Chapter 33
Clara’s world tilted. The empty apartment stretched before her. No labouring woman, just bare walls and the metallic glint of Brandt’s weapon. Her mind struggled to process the trap she’d walked into.
Her gaze fell on Paul. Tears streaming down his face, he pressed himself against the wall. The betrayal hit her like a physical blow. ‘Paul. No.’
‘I’m sorry,’ he choked out, still unable to meet her eyes.
‘They arrested my sister last night. They found the orderly uniforms in her apartment. The ones she took for Neuruppin. I told her to take them back, but she forgot. They have the ambulance papers too. Everything.’ His voice cracked.
‘They showed me photographs. Her face . . . what they have already done to her.’
‘You poor boy,’ whispered Clara.
He finally looked up at Clara, his eyes hollow.
‘They said they had enough to execute her for conspiracy against the Reich.’ He glanced at Brandt who had a satisfied smirk on her face.
‘They offered me a choice, bring you or watch my sister hang.’ A sob escaped him.
‘She’s only eighteen. I’m sorry, I couldn’t let them .
. .’ His voice trailed off, engulfed in another sob as his whole body sagged against the wall.
‘They promised me if I brought you here, they would release her.’ His voice was barely a whisper.
‘Enough of your pathetic snivelling,’ Brandt snapped, keeping the gun trained on Clara.
Her eyes gleamed with triumph. ‘Though, I must say, this is even better than I hoped. Two of you.’ She smiled coldly at Marie.
‘I didn’t expect you to be involved, Fr?ulein Lindberg. How delightfully convenient.’
Clara stepped protectively in front of Marie, her heart hammering. ‘What do you want, Brandt?’
‘What do I want?’ Brandt’s laugh was sharp and cruel.
‘I have exactly what I want. I have the famous Angel of Life. The police are already on their way.’ She leaned forward slightly, savouring the moment.
‘Purporting to be on government business at Neuruppin. Oh yes, I know all about your little charade to remove the patient. Illegally relocating enemies of the state, forged documents, conspiracy against the Reich.’ Her eyes glittered with satisfaction.
‘And let’s not forget the interesting timing of Fuchs’s death.
Drowned, they said. Drunk, they said. But I have it on good authority that you were in the same area as him that night.
’ She licked her lips. ‘Strange he should end up dead in the river.’
‘You can’t prove anything,’ said Clara.
‘Maybe not.’ There was that smirk again.
‘Not yet anyway. But I wonder how thoroughly the intelligence service will investigate once they start pulling on this thread. Your forged credentials at Neuruppin. Those convenient travel documents that appeared out of nowhere.’ She paused letting her words sink in.
‘And then they trace it all back, when they start asking where a simple midwife obtained such perfect forgeries, such detailed intelligence about transit routes and patrol schedules.’
‘You’re clutching at straws,’ said Clara. ‘You don’t frighten me.’
Brandt carried on as if Clara hadn’t said a word.
‘They will look at your husband, won’t they?
Captain Friedrich Bergmann of Wehrmacht Logistics Officer – the man with access to travel permits, checkpoint schedules, military transport documents.
The devoted husband who just happens to be stationed at the Bendlerblock, where all those authorisations were processed.
’ She tilted her head. ‘How unfortunate his loyalty to you will be seen as treason to the Fatherland.’
‘You have no proof,’ said Clara, aware her voice carried little conviction. This was her fault. She’d brought Friedrich into this and now she couldn’t bare thinking about the consequences. Even though they had talked about it, before it hadn’t seemed real but now . . .
‘They don’t need proof,’ said Brandt. ‘They just need suspicion. And I’ll give them plenty of that.
Your husband’s career, his reputation, his family’s honour will all be stripped away.
Then they’ll make him watch while you face the firing squad.
And after you’re dead?’ Her smiled widened.
‘They’ll execute him too. Slowly. As a warning to other officers who might think about putting love before duty.
’ She gave a shrug. ‘So, you see, by this time tomorrow, I imagine you will both be dead.’ Her gaze shifted to Marie with predatory satisfaction.
‘And you will be charged as an accomplice. Aiding enemies of the state is also a capital offence.’
‘You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Marie. ‘I am the Angel of Life.’
A look of confusion cross Brandt’s face. ‘You?’
‘Yes.’
‘Marie, don’t,’ said Clara, horrified that her friend would say that.
