Love in the Shadows

25.

JOHANNA STIRRED IN THE darkness, aroused from her dream. She slid her hand between her legs and imagined Fabienne making love to her. Her body reacted to her touch, she came quickly, turned onto her side, and fell into a deep sleep.

The thud of the front door being slammed woke her. Gerhard had left for work. She got out of bed, washed, dressed and went downstairs, her body still aching for Fabienne’s touch.

“Frau Neumann, I’m afraid I have some bad news,” Fabienne’s grandmother said, though she didn’t look saddened by whatever she had to say. Still, the words jolted Johanna out of her reverie.

“What is it?”

“I took breakfast to Herr Müller just a moment ago.” She held her hands in front of her and lowered her head. “I’m afraid he is dead. It must have happened in the night.”

“Well, that is good news,” Johanna said.

Frau Tussaud didn’t smile, but her eyes shone.

“What is good news?” Nanny said as she entered the kitchen.

Johanna started to make herself a coffee. “The weather is apparently going to be warmer today, and sunny. I think I’ll take Astrid for a walk around the garden. Maybe we can have a picnic on the lawn.”

“I can make biscuits,” Frau Tussaud said.

“That will be perfect. Thank you.” Johanna sipped her coffee.

“Can I get you some breakfast, Frau Neumann?”

“No, thank you. I feel like playing the piano for a while.” Johanna finished her coffee, went into the living room, and lifted the lid. She had just started playing when Nanny walked past, heading towards the foyer. “Oh, Hilda. Sorry, I forgot to say Hauptmann Müller sadly died last night.”

Nanny raised her eyebrows, looked towards the kitchen and back at Johanna. “Oh.”

She tinkered with the keys. “Yes, the influenza.”

“Influenza. Of course, Frau Neumann.” Nanny adjusted her dress as if it was an occasion that required neatness and order. “Perhaps I had better keep Astrid upstairs this morning, while everything is being,” she cleared her throat, “sorted out.”

Johanna played a few bars. “Of course. I’ll speak to Schmidt and get Müller’s body removed before lunchtime. Astrid and I will take our picnic this afternoon.”

“Very well, Frau Neumann.”

Johanna had been expecting a retort about whether it was safe outside or not. Instead, Nanny just walked into the foyer and up the stairs.

She played Chopin’s “Military Polonaise”, becoming quickly immersed in the key work required to do it justice. It was a rusty performance but liberating and uplifting. When she finished, Schmidt was standing in the doorway.

“Sorry to interrupt, Frau Neumann.” He strode towards her, came to a halt, and clicked his heels. “I hear Hauptmann Müller has died.”

She closed the lid over the keys and stood up. “That is correct.”

He pulled back his shoulders, lifted his chin. “I have reason to believe he was killed, Frau Neumann.”

Johanna laughed. “You cannot be serious.”

“Fraulein Brun came from his room last evening and he is dead this morning. He didn’t die on any other night before this one when other people took him his meals. It is clear.”

If that was the case, then bravo to Fabienne. She had done them all a favour. The man was the devil himself and had he recovered he would have continued to terrorise anyone he saw fit to.

Johanna inhaled deeply, held Schmidt’s gaze firmly. “That is an allegation and a leap that could get the fraulein killed. Do you have any real evidence?”

He averted his eyes.

She crossed her arms. “How old are you, Schmidt?”

He frowned. “Twenty-six. Almost twenty-seven.”

“And are you married? Do you have children?”

“Yes, Frau Neumann. Three children, all girls. Nine, and twins aged six.” His face lit up with pride and love.

“So, you are about the same age as Fraulein Brun.”

The light in his eyes dimmed instantly.

“If she were your wife, would you want someone accusing her of something that would get her killed?”

“But it’s not the same. They are the enemy; my wife is not.”

Johanna clasped her hands together to remain calm. “They might be the enemy because that is what has been decreed. But they are human beings, and they deserve to be treated fairly and justly. You have no evidence to back up your claim. On that basis, I could tell my husband that I suspected you killed him.”

Schmidt jolted. His fingers twitched at his side. “Of course I didn’t. Why would I do such a thing?”

Johanna smiled. “For the promotion that you will get.”

His eyes widened. “I didn’t think about that.”

“Oh, come on now. An ambitious man like yourself didn’t for one second imagine that if Hauptmann Müller happened to die, his position would become available and that you would be the obvious choice to replace him?”

His face twitched as he held her gaze, and she hoped her meaning had sunk in.

“I’m sure your wife and children are very much looking forward to seeing you back safely from the war,” she said. “So I need you to make the necessary arrangements to have Hauptmann Müller’s body removed from the house this morning. I will talk to my husband about your promotion to hauptmann this evening, if that is something you would be willing to take on?” She raised her eyebrows.

