Page 223 of Valor

“We have been to the beginning, Oliver.” Her voice was stern. “Tell me what’s going on. Now. This—” She pointed to him, then to herself. “The charming high school history teacher helping out a stranded girl.”

“I—” The words seemed to catch in his throat.

She waited.

“Jakob was my grandfather.”

Meghan stayed motionless.

“The agency set up the Airbnb.”

She hoped her glare would burn straight into his soul.

“That’s how I knew when you would be checking in. From there, I worked out which train you would be on and waited at the station.”

Her stomach dropped. He planned this entire thing. Gained her trust. He moved her to his house so he could keep an eye on her. Had she ever met anyone this sly? She was lost for words.

“I have nothing to do with the people following you.”

“But you know who they are. Right?” She dug her nails into the soft cushions of her palms. How could she have been this stupid? Mom was right in telling her to be careful, and Meghan had brushed off all her concerns. Now she was stuck in a cave with a man who plotted to?—

“I do.” He dropped his gaze.

“Did you tell your police friend?”

“We are on the same team.”

“What team?”

Oliver remained silent, much to her frustration. She pushed off the ground and stood.

“I have had enough.” She paced around the perimeter of the cave. “You will tell me right now who is after me because, if you don’t, I’ll leave. No matter how much you want to find your treasure.”

“Yarda is my partner.”

She blew out her cheeks. “So, you are not a high school teacher?”

“It’s my cover.”

He stood up and tried to reach for her.

“Meghan—”

She pushed him back. “Who. Are. You?”

Oliver cleared his throat. It was time to come clean. “I’m the chief investigator for the Bureau of Investigation and Art Recovery. Our team is tasked with locating and identifying stolen Jewish property, including gold, art, and documents.”

Meghan swallowed. “And the people chasing us?”

“They are connected to Fritz.”

“The Nazi commander? Wouldn’t he be like 100 years old by now?”

“He had a son. With your great-aunt Marta.”

Meghan’s eyes grew wide.

“The man in the fedora is your mother’s cousin. His name is Robert. The family lived in West Berlin during the Cold War era. But once the borders opened in the early 90s, they came back. For a visit.”

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