Legacy of Hate Page 18

  ‘What was I to do? She came to me, told me she wished somewhere to stay, and threatened to kill me if I would not assist her. She is a terrifying woman. You have seen that with your own eyes. You saw the way she shot that man, the expert way she handled the gun.’

  Roess continued to stare at her for some moments, but she could tell that he was beginning to believe her. ‘Why did you not inform me of the situation?’

  ‘I dared not. She told me her people are everywhere, and if anything happened to her, they would execute me.’

  ‘And do you not suppose I am going to execute you?’ ‘You cannot,’ Constance cried. ‘I am telling you everything.’ ‘She assaulted me. She is the one who gave me this wound in the head and sent me to hospital for five weeks.’

  ‘I did not know that. You mean she has been arrested?’ ‘No. She escaped. But she is on the run.’

  ‘Has she not been on the run for nearly two years now?’ He scowled at her. ‘Listen,’ she said. ‘I can deliver her to you. She will come back to me. She must.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because … because we are lovers.’

  Again he gazed at her for several seconds, but again she could tell that he knew enough about Liane’s background to believe her. Then he said, ‘She can never work for you again. Any one of my officers will recognize her.’

  ‘I know that. But I am still certain she will return to me whenever she can.’

  ‘And you will hand her over to me?’

  ‘Yes. I swear it.’ They gazed at each other, then Constance asked, ‘May 1 go home now?’

  ‘No,’ he said. ‘Strip her and spread-eagle her,’ he ordered his men.

  ‘But … ’

  ‘I am going to whip you anyway, for what your “lover” did to me. But … ’ He grinned at her. ‘I will not execute you, at this time. You will have your chance to deliver Liane de Gruchy to me.’

  Roess sat at his desk. He was bathed in sweat and his muscles were still jumping. This was only partly from flogging the woman, listening to her screams, watching her dissolve into tears. It was mainly because what she had told him was only just truly sinking in. Liane de Gruchy, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, was alive! He had actually fondled her naked body, and she had knelt between his knees to fellate him. He had held her in his hands, and he had allowed her to get away. But she was alive! The implications of that were almost too great for him to grasp. The implications of his knowing that, when everyone else thought she was dead, were almost too great to believe. How she, and the Resistance, must have been laughing these past few months. The question was, what did he do with such knowledge? What could he do? Who could he most harm?

  Would it be best to wait until she simply returned and walked into his arms? But for all Constance’s confidence, that might take a long time, supposing it ever really happened. No, the time to use his information was now, in order to have maximum effect. But Oskar Weber! He would have preferred to go over Weber’s head, to Heydrich. But Heydrich was in Prague. He did not know Himmler, and, like everyone else, he was vaguely afraid of the man. So to Weber. Weber believed that Liane was dead, but he had never seen her body. He had acted on the information of that succubus he seemed to feel necessary to have around, who had to be the accomplice Constance had mentioned — the two women had been close friends before the war. Weber’s reaction to learning that he had been hoodwinked by his mistress would be very amusing. Better yet, it would mean the destruction of the American bitch. The fate that a man like Weber would devise for a woman who had so betrayed him was even more amusing to contemplate. It would have to be something medieval.

  More important even than that pleasurable prospect, it would put Weber for ever in his debt. He picked up the telephone.

  Pierre de Gruchy, standing on the riverbank in the dusk, looked from his sister to Joanna to Bouterre, his expression a mixture of anger and consternation.

  ‘It is not his fault,’ Madeleine said. ‘I knew where you had to be hiding.’

  ‘And how many of your German friends also know?’

  ‘If any of my German “friends” knew, do you suppose you would still be alive?’

  Pierre looked at Joanna. ‘But she knows.’

  ‘I’m on your side, remember?’

  ‘And I would say Liane knows,’ Madeleine said. ‘As she used to play on the islet as a girl.’

  ‘Mademoiselle Liane has been here,’ Bouterre said. Pierre gave him a dirty look.

  ‘Liane is here?’ Joanna cried.

  Bouterre looked at his employer. ‘She has been here twice,’ Pierre said. ‘Once in January, and then again a week ago.’ ‘But she is not here now. Did she say where she was going?’ ‘She said something about Dieppe.’

  ‘Dieppe?’ Joanna looked at Madeleine.

