Opening Passages Of Hitler’s Chief Spy:

Here are the opening passages of the upcoming historical thriller novel Hitler’s Chief Spy by Dora Benley to be published by Cheops Books LLC on Friday, May 18. If you want a chance to win a free copy, you can still enter the Goodreads Giveaway to win one of one hundred free copies on the day of publication.

Chapter 1: Hamburg Harbor July, 1935

Edward looked from one end of Hamburg Harbor to the other, searching for his wife.
“Have you seen Lady Ware?” he asked Brigadier “Wickie” Roberts.

His superior was about to board the Deutschland. The ship featured the new Hitler turret, which they had just gotten a chance to review in the parade of ships up the Elbe River. He and Brigadier Roberts were part of the British military mission sent to Germany by Prime Minister Baldwin to celebrate the recent signing of the Anglo-German Naval Treaty.
 The brigadier shrugged. “Not recently.”

“When was the last time you saw Dora?” Edward pressed.

“Right before the parade of ships. She was in a heated discussion with Frau von Wessel, you know, the wife of the Commercial Attaché at the German Embassy in London.”

The German Chancellor, Adolf Hitler, had been doing his best to distract Edward with probing questions. Frau von Wessel, Hitler’s chief spy, was likely after his wife about the same thing that Hitler was after him for — the Lawrence maps.

“Edward!”

A five foot five lady with her tightly curled chestnut brown hair pinned in a bun back against her neck rushed toward him. His wife of ten months looked rattled. Yet she managed to maintain her dignity and keep her sharply peaked black Elsa Schiaparelli hat from Paris straight on her head.

As he took her arm he hissed, “Where is Thomasina?”

“Lucy was carrying our baby. Now they are both gone because of that Von Wessel bitch!” Dora gritted her teeth.

“What happened?” he pressed.

“I was having tea with the other ladies. I turned around to ask Lucy if she wanted a cup. She and Thomasina had disappeared.”
 “Hitler used the parade of ships as a distraction to kidnap our daughter.” Edward whispered to his wife as they advanced toward the boarding ramp surrounded by members of the German Embassy in London and various other military personnel representing Great Britain. “I would not put anything past that bastard after he killed Lawrence practically right in front of my eyes in May.”