When Wolves Gather

Book 6: Shadows of War

by CW Browning

Genres: Spy Thrillers; Historical Thrillers

Synopsis

While Great Britain stands alone against the might of the Third Reich, an even more sinister threat lurks in the halls of London…

As Hitler prepares to unleash the full force of his Luftwaffe against England, and the Battle of Britain takes hold of the skies, Evelyn Ainsworth is enjoying a much-needed holiday in London. When a chance conversation reveals the existence of a ruthless group of traitors, the MI6 agent is thrust back into the world of shadows where everyone has something to hide. Determined to expose those who would destroy England from within, Evelyn embarks on a dangerous game that could end her career…

Or her life.

In the skies above, the pilots she loves are facing an increasingly determined and deadly enemy. Knowing that invasion is imminent, Flight Lieutenant Miles Lacey and his squadron are busy defending convoys from Göring’s finest. But as war takes its toll, they begin to realize that they may not be enough to stop the onslaught that is coming.

Surrounded by the enemy, England’s sole defense lies with her RAF pilots, and a young socialite willing to sacrifice everything to save her country.

 

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Release date: October 11, 2022

Print pages: 443

Sample

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

Sir William Buckley looked up at the knock on his office door. He glanced at his watch and called the command to enter, laying down his pen and sitting back with a sigh. It was getting late. Marguerite would be expecting him for dinner, but there was still so much to be done.

“I’m sorry to disturb, sir.” His assistant Wesley entered the office carrying a leather portfolio and stack of signals from the radio room in his hands. “I have the latest reports from France, and another batch of communications from our agents there.”

“What’s left of them,” Bill muttered, holding out a hand for the stack. “Thank you. Anything from the French network?”

“No, sir.” Wesley cleared his throat. “And nothing from Norway, either.”

Bill glanced up with a wry smile. “Am I that predictable?”

“Not at all, sir. I just know that you’re anxious for word from the resistance there.”

“Well, thank you for these, at least.”

The telephone on the desk rang, forestalling any response Wesley would have made, and Bill reached for it, waving his assistant away.

“Yes? Buckley speaking.”

“Still there, Bill?” a voice demanded. “It’s almost seven!”

“Yes, sir.” Bill cradled the receiver between his shoulder and ear as he flipped through the messages from France. “There’s quite a bit going on at the moment.”

“Well, since you are still here, why don’t you come up to my office? Or, better yet, I’ll come down to you. I could use a walk to stretch my legs.”

Bill snapped his fingers to get Wesley’s attention just as he was reaching for the door handle. When he turned his head questioningly, Bill held up a finger, asking him to wait.

“Very well. I’ll be here. Shall I have tea sent up?”

“Have you still got that scotch in your cabinet?”

Bill grinned. “Yes.”

“I’ll have that, if you don’t mind. I’m on my way.”

Bill hung up and looked across his office at Wesley.

“Montclair is on his way down. I don’t know how long he’ll be in here, but there’s no need for you to wait about until he’s finished. I’ll just scan through these messages now and if there are any that need a response, you can have them sent, and then head home.”

“I don’t mind staying, sir,” Wesley said. “I know there’s quite a bit happening just now.”

“My dear Wesley, it won’t improve as the war continues. You must learn to pace yourself. No sense in wasting all your ammunition before the main battle.”

“And does that apply to you as well, sir?”

Bill let out a bark of laughter. “It does, indeed, but I’m not very good at following my own words of wisdom, I’m afraid.”

Wesley grinned and stood quietly while his superior went through the stack of messages before him, scanning each one thoroughly.

“Is it as bad as they say?” he finally ventured.

“Just about,” Bill murmured, glancing up. “Your brother…Percy, is it?”

“Yes, sir.”

“He’s made it back all right from Dunkirk?”

“Yes, thank you. He arrived back last week. He was brought back by a private yacht, captained by an ex-Navy Lieutenant from the last war. He said there were a few hairy moments, but his captain was cool as a cucumber and got them back. Amazing what some of those ordinary citizens did in the effort.” Wesley cleared his throat. “Percy has a nasty wound in his shoulder, and his leg took a fair beating from shrapnel, but the doc says he’ll be back with his regiment in no time.”