  ‘That is where Amalie lived, after her marriage, and before the arrest of the Bursteins.’

  ‘Did she tell Amalie it was to do with her in-laws?’ Joanna asked Pierre.

  ‘She did not discuss it at all. She told me that it was time to start reorganizing the Group, and that she would be back in a few weeks. I think it is something quite big. The code name is Rutter, and it is top secret.’

  ‘Which you have just confided to us.’

  ‘Well … ’ He looked from Joanna to his sister.

  ‘All right. We aren’t going to tell anyone. And have you started recruiting? You cannot do it from here.’

  ‘It is a matter of getting across the border, really. There has not yet been an opportunity.’

  ‘You mean you have been afraid to leave your hideaway,’ Madeleine said scornfully.

  ‘You do not know how dangerous it is.’

  ‘Do you know that the Germans have shot a hundred hostages?’

  ‘Liane told me about it. But what was I supposed to do? Hand over my own sister?’

  ‘Does Amalie know?’

  ‘She knows. But there is nothing she can do about it either. She is in a very depressed state.’

  ‘And do you know that the Germans are planning to take another hundred hostages, and shoot them too? And then another hundred, until she is handed over.’

  ‘My God! Are they savages?’

  ‘They are determined to make it very plain that their people, especially their officers, are not to be killed without their exacting a terrible retribution.’

  ‘What are we to do?’

  ‘I think,’ Joanna said, ‘that I can solve the problem.’ ‘You?’

  ‘Not me, personally, but I believe I have a solution. The Germans say they are going to go on shooting people until Amalie is handed over. But if Amalie is proven to be beyond their reach, they will have no reason for the shootings. They may be very angry, and they may be capable of extreme savagery, but they are still susceptible to world opinion. They are claiming that Amalie must surrender, or every German officer in France is at risk. But if Amalie cannot be surrendered, I believe they will call off their present campaign.’ ‘You mean if we claim that Amalie is dead.’

  ‘That will not work. They will demand to see the body. But if we can get Amalie to England, and have her picture published in the newspapers, and her identity confirmed by her parents, they will have to accept that she is beyond their reach, no matter how many people they shoot.’

  ‘And how do we get her to England?’

  ‘We take her into Vichy, and call London, and ask for her to be picked up.’

  ‘Just like that? The moment she leaves Paulliac she will be arrested.’

  ‘No she will not. She will travel with us. She will wear a veil … ’

  ‘That is suspicious in itself. You will be stopped.’

  ‘If we are, it will not be for very long. I am travelling on official SD business, and have a warrant to prove it. No German soldier will dare interfere with me, or anyone who is with me. You will come with me as well, and you can start your recruiting from Limoges.’

  Pierre hesitated, chewing his lip.

  ‘You mus
t do this, Pierre,’ Madeleine said.

  ‘Does it matter to you?’

  ‘Yes, it does.’

  ‘Do you wish to speak with London?’ Joanna asked as they parked outside the bakery. She had hired a car in Bordeaux, and returned to Paulliac at night to pick up Pierre and Amalie. Now it was the following evening, but as she had prophesied, they had crossed the border without difficulty.

  Madeleine shook her head. ‘It would require too many explanations, and be too dangerous. These people must not know who I am.’

  ‘They can hardly not deduce that you are my sister,’ Pierre pointed out. He and Amalie were seated in the back.

  ‘Then I will remain in the car.’

  ‘Why do you not ask London to take you out as well?’ Amalie asked. ‘I know they would.’

  ‘And what about my husband? And Helen?’

  ‘Well

  ‘Just don’t say it,’ Madeleine recommended.

  ‘You will all stay in the car,' Joanna said. ‘Until I have made my number.’ She got out, went into the shop. There were two other women there, so she waited for them to be served and leave.

  ‘Madame?’ Anatole asked.

  ‘Pound,’ Joanna said. He stared at her in consternation. ‘Come along,’ Joanna said. ‘You are Pound Seventeen. I am Pound Three.’

  ‘Three?’ Startled as he was, he understood that she was a very senior member of the unit. ‘But … here?’

  ‘I am everywhere. I need to call London.’

  ‘Now is not the usual time.’

