The Rest Is Silence (Billy Boyle World War II Mystery) by James R Benn

Author:James R Benn [Benn, James R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781616952662
Amazon: 1616952660
Publisher: Soho Crime
Published: 2014-09-02T00:00:00+00:00

AS WE STEPPED on to the platform, the locomotive blew its whistle and the wheels began to turn slowly, the engine releasing a hiss of steam as it pulled the two heavy armored carriages out of the station. MPs climbed aboard or sprinted to their jeeps, ready to speed through the countryside and guard the next crossing.

“He was waiting just to speak to us,” Kaz said, his voice betraying an awe that he seldom revealed.

“These orders make us gods for the next few days,” I said.

“That’s how important this job is,” Harding said. “I’ve got another jeep for you. I figured the four of you would split up at some point. Good idea to go out into the Channel, Boyle. The USS Bayfield is anchored at Dartmouth. See the captain there, he’s got boats that can take you out.”

“Will do, Colonel. Tell me, is Peter Wiley a BIGOT? Is that why you denied him permission to ship out with Operation Tiger?”

“Yes,” Harding said. “He failed to convince me he needed to be there, although he felt strongly about it. The other BIGOTs all had to be with their units, but Wiley is pretty much a one-man show.”

“What does he do, exactly?” Kaz asked.

“You don’t need to know,” Harding said. It was a joke with us by now.

“We get it, Colonel,” I said. I watched Kaz lift a tarp in the backseat of the new jeep. “What’s that stuff?”

“Well, I figured we could requisition that place you’re holed up in, since Big Mike will need to bunk with you. Or do it the nice way, by bribery. If they’re going to feed him, all this will come in handy.”

No kidding, I thought. Big cans of coffee, green beans, canned tuna fish, several bottles of Scotch, sugar, a carton of Chesterfields, and to prove Harding had a sense of humor, four large cans of peaches, heavy syrup. A nod to a case back in London a few months ago. I thought the incident had been forgotten, but apparently not.

“Think that will keep the folks at Ashcroft House happy, Peaches?” Harding asked, a smile cracking his face. It wasn’t something you saw very often, so I didn’t mind the ribbing.

“Nice to see you remembered, Colonel,” I said. “This ought to make them delirious. One question before you leave. What about Big Mike and the BIGOT list? Can he be put on it? It’s going to be difficult if we can’t tell him everything.”

“Big Mike’s been a BIGOT for over a month now,” Harding said, getting into his jeep and starting it. “He had a need to know.” His grin got even wider, and I swear he actually laughed as he drove off.

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