Page 97 of The Librarian Spy

The applications for the two US visas were exceptionally long and required exactly six copies for each person that she had painstakingly filled out. They had been completed in March when Sarah and Noah arrived in Lisbon. Though she had walked them downstairs herself, they refused to look at them and insisted the forms be set aside. In that time, they managed to lose a copy and took a month and a half to inform her one page was missing. She’d been waiting another month already on the second set of papers and refused to wait a single day more.

“They have been received,” Mr. Smith replied tightly.

“I’ll accompany you downstairs today while you approve them,” Ava said.

“That isn’t how it’s done, Miss Harper.” The condescension in his tone made what she had to do next all the easier.

“I’m well aware of how it’s done.” She unfolded her arms and straightened, fully prepared for this battle. “You delay visas so you don’t have to issue them. I have seen it time and again. All the necessary paperwork has been submitted, not once, but twice—”

“Your paperwork was incomplete last time.”

“It was not when I submitted it,” she corrected him. “I still fail to understand how it even got lost when they were all bound in an envelope.”

Mr. Smith narrowed his eyes. “Do I need to remind you of the fifth columnist?”

He did not. She was quite familiar with the phrase that referenced a Nazi sympathizer who might slip into the States as a refugee. The word was whispered in America with fear, and the newspapers mentioned it often enough that it practically became quotidian.

“This is a mother and child,” Ava said with exasperation. “One whose husband is already in New Jersey now working as a doctor. Their support affidavits and moral affidavits were received and accepted well over a month ago. They should be free from this scrutiny and this prejudice.”

Mike strode into the small room and stopped to listen, leaning against the door frame with his arms casually folded over his chest and a smirk on his lips.

Mr. Smith tossed him an irritable glare.

“I will stop by every hour on the hour if you do not do this now,” Ava threatened. “Day after day after day.” She added some extra sugar into her already saccharine smile.

“She’s nothing if not persistent.” Mike bit into an apple and chewed noisily as he watched Mr. Smith with a bemused grin.

Mr. Smith sighed, a heavy, defeated exhale that informed Ava she had won.

“They’re approved,” he ground out. “You’ll receive them in a month’s—”

“Today,” she interrupted. “I expect to receive the visas today or we will be speaking regularly.”

“Very well.” Mr. Smith spoke through his teeth. “But the visas will only be good for two weeks.”

That would allow for plenty of time to secure a boat to New York. “That’s perfect.”

“Is that all, Miss Harper?” The question was one of sarcasm rather than genuine helpfulness.

“Why, yes,” she replied brightly. “Thank you for your assistance, Mr. Smith.”

She hadn’t even finished speaking when he stormed out of the room, muttering something about his sympathies for her future husband.

Mike grinned at her. “Well done.”

Ava nodded, more pleased with herself than she cared to admit. When she walked out of the break room, Peggy was only a few steps from the doorway and gave her two thumbs-up.

“You did it,” she squealed.

Yes, Ava had done it. Finally.

But what about all the other stranded refugees who did not have an American to fight the battle for them? It was no wonder their visas took months to be approved while most were forced to wait. Despite Ava’s victory, it was impossible in that moment not to think of Otto. Of how desolate his future must have been with each rejection for a chance at freedom.

No matter what she managed to achieve, she would always be haunted by what she could not do for Otto.

As promised, the American visas for Sarah and Noah were sent upstairs by the afternoon along with the day’s mail. Much to Ava’s disappointment, there was nothing from Daniel. It had been almost a month since his last letter and though she tried to brush the worry from her mind, it niggled at her thoughts with each passing day.

At least she had the visas.