  ‘If it were not urgent, I would not be here. Madame.’ She smiled at Clotilde as she entered the shop.

  ‘Mind the till,’ Anatole said to his wife. ‘This lady and I have business.’ Clotilde did not look very pleased, but she made no comment. Anatole led Joanna through the bakery itself and into the parlour. ‘This is a friend of mine,’ he explained. ‘He is one of us.’ Joanna had to catch her breath.

  ‘Mademoiselle Jonsson,’ Monterre said, coming forward.

  ‘You know each other?’ Anatole was surprised.

  ‘We are old comrades in arms,’ Monterre said.

  ‘Yes,’ Joanna said.

  ‘Well, then, that is very good. The wireless is here.’

  It was actually concealed in a large cabinet, to the casual glance merely a receiving set. Joanna watched him setting it up while her brain raced. If what both Franz and Rachel had told her was accurate, Monterre was now working for the Germans, quite apart from being a would-be rapist. He would have to be dealt with immediately, but she could not do it herself and risk an imbroglio with the Vichy police — she was not supposed to be in Vichy at all. Pierre would have to handle it. But where did that leave Anatole? First things first.

  ‘What I have to say is confidential,’ she announced. ‘I am sorry, Monterre, but you must leave the room.’ Monterre hesitated, then nodded and went outside.

  Anatole opened the key. ‘I will speak,' Joanna said. Her Morse wasn’t good enough for what she had to say.

  Anatole was through. ‘Pound Two.’

  ‘And you also,’ Joanna said. ‘I will call you when I am finished. And close the door.’ She waited for it to be shut, then took the mike. ‘Pound Three.’

  There was a moment’s silence. Then Rachel said, ‘My God! Joanna! You’re alive.’

  ‘Yes,’ Joanna said. Tut him on.’

  ‘Joanna!’ James shouted. ‘Listen, I can explain.’

  ‘Keep it. Your man didn’t make it.’

  ‘You mean … Good God!’

  ‘Your guys trained me, remember?’

  ‘I remember. What are you doing now? If you’re in Limoges … ’

  ‘I need a plane.’

  ‘You’re coming out. That’s the best news I’ve heard in years.’

  ‘It’s not for me. But we have to get Amalie out.’ A brief silence. ‘You with me? OK, so she broke the rules. But her remaining here is bad for all of us. You have to do it, James.’ ‘And you’re coming with her?’

  ‘Can’t be done. For me to disappear now would compromise too many people.’

  ‘And what about yourself? You do realize you’re in deadly danger?’

  ‘Only from you.’

  ‘That's been cancelled.’

  ‘Then there’s no problem. I’ll be back as soon as it can be done, legitimately. That is, from a German point of view.’ He sighed. ‘I hope to God you know what you’re doing. Is Liane around?’

  ‘Of course she isn’t.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ His voice took on a note of alarm. ‘Didn’t you send her to Rutter?’

  There was a moment’s silence. Then he asked, ‘Are you telling me that Liane has gone to Rutter? I specifically forbade her to go herself.’

  ‘Well, I guess she couldn’t find anyone else.’

  ‘Shit, shit, shit! She’ll be picked up.’

  ‘They haven’t managed to do that yet. What’s it all about?’ ‘Sorry. Top secret. I don’t even know myself. Brune will be there tomorrow night. Signing off.’

  ‘Hold it one moment. I can’t hang about here, so I’d like you to have a word with Anatole.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘I want you to tell him that it is his duty to put Amalie on that plane tomorrow. That should he fail to do so, he will be held responsible.’

  Another brief silence. Then he said. ‘You think this is necessary?’

  ‘Ask Rachel what she thinks.’

  ‘If Anatole is on the blink, we could be in big trouble.’

  ‘I don’t think he is actually on the blink. I just think that from time to time he needs reminding who he’s working for. I’ll get him.’

  ‘Here’s where we say goodbye, for the time being,’ Joanna told Pierre and Amalie. ‘Hopefully I’ll see you, Amalie, when next I’m in England,’ She kissed her, and hugged Pierre. ‘Take care.’ ‘We shall never forget what you have done,’ Amalie said, and embraced her sister. ‘And you. Will you be all right?’ ‘Yes. Take care. And give my love to Mama and Papa.’ Madeleine turned to Pierre. ‘And you.’

