By Richard A. Falb

To most people, Gordon Dietrich appeared a taciturn, easy-going man in his middle thirties. A man obviously in excellent physical condition. A typical college professor in tweed jacket. His eyes belied this. They bored into you as if he was looking into the depths of your very soul. Except, that is, when he hooded them, which he was doing now. He was casually walking along the street in a small town along the coast of northern England. He was actually anything but casual. He was very much on the alert. He was tracking down an enemy master spy. A man who could ruin Gordon, if he told what he knew. Headquarters did not know this. Gordon tracked his quarry this far.

Gordon was a member of Allied Intelligence. He had a reputation as a master spy. He was a highly trusted member of Allied Intelligence. A master at playing double agent. At the moment, he was temporarily on counter-espionage duty. He just got back from the Continent, and had been drafted to track down this person. Actually he had made sure he would be drafted for this particular job. He knew this particular man very well. Gordon met him when Gordon was playing the part of a double agent in enemy territory. Gordon had worked briefly with him. This man was the only one who had been suspicious of Gordon. Luckily in that instance, others were not. They carried more clout. His colleagues in Intelligence would tell you luck had nothing to do with it. Gordon Dietrich was tops in his work.

Jason Connery was the name that man was now using. Gordon had tracked him from London. The problem now, was his task had become more complicated. Gordon learned Connery was traveling with a very attractive young widow and her small daughter. Gordon cursed his luck. Intelligence figured Connery must have picked them up as a cover. Connery practically always worked alone. He said that way he only had to worry about him doublecrossing himself. They hadn’t figured out how he managed to pick up this widow and her daughter. Gordon knew. He knew Connery. Connery was a ladies man, and could be charming when he wished, Gordon knew. Once Connery had them, they would not be leaving him alive. The woman undoubtedly, had no idea who her traveling companion really was. However, the woman and her daughter would be in danger shortly. They were only safe as long as Connery could use them. Then they became expendable. Connery left no witnesses. That was one reason he had survived so long in this dangerous business. He was completely cold-blooded. Life was expendable, as long as it was someone else’s. He had tried to eliminate Gordon when they were working together. Connery would have justified it by claiming Gordon was working for the other side. Gordon had been happy to take this assignment. He had a reason for tracking Connery down. Connery had some information that would prove detrimental to Gordon if anyone else found out about it. Information about some things he had done while playing the double agent. It had to do with where some valuables were supposedly hidden.

Gordon figured Connery was heading for some isolated place along the coast. He was sure Connery was planning to rendezvous with a sub. Intelligence told Gordon they were sure Connery had information of immediate value to his country, and he wanted to get there as soon as possible. Gordon knew he had that information. Gordon’s job was to see that Connery and the information never reached their destination. To accomplish this Gordon had to first find Connery, eliminate him and assume his identity long enough to lure the sub into a trap. Gordon had sold Headquarters on this plan. This would require a lot of luck. Gordon knew he didn’t have that much time. He also wanted to make sure the sub was sunk. Why that sub must be sunk was top secret information. Gordon had been told, part of his job was to see that the sub was sunk, after he had eliminated Jason Connery. Eliminating Jason suited Gordon’s plans.

The first piece of luck came that same day. Gordon learned a radio signal was heard, coming from a certain coastal area. It was not too far from the town where Gordon was at that time. His contact told him it could be from an isolated house they had under occasional surveillance. This was a good place for Connery to try to arrange a rendezvous with a sub. An old couple lived in this house. They were suspected of sending messages to the continent occasionally. They had been allowed to continue to operate, because intelligence found a way to feed some erroneous information to them. The second piece of luck came when reports reached him a man, woman and little girl were seen, several days ago, heading in the general direction of this house.

What was now needed was a third bit of good fortune. That came with the weather. Fog was rolling in. It was suppose to be around for several days. This would provide Gordon cover so he could head immediately toward this house. It would give him the cover he needed to get near enough to the house without being detected. He knew he had to catch Connery outside of the house. He dare not try to get into the house with the widow and daughter also there. That would not only complicate his surprising Connery, but it could put the widow and her daughter in danger. It was not that the widow and daughter were important at this point. It would put him in additional danger. That he would avoid, if at all possible. It was also not in his plans to expend lives unnecessarily. He would have to wait until Connery stepped outside. It was imperative he succeed. No one else knew, but his career depended upon his success in eliminating Connery.