Bill nodded. “Good. That’s what I like to hear. I’m glad he made it home.”

“Sir?” Wesley broke the silence again a moment later.

“Yes?”

“It’s about your agent. The one who made it out of Bordeaux.”

Bill glanced up. “Yes?”

“Well, I was just wondering if she’s made it back all right?” Wesley cleared his throat and a faint flush stained his cheeks. “It’s just that we’ve been hearing about ships being sunk by U-boats in the Channel, and I haven’t heard anything more about her since she left Bordeaux.”

“Ah. Quite right. She made it to Plymouth right enough. She’ll be here tomorrow.”

“That’s good news, sir,” Wesley said, a look of relief on his face.

“Yes.”

There was a single, brisk knock on the door and Wesley moved to open it, admitting a man who was on the shorter side with a stocky, square frame. Seen in a crowd, one wouldn’t look twice at the man. However, what Jasper Montclair lacked in stature, he more than made up for in personality.

“You’re still here too, Fitch?” he demanded in a booming voice. “Is everyone working late?”

“There is a war on, you know,” Bill said, getting out of his chair and coming around the side of his desk. “But I’ve just told Wesley he can go.”

“I don’t mind staying, sir.”

“Yes, I know, but none of those messages require a response this evening. Go on and get yourself some dinner.”

“Very well, sir, if you’re sure.”

“I am. Thank you. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night, sir.”

Wesley nodded to Jasper and went out of the office, closing the door quietly.

“He’s a good man, young Fitch,” Jasper said, crossing the room to seat himself in one of the arm chairs before Bill’s desk. “Not surprising, given his family. His father is a legend in the Houses. You’re lucky to have him.”

“Yes, I know. He’s a tremendous help.” Bill went over to a tall wooden cabinet and pulled a key from his pocket. “His brother’s just returned from Dunkirk.”

“Has he? Good show.” Jasper crossed his legs and watched as Bill unlocked the cabinet. “That’s one battle, at least, that’s over. We rescued more men off those beaches than Churchill ever thought possible when he dreamt up the scheme. Not only did we get all our troops off, but that last night they took off twenty-six thousand French troops. A resounding success, it was, thanks in no small part to the armada of private boats that answered the call. They’re calling it the Miracle at Dunkirk.”

“Yes.” Bill poured two glasses of scotch and turned to carry one over to Jasper. “His brother came back on a private yacht captained by an ex-Naval man.”

Jasper sipped the scotch appreciatively and watched as Bill took the other arm chair.

“You’ve heard the news from France about Daladier?” he asked after a moment.

Bill nodded, rubbing his forehead tiredly. “He’s been removed from his position, and de Gaulle is now the Under-Secretary for Defense.”

“Know anything about him?”

“De Gaulle? Not really. Only that he’s an officer in the French army. Tanks, wasn’t it?”

“Quite right. He was made a Brigadier-General a few weeks ago. He led one of the few successful counterattacks against the invasion, for all the good it did.” Jasper exhaled and shook his head. “The French won’t hold out for much longer. Our forces are being pushed south, and the losses are heavy. I don’t see that there is much hope left for France.”

“No.”

“England will be alone.”

“Yes.”

Jasper sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Sometimes I wonder if perhaps we will be better off.”

Bill raised an eyebrow. “Why would you think that?”

“Well, we won’t be committing the defense of England to France, for one thing.” Jasper dropped his hand and sipped his drink. “And Churchill won’t have to fight with Paris on every little thing that he wants to do.”

“There is that.” Bill was quiet for a moment, then he shook his head. “But how on earth we’re going to keep the Jerries on the other side of the Channel is beyond me.”

Jasper nodded glumly. “Winston is putting great faith in the radar. Chain Home is the one thing that might save us.”

“The radar towers are key,” Bill admitted. “They’ll give our pilots advanced warning to intercept the bombers…and fighters.”

“Let’s hope it’s enough.”

Both men were silent for a moment, then Jasper cleared his throat.

“Has Jian returned from France?”

“Yes, and she brought Oscar with her. He is already in London and is debriefing. She will be here tomorrow.”

Jasper raised an eyebrow. “Why the delay?”

