood where your fellow soldiers lie dead,” he shot back. He had a point, but so did I.
“No, I didn’t, sir,” I said. “And I don’t want to. That’s why Roy and I are here.”
He rubbed his forehead. “I’m not taking your concern lightly. I merely think we have to wait and see how things unfold.”
“So you aren’t going to do anything.” My beast almost growled at my sudden flare of anger.
If Allen were a beast, he would be unsheathing his claws now, judging by the scorching wrath he radiated. “Despite what I’ve just said, despite the fact that you didn’t bring me any strong evidence of your claims, and despite the fact that Lieutenant Wayne made perfectly clear that he thinks your ideas are a pile of rubbish, I’ve already forwarded your report to the Ministry of Defence.”
I sagged in relief on the chair, but Roy didn’t relax.
“But?” he said.
Allen laced his thick fingers over the desk. “But you’re going to find some damn evidence. I want details. I won’t make a fool out of myself, spreading rumours of an upcoming war without a detailed plan of what the Germans want to do. Do your job, and report back to me.”
I wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but Roy smirked and gave him a curt nod.
Allen’s decision wasn’t the success we wanted, but at least our work hadn’t been for naught.
Still, I couldn’t smile when we left Allen’s office, worry crushing my chest. The meeting was officially the end of my work with Roy. The last time we attended a meeting together. He’d return to ignoring me. I’d return to my routine of training. The ache would intensify, and we’d keep pretending it wasn’t real.
“Kristin.” He paused next to one of the windows in the hallway. The sunlight shone from behind him, casting blue hues on his raven hair. He was so handsome it hurt.
“Yes?” My silly hope still burned within me.
“I’d like to talk to you.”
“Are you going to tell me that you want me to work with you to gather evidence on what the Germans are up to?”
He frowned. “No. You know I can’t ask you that.”
“Then have a nice day, Roy. Or maybe not.” I strode away, a lump swelling in my throat. I sensed the touch of his strong fingers around my upper arm a moment before he actually touched me.