Gordon was furnished with a detailed layout of the house, the surrounding buildings and general lay of the land. Using this and the cover of the fog, he was able to get to one of the closer outbuildings without apparent detection. The fog was somewhat patchy. During one of the periods of slight clearing, Gordon was startled. He cursed his bad luck. Things kept cropping up to spoil his plan. Another figure was moving cautiously toward the house. Gordon was working alone. He had made sure that no one was supposed to be anywhere near the house. This could pose a real problem for Gordon. It could possibly foul up his chance to catch Connery by surprise. He did not want Connery to see him. Gordon saw the person uncover a gun and crouch as if getting ready to run toward the house. Making a quick decision, Gordon took aim with his silenced pistol and squeezed the trigger. The figure pitched forward. Gordon knew he was dead. He knew he never missed from that close. Luckily the person never made a sound. As to who the person was, that would have to wait. It was not important to Gordon at this time. He knew it was not Connery. It also eliminated any witnesses that might foul up his plan.

He waited for a while to make sure this was the only person around. Then he moved silently around to where he could see the front of the house. Under cover of the fog that moved in, he was able to gain the cover of a clump of bushes. In a moment the fog temporarily cleared so he could see. Pretty soon a hooded figure moved out from the house heading toward the water. Gordon knew immediately it was not Connery. Connery was taller, and walked with a slight limp. The figure stopped. It had to be the woman. This could complicate things. Gordon wanted no witnesses if Connery recognized him. A few minutes went by. “Come back in. It must have been a false alarm.” a voice softly called to the figure. Gordon was sure it was Connery talking. The figure did not move. “Come back in. Remember, I have your daughter here,” the voice softly continued. Though soft, the tone of that voice cut through the night like a steel knife. Gordon saw a movement in the doorway. A man’s figure appeared with a gun in his hand. Gordon quickly lifted his pistol and fired twice in rapid succession. The figure in the doorway jerked, then slid to the ground and lay still. Gordon quickly ran to the downed figure and flipped the figure over, keeping his pistol ready to fire again. He wanted to make sure that Connery was dead. It was Connery. He was dead. So far his plan was working perfectly. Now to make sure the woman bought his reasons for killing Connery.

Turning to the hooded figure, he was now sure was the widow, Gordon said softly but clearly, “Come back in. He’s dead. I’m on your side. You and your daughter are safe now, at least for the moment.” He didn’t tell her that depended on how well she cooperated with him from now on.

The figure did not move for a moment, then started to move hesitantly toward him. “Who are you,” came a low, tense voice. “How did you know my daughter was here.” The woman quickly went on, “I didn’t know he was a spy. For the last weeks, he held us virtually captive. He threatened to kill my daughter if I didn’t do what he told me to do.” The words tumbled out quickly. Gordon watched her closely wondering how much she knew about Connery and if she was telling the truth. He also wondered how much Connery had told her.

Before Gordon answered her, he asked, “Anyone else in the house?”

“No,” the woman answered. “He said he called the old fools who lived in the house. He told them, he would need it for a week. He said they went to visit their daughter. No one would disturb us. He said that with a rather nasty laugh.” Gordon found he felt just a little sorry for the woman. Maybe she was just an innocent victim. That would make it much easier. It must have been hell for her. Not knowing what Connery intended to do with her and her daughter. Killing Connery had obviously eliminated a problem for her as well as serving his purposes.

“Let’s go inside. Apparently he was using you as a decoy. Someone else was looking for him. He must have figured, that person would shoot you and he would be able to shoot him, when the person went to check you out,” Gordon told her rather cold-bloodedly. The woman shuddered then stumbled. Gordon caught her. The hood fell back and she smiled rather weakly at him. Gordon could see she was very beautiful, even though she looked haggard, obviously from the strain of not knowing what would happen to her and her daughter. Gordon helped her into the house. He now had to decide what to do about the woman and her daughter. He would have to keep her around, in case someone else was watching the house. He would have the daughter taken away to a safe place until this was all over. She would just be a complication if kept around. Everything had gone well so far. He didn’t want anything fouling things up now.

“Do you know where the radio is in the house?” Gordon asked her. He was hoping she might have observed Connery using it. Gordon figured Connery might not be that careful, knowing he was going to kill her. Gordon knew Connery had that habit. He knew she wouldn’t be around to talk. Gordon on the other hand wanted her to be around to talk. She would back up his story. Also, she might furnish him a cover in the future. He would have to work on that.

