Chapter Five
Caroline
––––––––
TENSION CREPT ALONGmy windpipe, narrowing the tube until it was difficult to take a breath.
Fear.
I recognized the bitter taste it left at the back of my throat, the type of fear I’d hoped I’d left behind me in Britain, but that prayer had been naïve.We weren’t safe stashed in the back of Hans’ truck; how could we be?Technically, we had no legal status; a prisoner of war and a war criminal on the run from a state which, given a chance, would act to eliminate us both for different reasons.
If my instincts were correct and I’d genuinely heard someone stalking to the back of the vehicle, then there could be any number of people about to open the back of the lorry.I reached for Harper in the dark, clinging to the sweater his mother had bought him as the seconds stretched into what seemed like hours.
Slowly, as though the fucking doors intended to torture us, they crept open, flooding the space ahead of Harper with pale light.I watched him lift the weapon he’d brought along from Fortorus higher, the well-trained commander general poised and ready to take out whoever was about to find us.
For an excruciating amount of time, that was all there was; no other sounds or deeds occurring to explain what was going on.We remained there, suspended in time, and just as I was about to choke on the terror cutting off my air supply, a male voice pierced the charged atmosphere.
“Alles goed daarbinnen?”
“Hans?Ben jij dat?””Harper lowered his weapon, edging slowly to the corner of the pallet shielding us.His body language suggested the voice was good news, but I couldn’t understand a word either of them was saying to confirm the burgeoning reassurance.
What was that language they were speaking?Dutch?The guess was reasonable given our location, but I’d had no idea Harper could speak the tongue.
“It’s me.”I just about recognized our driver’s voice when he switched to English.“Are you okay?”
Harper turned back, relief flashing in his gaze as he flicked on the weapon’s safety and dropped it into the open bag.
“We’re okay.”He stepped out tentatively, apparently still unsure.“Why have we stopped?”
“Ik he been pause nodig!”Hans sounded almost indignant.“I need a break.I’ve been driving for hours.”
“Hours?”Harper’s brow furrowed.
“At least four.”Hans snorted.
Harper glanced my way as though he couldn’t make sense of the information, his focus returning to the man who was helping us.“I guess we lost track of time in the back.”
“It’s quiet here if you want to get some fresh air,” Hans suggested.
“Sounds good.”Harper reached for me, and I took his hand unthinkingly, allowing him to lead as he had so many times before.“Thank you.”
“Blijf dichtbij.”Hans’ voice was louder as we maneuvered our way to the edge of the open truck, and for the first time, I took in the details of his face.Aged in his late fifties, he looked world-weary but inherently strong, as though the universe had tried to beat him down but failed.“Just stay close.We don’t want any—”
“Unwarranted attention,” I concluded the sentence for him as Harper leapt down from the back of the lorry and offered me his palm.