  ‘I will remember what you have done.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  Pierre turned to Joanna. ‘Oh, please remember me as well,’ she said.

  ‘How could I forget?’ He remembered the night they had spent together in his Paris flat, so long ago.

  She kissed him. ‘Remember about Monterre. He is a traitor.’ Pierre nodded. ‘I will deal with Monterre.’

  Joanna and Madeleine got into the car. ‘What do we do now?’ Madeleine asked.

  ‘We continue to Bordeaux as if this interlude had never happened.’

  ‘My dear Madeleine!’ Franz Hoeppner embraced his best friend’s wife. ‘Joanna.’ Another hug. ‘Where have you been? I was informed that you would be arriving two days ago.’

  ‘I didn’t know you two knew each other,’ Madeleine remarked.

  ‘Franz and I have worked together quite closely in the past,’ Joanna explained. ‘We actually went directly down to Paulliac. Madeleine felt that she would be able to see if there was any evidence that Amalie had been hiding there.’

  ‘My men have searched both the chateau and the grounds time and again.’

  ‘It was still worth trying,’ Madeleine said. ‘I am sure I know the whole area much better than your men, with respect, Franz.’ ‘Oh, I have no doubt about it. And did you turn up anything?’ ‘No. I would say she has never been there.’

  ‘And if she had? Would you have told me?’

  Madeleine met his gaze. ‘I came here to find my sister.’ ‘Knowing that if you do, and allow me to capture her, I am going to have to hang her in public?’

  ‘Knowing that if she is not caught, you are going to shoot another hundred of her, and my, countrymen.’

  Franz looked at Joanna. ‘It wasn’t an easy decision,’ Joanna said. ‘But surely it was the right one.’

  Franz clearly did not agree.

  They dined together after Madeleine had gone to be
d early.

  ‘I never did know Madeleine very well,’ Franz confessed. ‘But I am bound to say that I always estimated her as a woman who shrank away from big decisions, and certainly as a most loyal member of the family. I have always had a suspicion that she only married Freddie because she thought it might help her parents.’

  ‘You’re probably right.’

  ‘And then to discover that her family were past helping … But actually to turn over her sister to be hanged … I cannot imagine what Freddie will say.’

  ‘She was forced to it, by Weber.’

  Franz frowned at her. ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘Absolutely. He bullied her into coming here.’

  ‘Good God!’ He filled her wine glass. ‘And you?’

  ‘Please don’t ask questions.’

  ‘Do you love him? Can you love such a man?’

  ‘I can be the lover of such a man.’

  He studied her for several seconds, as was his habit. ‘Will you tell me what really happened in Munich?’

  Joanna shrugged. ‘Certainly. Someone tried to kill me, but I killed him first.’

  ‘Just like that?’

  ‘When one realizes that one is about to be killed, one is inclined to act first and work things out afterwards. Oskar is sorry that I did not manage to take him alive, so that he could be questioned. But he wasn’t there, to know what it was like.’ ‘Have you any idea who it could have been?’

  ‘I have quite a few ideas. But nothing I can prove.’

  ‘Tell me some of them.’

  ‘Well, to a great many people, I have become a traitor.’ ‘But … well, then they will try again.’

  ‘I guess they may. Then I’ll probably have to shoot someone else.’ She gave one of her wicked smiles. ‘You’re not going to pretend you thought I was a goody two-shoes as well?’ Franz put down his glass and held her hand. ‘I would like to marry you.’ For the first time that he could remember, Joanna looked genuinely shocked. ‘Is the idea that distasteful to you?’

  ‘I … ’ She drank some wine. ‘It would raise a lot of questions.’

  ‘You are worried about Weber? He does not own you.’ Joanna had always considered herself as capable of making instant decisions as Liane, while always acknowledging that Liane was the stronger character. But she had to wonder how Liane would deal with this. Here was a genuinely likeable man, who could possibly turn out to be a loveable one. Marriage to him could be her salvation here in Germany … But it would burn her bridges everywhere else. If only the situation had arisen before December 7th. How simple that would have made life. Even James might have gone along with that. Now … And yet she suddenly wanted to share with him. At least half of the truth, anyway. Perhaps he might be able to find a way out of the cul-de-sac into which she had managed to get herself.