“I do not know. One time when I came upon him in the room with the desk, I thought I saw him move the desk back against the wall,” the woman told him. Then she looked at Gordon, “Would he have killed us?” she asked.

Gordon looked at her. He already had a hunch she knew the answer. There was no point in not telling the truth. It made no difference as far as he was concerned. Gordon just shrugged his shoulders and said, “Yes. He couldn’t afford to leave any witnesses. He never did. He was sure no one knew who he really was. He would plan to keep it that way. In his mind, you and your daughter were expendable.”

The woman looked at him. “What are you planning to do with us?”

She was looking at the gun in his hand. Gordon smiled and put the gun back into its holster. Killing her would serve no purpose. Actually he wanted her alive as a witness now. She would tell them what he did. That is what he wanted. “I plan to get you and your daughter to safety as soon as possible. You were just complicating my job.” She didn’t know how much she was complicating his job. Now he planned to use her to corroborate his story. Gordon added, “We were sure you did not know who he was. He always worked alone. In this case, you must have come along at the time when he was looking for a cover. He figured you and your daughter would be perfect and you were expendable.” He was trying to sound very sympathetic.

“We are not expendable to you?” she asked, looking intently at him, “You seem to be in the same business. Killing him didn’t seem to bother you.”

Gordon had a wry smile on his face. “It was not safe to keep him alive. Our plan did not include that. He was a real master at his trade. One of the best,” Gordon replied. He was only lying a little. It was actually his plan that did not include keeping Connery alive. He knew too much. He could be dangerous to Gordon. Then he looked intently at her, “Killing you would be something else. There I draw the line. That would serve no purpose as far as I am concerned. Of course,” Gordon added with a wry smile, “It may be the death of me. Maybe like him I should leave no witnesses.” He said that for effect. If she reported this conversation, it would make his story more credible. No one would question his motives in making sure Connery was dead.

The woman ignored his last statement, “Then how did you know who he was?” she asked still looking intently at him.

“Some day I may tell you. Today is not the day,” Gordon answered. Actually he had no intention of ever telling her the real truth. Actually Gordon had been working with Connery and several other double agents on a scheme to make them all rich when the war ended. There had been a falling out among the group. That information hopefully died with Connery. Then he hurried on, he had made a quick decision, “We will arrange to get your daughter out of here to somewhere safe. I will need you here with me for a couple of days. I have to finish something he started.”

“I thought you were on opposite sides?” the woman said.

“We are. I am going to pretend to be him so we can catch a few more from his side,” Gordon answered. He was giving her just enough information to get her cooperation. He wasn’t about to give her his real reasons. “Now I have to get in touch with my contact. I must let them know the first part of the mission has been accomplished. Then I will arrange to get your daughter to safety. Now I need to know your name. I’m Gordon Dietrich. I am an American.” Gordon knew he was taking a chance, but he wanted her complete cooperation. He figured if he told her his real name, and made sure she knew what a chance he was taking, she might be more cooperative. In addition, it would add one more convincing detail for headquarters.

“Is that your real name or just the one you are using at the moment?” she asked with a small hesitant smile. He knew he had guessed right.

“That is my real name, which I shouldn’t have given you, ” Gordon said with a tight laugh. “For the time being, I am Samuel Sandberg. A Professor of English History, and a graduate of Oxford.” He had made the right decision. She would not question any of his further actions.

“I’m Katherine Tallemann, and that is my real name.” Then she hurried on as if she had to explain why she was here. “My husband was killed in an accident about a month ago. He had been in a wheelchair since just after we got married. It was not a happy marriage. It was worse for Ceiley. He would have nothing to do with her. Somehow he tied her in to the accident that put him in a wheelchair.” Katherine was obviously trying to explain how she got caught in Connery’s web. Gordon had figured it was something like this. He had pegged Katherine as a very intelligent woman. Connery had caught her on the rebound, turned the charm on. He probably played up to the little girl. Katherine was trapped before she realized what she had gotten into. He was going to have to be very careful. She must be convinced that this was exactly what he was supposed to do. That he was carrying out orders.

Katherine looked at Gordon. “Why do you need me?” she asked, but it was not a belligerent question.

“You are now part of my cover. If I am Connery, and my contacts know I have a woman with me, I need you to be visible in case someone is watching in the next few days. Your daughter on the other hand need not be visible. We can spirit her away to a safe place until you can rejoin her,” Gordon explained. “We have no intention of putting you in danger. Your danger would come only from Connery. He would be the one to dispose of you. Anyone else would leave that up to him. Not everyone in this game is a cold-blooded as he was.” He wanted to make sure she was buying this.

