Page 86 of The Number of Love
He’d taken to wearing his naval uniform again, making him look like he had the day he’d first stepped into her path and asked her if she had a name.“He cuts a fine figure,”one of the secretaries had said with an appreciative grin just the other day.
He’ll soon be going. That was what the uniform said to Margot. He was well again, sooner than the doctors had expected. Healed. They’d already granted him medical leave until after Christmas, but that was only six days away. He’d be sent back into the field after that. Back to Bilbao. Maybe even in time to help with the capture of the wolfram on theErri Barro, if there were more delays—which seemed likely. He’d be leaving her.
And she’d miss him.
How does she do it?Drake had slipped just inside Room 40 while he waited for Hall, so that he could watch her while she worked. He’d done it before, whenever he could. And smiled to realize she didn’t even notice.
She always sat at her desk just like she did now, so intent upon the papers before her that the rest of the world might as well not exist. Pencil flying, columns of numbers queuing up and marching down the page in parallel lines. It took her seconds to render code into plain script. Seconds. No doubt she worked through his letters just as fast, or faster—heaven knew his code wasn’t as sophisticated as the ones she rattled off the names for so easily. 7500, 13040, 18470, 89734.
Her mind amazed him. The way she processed the world, turned it all into theorems and equations and endless strings of numbers. Dot was right—she had to be the most intelligent person he’d ever met. She outdid him by far. Held her own here among England’s brightest. Would no doubt achieve great success outside the OB someday too.
He couldn’t quite imagine what life would be like if ever she agreed to marry him. He had no idea how many years it might take to even convince her to do that. There would be headaches in the meantime, and heartaches, and countless lonely nights when his arms ached for her.
But it didn’t matter how long it took. He’d never be able to look at another girl like he looked at her.
“Elton. Thank you for waiting.”
He started and turned with a smile for Hall, not really minding getting caught staring at Margot. “Not a hardship, sir.”
The admiral smiled and motioned him to follow. “You’ve made great strides with her, I’ve noticed.”
“Have I?” Sometimes he wasn’t sure. She’d still never once mentioned his letters. She never leaned closer to him when she didn’t have to. She’d certainly never said she loved him—he wasn’t sure she ever would, even though it may be true. Words weren’t her language.
Perhaps someday she would say it, somehow, in numbers.
Hall chuckled. “She’s given up arguing when people refer to you as her young man. I would count that as a victory, were I you.”
Drake’s lips twitched up. “And so I shall.”
The admiral led the way into his office and motioned him to close the door behind him. “She just provided a decrypt that will interest you. They have finally finished loading the wolfram onto theErri Barro. She is finally scheduled to leave port.”
Drake’s pulse kicked up as he took a chair. “And we’re ready to intercept?”
“We are. Whenever she enters open waters, we’ll set upon her.”
He’d wanted to be there, part of the prize crew. And yet he wasn’t at all sorry he was here instead. “Are they certain she’s seaworthy? I’ve seen her, sir—she’s in sorry shape, and that’s a heavy load for her to carry.”
“Hence the many weeks of repairs. But I imagine we’ll soon know how she fares. Now.” Hall pulled a stack of clipped papers forward and slid it across his desk to Drake. “I’m sorry it’s taken so long to compile this information. We’ve been able to discover preciouslittle about this Jaeger chap. But I’ve had a team combing through all entrance records, looking for him or his compatriots. There are half a dozen or so who could well be working with the Germans. A few have been detained already, a few have left the country again already. But these are still at large.”
Throat tight in anticipation, Drake took the papers and flipped through it. Looking not just for Jaeger, but for the man in the grey overcoat.
His fingers paused on the fourth page. “This could be him.”
“Jaeger?”
“No. The man outside my building, the one who ran from me. The height, weight, and age are right, and the description matches.” Tall—six foot four. Not too many men could answer to that. He frowned. “Niall Walsh. Irish?”
“Claiming to be an American of Irish descent, but I have my doubts. The story he gave the custom agents didn’t check out.” Hall blinked and tapped a finger to his desk. “What’s more, he’s vanished. He was apparently on board theBoyntonwhen she was sunk, was rescued, hospitalized ... and then nothing after his release. He let his flat go afterward, but I can’t track where he’s gone. No hotels or boardinghouses in the city have seen him, but he hasn’t left the country again, so far as we know. My people are checking other cities, but thus far, nothing.”
“Mm.” He kept reading, that page and the final two. Sighed. “None sound like Jaeger himself to me. But that supposedly Irish chap could be the one watching my flat for him. If we findhim...”
“Right. I’ll put a few more lads on it.” Hall made a note and gave him a distracted smile. “I believe that’s all. Oh, except that I did send Thoroton a note this morning with the good news from your doctor, that you’ve been given the all-clear to return to the field. He’ll be expecting you by the new year.”
“Excellent.” He said the word easily enough. And hoped it sounded truthful. Hewaslooking forward to seeing Abuelo again and getting back into the work he was so well suited for, doing something other than reading all day.
But...
Hall angled him a knowing look. “She’ll be here when you return, Elton.”