‘You don’t have to protect me anymore,’ said Marie. She squeezed Clara’s hand. ‘I know what I’m doing.’
‘I’m not stupid,’ said Brandt. ‘But if you want to play that game, then I’ll let the intelligence service deal with you. And they are not known for their patience.’
‘Why?’ asked Clara. ‘Why do you hate me so much that you would want to go to all this trouble?’
‘You want to know why I’ve worked so hard to bring you down?
Well, I will tell you. People like you make me sick.
You waltz into my country, steal opportunities from German women, and then have the audacity to act superior to us.
You think because you married one of our officers, you belong here?
You’re nothing but a foreign parasite.’ Her voice grew more bitter.
‘And the worst part? Everyone fawned over you at the hospital. “Oh, Clara’s so skilled, Clara’s so compassionate.
” Well, where’s your precious husband now to protect you?
Where are all those colleagues who thought you were so wonderful?
You’re nothing without your German name and tomorrow everyone will know what you really are.
You’re a traitor and a spy who got exactly what she deserved. ’
‘So, you’re doing all this because you are jealous of me?
’ Clara shook her head in disbelief. Paul made a sniffing noise and wiped his nose with the cuff of his sleeve.
‘So, what now? You arrest me and let Marie and Paul go? You know I forced Marie to come here with me. I thought I’d need help.
She didn’t want to. She has nothing to do with any of this. ’
‘You really are naive, aren’t you?’ Brandt’s top lip curled in distaste. ‘I know she’s involved and him too. So, no, they are not going free.’ She moved the gun towards Paul. ‘Get over here near these two where I can see you all.’
‘What?’ Paul sounded shocked. ‘That wasn’t what you said.’
Brandt let out a theatrical sigh, her lips curving into a cold smile.
‘Another who believes whatever he’s told.
Honestly, this was all too easy.’ Her laugh was sharp, brittle, before the familiar snarl returned to twist her features.
‘Once I’m finished with you, I’ll let the authorities finish your sister. ’
Instantly, Clara felt the air in the room shift, thickening with menace. Paul straightened himself to his full height, his eyes blazing as they locked onto Brandt. Clara could see the fury building in him, coiled and dangerous. Something terrible was about to happen.
‘Paul . . .’ she began, but it was already too late. Whatever storm had been brewing was now unleashed.
Paul moved with deliberate slowness towards Clara and Marie, never breaking his stare with Brandt. The woman’s voice cut through the tension. ‘Hurry up.’
This was their only chance. Clara knew it with an unfathomable clarity. No time to think, only to act. She let out a sudden, piercing yelp and grabbed Marie’s arm. ‘A mouse!’ She pointed wildly towards the far corner of the room.
The ruse worked. Brandt’s head snapped towards the distraction, her weapon wavering for a crucial heartbeat.
In that split second of confusion, Paul struck.
He lunged forwards, one hand seizing the gun while the other drove upwards beneath Brandt’s chin with brutal force.
The impact sent her reeling backwards. One arm grabbed at Paul and they both toppled over. The gun flew out of Brandt’s hand.
Paul and Brandt grappled with each other on the floor, then Paul managed to get to his feet first. He looked around wildly for the gun but before he could do anything else, Brandt was on her feet, swinging a knife at him. Paul jumped back, curving his body away from the blade.
Brandt went to lunge at him.
A deafening crack sounded in the room.
Brandt dropped to her knees, the blade falling from her hands. She swayed back and forth.
A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, and she fell face first onto the carpet with a thud.
Clara froze, unable to take her eyes off the dead woman as blood oozed out from under the body.
Clara looked at Paul and then at Marie. Her friend was standing on the other side of the room with the gun in her hand.
The distant sound of boots echoing in the stairwell snapped Clara from the trance she was in.
Paul was already moving, grabbing her arm. ‘This way. Quickly.’ He dragged her over to the window and slid it up. A gust of wind rushed in through the opening. ‘Hurry. Down the fire escape,’ urged Paul.
Clara put her leg over the ledge, finding the metal landing of the fire escape. She looked back at Marie who was still standing on the other side of the room. ‘Marie! Quickly!’
Marie shook her head. ‘You go first. I’ll follow.’
Clara hesitated but Paul gave her a shove. ‘Move!’
The footsteps thundered closer, echoing off the narrow walls of the hallway. Clara’s pulse hammered in her ears as German voices cut through the air. Harsh, urgent commands barked between the heavy boots on the stairs.