“I hope you are not planning to carry the charade that far,” Katherine said.

Gordon laughed. “I can see no possible reason I would want you dead. I would prefer you very much alive.” Katherine looked at Gordon, trying to figure out what he meant by that. She knew he would not be easy to read. He was hoping she would put an entirely wrong spin on that statement.

“To what degree are you planning to become Connery?” she asked Gordon. He looked at her with a puzzled expression, then he suddenly understood what she meant. With a quiet laugh he said,

“You mean he took full advantage of the fact that you were at his mercy. You are a very attractive woman. He loved to take advantage of women, any woman.” Then he looked at her, his eyes now boring into hers, “No, that will not be part of your duties, as far as I’m concerned. You are only here for window dressing. I avoid distractions. They can be very deadly,” Gordon said emphatically. Alone in this house together, this woman could be a very great attraction if he let her. He had work to do and he had to do it quickly. He wasn’t planning on letting her attractiveness foul up his plan. After he had put his plans in motion he could work on her.

Gordon got in touch with his contact. He made arrangements to spirit the little girl away from the house, under cover of darkness and the fog. He then went through Connery’s things. Most of the things he passed on to the men who came to take the girl and remove the bodies. Certain things he slipped in among his own things. These headquarters would never see. Gordon found the short-wave radio, where Katherine thought it might be. Using what he knew, and the information he gleaned from Connery’s things, Gordon was able to make contact as Connery.

His years as a double agent stood him in good stead. He was convincing enough to get a handle on some of Connery’s closest contacts in England. Those he didn’t already know about. This information he passed on to Intelligence headquarters. However, he told them they could not do anything about that information until he completed his mission. He definitely didn’t want himself connected to it. No one must suspect that Connery might be dead. It took him a little while but he finally figured out how Connery was to make contact with a submarine. During the next few days, working very cautiously, Gordon was able to set up the rendezvous without arousing any suspicions. He was able to plant the idea that Connery was to leave on the sub. The trap was set and sprung. This whole process had taken over a week. Enemy intelligence would assume Connery went down with the sub along with his information.

The first few days of this period, Gordon and Katherine had meals together. Other than that Gordon kept his distance. He wanted her full cooperation and he wanted her to tell that kind of story. Connery, apparently let her take some phone calls, until a certain identification, was made. Gordon did the same, except he was listening in all the time. The third evening, after Gordon made his usual contact, he was in the living room looking out the window toward the sea. He had made contact with the sub and had set up the rendezvous. Everything was now in place. His plan was a success. He figured he could rest easy. Katherine came up beside him. She stood very close. Gordon was well aware that now, with the anxiety for the safety of her daughter lifted, Katherine was looking even more beautiful. In fact, a real auburn-haired beauty. She was also much more relaxed. She could be real tempting. However he was now really taken by surprise.

“We are all alone here in the house. It seems a shame not to take advantage of that,” she said looking at him with an enigmatic smile.

“Young lady,” said Gordon, looking intently at her, “I thought your previous experience would have made you more careful. I would think you’d be looking at men as ogres, to be kept at a safe distance away, if at all possible.” But he was now smiling at her. His work here was mostly done. As long as she was the instigator, and she would look on him as having her around because it helped the plan succeed. Besides this might guarantee her loyalty. She was making it easy for Gordon. This could fit in with his future plans.

Katherine tipped her head to one side, then with an engaging smile, and a flip of her head, answered, “I had no choice then. I was forced to do what ever he wanted, to keep my daughter safe. My daughter is no longer here, and you obviously have given me my choice. In fact it is obvious you are leaning over backwards to be the perfect gentleman.” That is exactly what he wanted her to think.

Gordon slipped his arm around her, “You still have a choice. And to set the record straight, I was being a gentleman for a definite reason. I wanted your full cooperation. In addition, I try to eliminate all distractions. You could be a very definite distraction. Just make sure the choice you are about to make is the one you want to make. I may not give you a second chance.”

“I have seriously considered that,” Katherine said as she slipped her arm around Gordon and snuggled into his arm. Gordon bent over and kissed her. She answered his kiss. “Besides,” she said, “I have decided you are not an ogre. I thought I’d see if I was right.”