“She had to return to Northolt before coming to London. It was only a few days delay, and Oscar has given his account, so I saw no harm in it.”

“And the package?”

“She gave it to me before continuing on to Northolt. It contained some rather interesting plans for the underground munitions factories that the Germans are building beneath the plants in Stuttgart. I’ve forwarded the information on.”

“Good!” Jasper nodded in satisfaction. “Very good. And Oscar?”

“The amount of intelligence he’s managed to gather, as well as the sheer amount of information that he already knew, is staggering. It’s slow going. There is so much!”

“Will he be willing to go back?”

Bill let out a bark of laughter. “That’s all he wants to do. He says he won’t rest until the Nazis are out of Prague.”

Jasper grunted. “I suppose he would feel that way. Is his information good?”

“The best I’ve seen in quite a while.” Bill leaned forward. “He has intimate knowledge of how the SS work and conduct their business. More than that, he knows exactly what is required for identity papers for the Reich.”

Jasper looked startled. “Heh?”

“That’s what he did before leaving Prague and making his way to Holland. He issued papers and credentials for the Reich.”

“Well, that is helpful! Where in blazes do you find these people, Bill?”

“Oscar found me. Or at least, he found one of my agents in Amsterdam. They alerted me and, well, now here he is.”

“Thank God for that. And no one knows who he is?”

“Jian does, but no one else.”

“Not the French network?”

“No.”

“Good. Then he will be the ace up our sleeve.” Jasper cleared his throat. “Once Jian has debriefed, what are your plans?”

“I don’t have any. I was going to give her some time off. I think she’s earned it.”

“Don’t do that just yet.”

Bill raised his eyebrows in question and Jasper took another sip of scotch before setting the glass down on the desk.

“There’s a new training course that’s being put together,” he said slowly, deliberately. “You know the stock Churchill puts in intelligence, yes? Well, he’s convinced that once France falls, the only way to go is to have people on the ground who will…well, there’s no good way of putting it. He wants to send people to engage in guerilla warfare against the Germans.”

Bill grinned. “That sounds just like Winston. What does he have in mind?”

“He wants to train them here, and then parachute them in. They’ll make contact with any French resistance and, well, do their thing.”

“You don’t sound like you approve.”

“It is rather underhanded.”

“Jasper, we deal in intelligence. Our very business is underhanded.”

“Yes, but that’s different,” Jasper muttered, waving a hand dismissively. “What Churchill is proposing is…well, it’s ungentlemanly.”

“I can assure you that the Nazis are not being gentlemen themselves,” Bill muttered, recalling some of the accounts from the villages in France. “By all accounts, they’re shooting innocents and bludgeoning their way through France. I’m with Churchill on this one. What will he call it?”

“Oh, he’s had a few ideas, but I think the current favorite is the Special Operations Executive.”

Bill waited for a moment and, when nothing more was forthcoming, he frowned.

“What does this have to do with Jian?” he finally asked.

“Others in the cabinet aren’t convinced of the need for such a group. The main objection seems to be the amount and intensity of training that the men, and women, would have to undergo. To address that particular obstacle, an experimental training program is being set up in Scotland.”

“And you want Jian to take it?” Bill asked incredulously. “She’s not a saboteur. She’s a spy!”

“Yes, and I’m not suggesting that she be moved to this new group, if it ever gets off the ground,” Jasper said hastily. “It’s simply that I saw the training plans, and I think she would benefit greatly from the course.”

Bill’s brows came together. “Why? What will she be learning that she hasn’t already learned from us?”

Jasper cleared his throat uncomfortably. “I know her father was a close friend of yours, and I suspect that you think of her almost a daughter.”

“Yes, I suppose in some ways I do. However, I treat her the same as I treat all my agents.”

“Yes, yes, I have no doubt of that.” Jasper finally raised his eyes to Bill’s. “She would learn, among many other things, how to kill enemy sentries quickly and, above all, silently. Now, my own personal feelings regarding the role of women in a theatre of war aside, if she is to be sent back into France once it has fallen, then this is a skill that I think will only help her. Don’t you agree?”