He clicked his heels. “Thank you, Frau Neumann. I will not let you down.”

“Good. You can get back to your duties. And please inform my husband of Müller’s death.”

He clicked his heels again, saluted and marched away.

Johanna breathed deeply, her heart racing with the thrill of having taken control of the situation. She was as certain that Schmidt would keep his mouth shut as she was that Fabienne had done something that had finished off Müller. Müller had had it coming to him, and Johanna would raise a glass to celebrate the occasion later.

***

Fabienne took Esther a cup of acorn coffee and a slice of bread and jam, acutely aware that Müller’s death would have been discovered. No one would miss him, though she wouldn’t put it past Schmidt to have something to say about the matter, since he’d spotted her coming out of the room the previous evening, and Schmidt was naturally suspicious. She took comfort from the fact that she hadn’t been arrested already.

She set the items on the bedside table, perched on the bed, and stroked the damp hair from Esther’s face. “How are you feeling?”

Esther looked as ghastly as ever, and air rumbled in her chest with every shallow breath.

Fabienne pulled the new identification documents from her pocket and handed them to her, hoping to cheer her up. “I have these for you.”

“Thank you.” Esther coughed.

“Your new name is Linette Moreau. There is an ID for a son, André, and for a daughter, Bénédicte, so you will be safe no matter whether the child is a boy or a girl. I am sorry they are French names, but we have no choice.”

Esther took the cards and held them to her chest. “How can I ever repay you?”

“Get better, Esther. That will be a reward for us all.”

Esther coughed, and although no blood came up, the sinking feeling Fabienne had had since first seeing her running from the train was still there. Esther’s chances of making it were slim unless she could get hold of more antibiotics, which was going to be difficult because any supplies the Germans had were needed for the soldiers who had also fallen ill with tuberculosis. But the longer Esther could hold onto the child she was carrying, the greater the chance the baby would have of surviving. There had to be something good to come from this hopeless situation.

“There is no one left in my family,” Esther said. She put her hand on her belly. “If I—”

“I promise, everything will be fine.” Fabienne didn’t imagine the words helped much, but she didn’t know what else to say. Saying nothing was harder, make Fabienne complicit to something she didn’t want to outwardly acknowledge might be true. “Eat something and drink the coffee. It tastes disgusting, but it is better than nothing.” She smiled and stroked Esther’s cheek. “I have to go to work now.”

Esther nodded. “I promise I will eat and drink. And you promise to take care of my baby. It’s a good deal.”

Fabienne stood up. “Keep the documents safe. You are going to need them when you’re back on your feet.” She closed the door behind her and leaned against the wall to gather herself. A miracle or two had brought Esther this far. Was it too much to ask for more? She went downstairs and into the kitchen.

“Johanna!”

Johanna held out a bottle of pills. “My husband got them for Müller, but I never gave them to him. I didn’t see the point. Antibiotics aren’t much help for mushroom poisoning.” She smiled conspiratorially.

Fabienne blushed.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t give them to you beforehand, you understand, but I thought you could use them now. For Esther.”

Fabienne cupped Johanna’s cheeks and kissed her firmly. “You have no idea. Wait here.” She took the bottle upstairs and got Esther to take the medicine, then returned to the kitchen. “We need to get more, but even a little makes a big difference. Thank you.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Fabienne closed the space between them and drew Johanna to her. She felt so good in her arms, so right.

“I have dealt with Schmidt. I’m going to ask my husband to get him promoted, and he can stay at the house. Müller’s body will be gone by lunchtime. He died of the influenza. No one will ask questions, though Nanny is behaving oddly.”

“How? Do we need to worry about her?”

Johanna shook her head. “She’s quieter than usual. She didn’t like Müller either, so I don’t think it’s about that.”

“Be careful, Johanna. Please.” Fabienne traced the shape of Johanna’s face with her fingertip, her lips, and her neck. Johanna’s breath faltered. Fabienne kissed her tenderly. Johanna wrapped her arms around her as though she didn’t want to let go. They eased out of the kiss and Fabienne touched her face again as she held her gaze, imprinting it in her memory. “Thank you, for the medicine.”

Johanna stepped back. “Perhaps now is a good time for you to tell me why we’re storing food?”

Fabienne nodded. “Sit down.”

Johanna sat.

“I’d offer you coffee, but you’re used to the real thing and the acorn stuff is an insult to the taste buds. Brandy?” She took two glasses and poured them both a large shot, then sat at the table. “We have a mission and I need your help.”

Johanna sipped her drink. “Whatever you need.”