“You realize that once this is finished, I will be gone. You may not see me again,” Gordon told her. “In this game there are no guarantees.” He might as well tell her the truth. It was a dangerous game he played. He was hoping she would not buy this story. He was hoping she might just be waiting for him when it was all over.

“You are gambling. Why can’t I?” Katherine remarked with a small smile.

“It’s your decision. I’m not going to argue you out of your choice,” was Gordon’s reply as he gathered her into his arms.

One day, after Gordon’s work was completed here, men came to take Katherine to her daughter. Gordon walked with her to take one last look out at the sea. “Will you look me up if you make it back?” Katherine asked him.

“Do you want me to?” Gordon asked turning to face her. She would be nice to come home to, Gordon thought. She would furnish a very nice cover, in case he might still want one.

“Yes, I do,” Katherine replied as she moved into his arms pulled him close and kissed him good-bye. Then she quickly turned and walked to where the men were waiting for her. They were to take her to her daughter. Now she would have to decide what she was going to do with her life. She knew she would be given a story to tell as to what she had been doing during this time. She would do exactly as they told her. Katherine knew Gordon’s safety might depend upon it. She wanted nothing to happen to this man, whom she figured had saved her and her daughter’s lives. Gordon had told her, it was the best way to do the job he had to do. As far as he was concerned, that really was the case. She told Gordon, it really didn’t matter why he did it. The result was all she cared about.

She wanted to continue the education she had interrupted when she had married and had Ceiley. That would not be easy now. She was alone with her daughter. She had no one to help her. Katherine was determined to make it work for Ceiley’s sake. Actually she would have help, but Katherine would not know from where it came. She had her suspicions. She also was sure she would be watched from now on. She wasn’t so sure she’d be really comfortable about this. However she knew it had its benefits. Besides, she knew she would have to accept it. She had inadvertently gotten herself mixed in intelligence operations. She would have to live with that until the war ended.

Gordon knew he would be able the track her down if he was lucky and made it back. He had not intended to become involved with her, but he had. She would not be easy to forget. He did not ask her to wait for him. He had no right to do that. He might not make it back. Besides he could not make up his mind whether she might complicate his life. Besides, he had a feeling Katherine and Ceiley had enough of life’s hard knocks already.

During the next several years, Katherine was able to complete her education and eke out a reasonable living for herself and her daughter. Ceiley was now eight-years-old, and beginning to show she probably would have her mother’s beauty as well as her auburn hair. Katherine had a number of offers of marriage during those years, but she couldn’t seem to forget that man who had saved her life. Yes, she knew that is what he had done, although he never claimed that. She also knew he had done that as an incidental part of a job he had to do. She knew that was the truth. She knew they were lucky that he was able to do his job without endangering theirs. It wasn’t that she felt she owed him something, that she couldn’t forget him. It was because she had fallen in love with him, during that short time they spent together in that house. Katherine kept hoping she would hear from him. Hostilities had now been over for several months. She still heard no word. She was beginning to be afraid he never made it back.

When word of Gordon finally came, it did not come from him. Actually Gordon was not sure that he would seek her out. It came from the man who had been in charge of the group that had taken her to her daughter. He was a good friend of Gordon’s. He kept track of Katherine through those years. He called one day. He told her she might like to know Gordon Dietrich was in a military hospital near London. Gordon contracted a deadly disease on his last assignment. By the time he was able to make it back to friendly territory, he was in a weakened condition. His dangerous game had almost cost him his life. Now he really was fighting for his life. Katherine immediately packed a bag for herself and Ceiley and gathered together what money she could. Then she left for the town where the hospital was located. She was able to find a small room for herself and her daughter not far from the hospital. A friend of Gordon’s arranged so she would be able to see Gordon as soon as he could have visitors. The friend had not told Gordon anything about this. Three days after she arrived, she was informed he was finally on the road to recovery. He could now have a visitor for a very short time.

When Katherine walked into his room, he was sitting on a chair. Gordon was very thin and weak looking. Gordon looked totally surprised when he saw who it was. “How did you find out I was here?” he asked her. He hadn’t expected this. He hadn’t made up his mind if he should try to find her.

“A mutual friend called me and told me you were here. Didn’t you want me to come?” Katherine asked him fighting back the tears at seeing this man in such a condition.

He had to think fast. He hoped he make it sound like he was real happy she was here. “I was waiting until I was sure I was going to make it. Then as soon as I was strong enough, I was going to start looking for you.” Then he added with a weak smile, “Someone else must have been keeping track of you. How is your daughter?’