Bill was silent for a long moment, thinking of her proficiency in a martial art which no one knew anything about. Jasper believed Jian needed to learn to kill, but Bill knew she’d already learned that years ago in Hong Kong. Mistaking his silence for reluctance, Jasper exhaled and leaned forward.

“She would also undergo very strenuous physical training and testing. The men who drew up the training plan have been training the BEF. Have you heard of the Commandos?”

“No, I don’t believe so.”

“It’s another one of Winston’s ideas. They’re to be a special branch of the army, made up of soldiers who volunteer for special training to carry out raids against the enemy. Small groups of men who will be able to go where a whole battalion cannot. Or, at least, that’s the general idea as far as I can tell. The men who will be training those chaps are the same ones who are undertaking this training, and they have some rather maverick ideas. They are adamant that very specific skills be taught, as well as extreme physical endurance. They don’t expect even half of the trainees to complete the course. Their conservative estimate is twenty percent to complete it and pass. If you don’t think she can do it, then it’s best not to—”

“I have no doubt that she can do it,” Bill interrupted, swallowing a mouthful of scotch. “You’ve seen all her training reports.”

“Yes. They’re exemplary, which is precisely why I thought of her this morning when I saw the training outline.”

Bill considered him shrewdly for a moment. “There’s another reason you want her there,” he said bluntly. “Spit it out, Jasper. What is it?”

Jasper had the grace to look sheepish.

“I was asked to submit an agent from MI6 to the training. There is some discussion as to the type of person who can excel in such an environment, and I thought perhaps someone like Jian would open a few minds to possibilities that they might not have considered otherwise.”

“You want someone you think will surprise them.”

“Something like that, yes.”

Bill shook his head and finished his drink. “Well, she would certainly do that. Are there any other women going?”

“Not yet, and to be perfectly frank, I don’t think any others will go on this run. As I said, it’s all rather more of an experiment. If it goes well, then it will be the basis for the training platform for this new project of Winston’s. If not, well, then a few people will come away with very specialized Commando training.” He looked at Bill quizzically. “Will that be a problem for her?”

“Not having any fellow females about? No, I don’t think so,” Bill said thoughtfully. “I’ll certainly mention it, but I’d be surprised if she balked at that. She’s not one to balk at any challenge.”

Jasper visibly relaxed. “You’ll arrange it then? Good. I’ll submit her name first thing.”

“And if she doesn’t complete the training?”

“Then I’ll lose a rather large wager with the Commando instructor heading up the project,” Jasper said cheerfully, standing.

Bill laughed, getting to his feet. “Ha! I should have known.”

“Well, when they implied that our agents weren’t capable of the kind of physical and mental conditioning that they have in mind, what was I supposed to do?”

“Quite right, Montclair. Quite right. Let’s hope that Jian is up to the task.”

St. James Underground

June 10

 

Evelyn Ainsworth looked at her watch and sighed. She’d just missed the train to Paddington. Bill had wanted to talk to her about Oscar, or Finn as she knew him, delaying her departure from the building on Broadway that was headquarters to MI6. He had some questions about their flight south ahead of the German army, and her impression of the Czech-turned-Nazi-turned-Allied-spy. While Finn was still being held for debriefing, there was some concern that perhaps he was a double agent for the Germans. Or at least, that was what she surmised from Bill during his very careful questioning. It was an understandable suspicion, she supposed, but she would be very surprised to find that it was the case. She didn’t believe a man could fake the hatred she’d glimpsed in Finn’s eyes for the SS soldiers. And so she’d told Bill, but not, apparently, before he’d made her too late to catch her train.

Turning, she made her way across the platform to a bench. She would have to wait for the next one, and it would mean getting back to RAF Northolt much later than she’d planned. This delay would mean waiting for over an hour at Paddington Station for the train to Northolt, and then she still had to walk to the RAF station where she was ostensibly posted in her position as an Assistant Section Officer in the WAAFs.

It really was infuriating, she thought as she sank onto the bench and settled her handbag on her lap. She’d been in London for two days, debriefing from her latest romp across Belgium, France, Switzerland, and then France again. At the end of it, she’d returned to Northolt, only to be called back again not twenty-four hours later. This time she’d had to spend two days with the radio group, learning how to operate the newest model of portable radio. She shook her head now and rubbed her forehead tiredly. It really was ridiculous. They kept teaching her how to use the radios, but they never sent one with her when she went abroad. It seemed to her that it was all rather a waste of time.

