Page 24 of Shadowfox

I nodded. “Dr. Charles Beckett, British Science and Technology Advisor.”

I gestured to Will. “Mr. Henry Calloway, U.S. State Department liaison.”

The officer raised a palm and switched into English as easily as one might change shirts. “Do not speak for them.”

I lowered my head in deference.

Will raised his hand as if waving from across the tiny compartment. Goofball.

“I’m Henry.”

The Soviet’s face gave nothing away.

Then Sparrow. “Juliette Moreau, French telecommunications analyst.”

Finally Egret. “Dr. Hans Weiss, Austrian industrial observer.”

The Soviet officer’s gaze lingered on Egret a beat too long.

“He doesn’t look like a scientist.”

Egret smiled wide. “I get that a lot.”

“He isn’t very good,” Will jabbed, earning a sharp gaze from Egret and a nervous snicker from Sparrow.

I felt my heart stop. Joking was not part of the mission brief—of any mission brief—when dealing with a Soviet intelligence officer. What the fuck was Will doing?

The officer’s mouth didn’t move, but his eyes sharpened. “Your Russian is good, Mr. Beckett. Where did you learn it?”

“Dr. Beckett,” I corrected. “Cambridge, then abroad during reconstruction efforts.”

He turned back to the folder, flipping a few more pages.

One of the Hungarians moved past me into the compartment, asking Will and Sparrow for their passports in broken English. They handed them over without comment.

I watched the Soviet carefully, trying to track where his attention lingered.

He paused on a document with Egret’s photo.

“Dr. Weiss,” he said, “your credentials appear to be in order. You are currently working with the Allied post-war advisory council?”

Egret nodded. “Yes, focused on reindustrialization. Budapest offers a unique case study. Many factories were dismantled or moved, but there’s potential in their remaining infrastructure.”

The Soviet officer raised a brow, unimpressed. “So you say.”

His gaze moved to Sparrow.

“And you, Mademoiselle Moreau. The French are very interested in Hungarian cryptography, it seems.”

Sparrow stiffened, just barely. I caught it because I was watching for it.

“France is interested in the entire Eastern Bloc’s recovery,” she said. “Hungary’s position makes it central to many critical communications corridors.”

She delivered it well. Her voice didn’t waver.

Still, the Soviet’s eyes narrowed, just a touch.

He turned back to me. “How long will you remain in Budapest?”

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