“Stevens has that, too,” he said. “Will you have any trouble getting it to von Heurten-Mitnitz?”
“It takes five days to put a piece of paper in his hand,” Canidy said. “Overnight to Sweden, and then four days from Stockholm to Berlin.”
“We don’t want to cut it too close,” Donovan said. “Better set that moving, Ed.”
“Yes, sir,” Stevens said.
“That’s it,” Donovan said, rising. “I’ve got a plane to catch. I can sense Chief Ellis growing nervous downstairs.”
He went to each man to shake hands, and then he walked out of the sitting room. The chief of station and Colonel Stevens walked after him.
“I have just had an inspiration,” Canidy said. “Let’s find Jimmy and Fulmar, and go to some pub full of soldiers and get drunk. Maybe with a little bit of luck we can get in a fight.”
“I’m going to surprise you,” Fine said. “I’m going with you.”
Chapter FIVE
The Dorchester Hotel Bar
London, England
2010 Hours 15 January 1943
Captain James M. B. Whittaker, Lieutenant Eric Fulmar, and Captain the Duchess Stanfield, WRAC, were sitting in the Dorchester bar where Canidy had expected to find them, at a table against the wall.
“We were wondering where you were,” Whittaker said as Canidy sat down and inspected the bottles in paper bags. He was looking for Scotch.
“We were with the Boss,” Canidy said.
“I thought he was with you at High Wycombe,” Whittaker said.
“The Boss,” Canidy said.
“There was a rumor he’s in town,” Whittaker said. “Got any interesting gossip?”
As a matter of fact, buddy, you’re going to go back to the Philippines.
“Nothing important,” Canidy said.
“And how was High Wycombe?” the Duchess asked.
“The less said about it the better, Your Gracefulness,” Canidy said. “Even the Boss felt sorry for us.”
“We ate,” Whittaker said. “We didn’t know when, or if, you were coming.”
“No problem,” Canidy said. “Stan and I came to take the third man here over to drink with the Air Corps anyway. Joe Kennedy’s over there talking them out of aircraft parts. They have a pretty good kitchen in the O Club.”
"The third man? ” the Duchess asked.
“Another quaint Americanism, Your Gracefulness,” Canidy said. “Two’s company, three’s a crowd.”
She blushed, then quickly said:“We’re not going back to Whitb
ey House tonight?”
“No,” he said. “Both Jimmy and I have to see Stevens in the morning.”
And Stevens will tell him to pack his things; his services are needed in the Philippines. The Great Romance will be put on hold.