“Evelyn!”

A voice called across the platform and she looked up in surprise to see Bill’s assistant, Wesley, running towards her, his tie askew and his jacket flapping open.

“Mr. Fitch!” she exclaimed, standing quickly. “What is it? Is everything all right?”

“No. Well, yes.” He stopped before her, breathing heavily. “What I mean is, no.”

Evelyn stared at him in some consternation, a laugh on her lips.

“It’s not a difficult question, Mr. Fitch,” she said humorously. “Either everything is fine, or it isn’t.”

“It isn’t.” He took a deep breath. “Sir Buckley just received a call from Northolt. You must get back immediately!”

“I am trying, but I’ve missed the train to Paddington, in no small part because of Sir Buckley himself.”

“Yes, I know. I’m to drive you, but we must hurry!”

Wesley put his hand under her elbow and began to guide her quickly towards the steps leading up to the street.

“Drive me to Paddington?” she demanded. “Don’t be ridiculous! The train will have me arrive long before you can make it through the traffic.”

“Not Paddington. Northolt,” he clarified. “Sir Buckley says the train will never get you back in time.”

“In time for what?” Evelyn pulled away from him in exasperation. “Really, Mr. Fitch, what on earth can be so urgent?”

Wesley stopped on the bottom step to the street and looked at her.

“Flight Leader Miles Lacey.”

Alarm shot through her and Evelyn felt her chest tighten painfully as breath caught in the back of her throat.

“Miles? Is he hurt?” she asked quickly, her heart pounding. “Has something happened?”

“No, no, nothing like that. But he’s standing in your office right this minute while a young corporal is supposedly out on the station looking for you!”

Evelyn gasped. “What?! But I’m not there!”

“Clearly,” Wesley said dryly, starting up the steps. Evelyn needed no urging to hurry now, and she ran up the steps lightly beside him. “Your assistant didn’t know what to tell him, so she said that you must have stepped out and sent a corporal to locate you. Then she called Sir Buckley to find out when you would be back!”

“Oh good Lord, what a ninny!” Evelyn muttered under her breath. “Why would she do such a thing?”

“I gather she was rather flustered at him showing up unannounced, seemingly convinced that you were on the station. Why would he think that? Does he know that you’re back?”

“No. I haven’t spoken to him, or even written to him yet. I haven’t had time. I’ve been running back and forth to London!”

They emerged onto the street and half ran down the pavement towards Broadway.

“That’s not all, I’m afraid. There’s also another pilot there, an Officer Fred Durton?”

“Oh dear! I suppose he’s looking for me as well?”

“Quite.” They stopped on the curb, waiting for a traffic light to change so they could cross the road. “So you see, Sir Buckley is rather anxious to allay any suspicion on their part.”

“Yes, I suppose he is. What a muddle!” Evelyn looked at him, a reluctant laugh pulling on her lips. “Things are never easy, are they?”

He grinned. “Not in this business, or so I’m learning. I’ve had my car pulled around. I can get you back in half an hour. The rest, I’m afraid, is up to you.”

“What did Bill tell her to say to them? Where am I supposed to have been?”

“He didn’t. He thought it best for you come up with something that would be likely to be believed by both of them.”

The light changed and they jogged across the intersection to where a black Vauxhall was pulled up alongside the curb. The driver got out as Wesley approached.

“Thanks so much, Tommy,” he said with a nod. “I appreciate it.”

“No problem at all.” The driver nodded and turned to walk back towards the tall, unremarkable building that was the headquarters on Broadway.

“Wasn’t that Sir Buckley’s driver?” Evelyn asked as Wesley opened the passenger door for her.

“Yes. He sent him round for my car while I tried to catch up with you.”

Evelyn got into the car and waited while he ran around the front to climb in behind the wheel.

“I do appreciate you taking the time to run me back,” she said. “Thank you.”

“There’s no need to thank me,” he said with a smile, pulling into the flow of traffic. “Let’s just get you back so that we can avoid any unnecessary complications, shall we?”