Chapter 41
Herr Vogel insisted on escorting Lizzie back to the boarding house, and the journey seemed much longer than on the way there.
He quizzed her about what she was doing at the station, as if he were perfectly within his rights to question her every move, and she schooled her expression not to betray her fear.
‘Old friends of my family are travelling to Alsace, and I wanted to see them before they left,’ she lied.
If he suspected the family, she must make sure she gave them the best possible chance of reaching Switzerland by not revealing their actual route.
‘The little girl seemed awfully sad to leave you,’ he said.
Their shoes crunched on the snow, and their breath fogged in the night air as they walked.
‘Yes, she is a sweet girl. I taught her how to knit, and she grew attached to me.’
‘She seemed very upset. What was the purpose of their visit, did you say?’ he probed.
‘I didn’t, Herr Vogel. That’s their business. May I ask why you followed me to the station tonight?’
He cleared his throat and turned his thin-lipped face to hers. His sharp nose was pink from the chill, and his mean eyes squinted as he studied her.
‘Frau Fischer was worried about you walking through the streets alone at night, and she asked me to make sure you were safe,’ he said.
‘I would have preferred you to show yourself, Herr Vogel, as I had a sense someone was following me on the way. It was more frightening than walking alone.’
‘I didn’t wish to alarm you, which is why I let you know I was here to escort you home. I consider it my duty to keep our residents safe, and with the recent threat of enemies in our midst, we can’t be too careful.’
‘I appreciate your concern,’ Lizzie said, playing along, even though she was convinced he didn’t trust her any more than she trusted him.
‘As you have assigned yourself to be my guardian angel, it’s best I tell you now, my sister-in-law and I will leave Berlin tomorrow too.’ Now it was Lizzie’s turn to study the effect her words had on him, and she saw he was surprised.
He paused mid-step. ‘Where are you going in this treacherous weather? I thought you were both settled here, what with your work at the convent and Frau Else’s at the Air Ministry. It’s such a prestigious position; I wouldn’t have thought she would give it up lightly.’
‘No, indeed,’ Lizzie replied. ‘We are settled and are only taking a quick trip because we received tragic news. I meant to tell Frau Weber as soon as I had a private moment with her.’
Herr Vogel stared at her expectantly.
Lizzie only told him about their leaving to distract him from the Kaufmanns, as he was too intrigued by what he had witnessed at the station.
‘Our mother-in-law has passed away, and we must attend her funeral. Weather permitting, we shall leave tomorrow and aim to return within the week.
Herr Vogel studied her, and she could tell that was the last thing he had expected her to say.
Throwing him off the scent was wise, and she would have had to break the news to the landlady about leaving tomorrow, anyway.
The more she observed them, the more certain she was they were deeply involved and shared more than just a cup of tea in her parlour.
If she told Frau Fischer the sad news first, she would bet he would have learnt of it shortly after.
When they turned into their street, Lizzie experienced a rush of relief wash over her.
She was confident she had handled the sudden ambush without betraying her fear, and better still, had revealed no details that could endanger the family as they travelled through the night.
The following morning, they should cross the Swiss border and be safe from the Nazi’s terrifying Jew hunt.
Lizzie told Hannah how Herr Vogel had followed her, and they confirmed their plan to leave that night.
‘Today I will tell my supervisor that I will be gone for a week. That way it will buy us plenty of time before they even suspect I’m not coming back.’
‘Try to speak to Ingrid if you can,’ Lizzie said.
‘See if by any chance she has more to pass on today. And remind her she can leave a message using the arranged protocol if she thinks they suspect her, or she changes her mind about leaving Germany. Our contact in Switzerland will organise things for her. She deserves that for all the help she’s given us. ’
Hannah agreed she would do her best to get a moment with her that day, and Lizzie waved Hannah goodbye on the doorstep when she walked gingerly down the snowy steps.
Lizzie looked up at the dull white sky. She hadn’t seen more than a glimpse of the sun for weeks, and her thoughts of returning to London cheered her.
It would still be winter, but the temperatures weren’t harsh like Berlin’s, and the Christmas season lifted her family’s spirits no matter the weather.
Lizzie went to look for Frau Fischer, who always cleared the breakfast dishes away after the lodgers left for work.
The landlady said, ‘Ah, there you are. I didn’t want to bring it up with everyone around, but I understand from Herr Vogel that you and Else must travel to Alsace for a funeral?’
It was just as Lizzie had foreseen. There were no secrets between the two, and in this case, it saved her from having to tell Frau Fischer herself.
‘My condolences,’ she said, her face settling into a serious expression. ‘Were you very close?’
‘Yes, it is a great loss. We were sorry to leave her, but she was a kind-hearted woman and encouraged us both to start new lives. The other members of the family took care of her, so she was not alone, which is a comfort.’
The landlady brought coffee, and Lizzie sat with her. It was a calculated move because Lizzie wanted her to think it was perfectly normal for them to travel home. Just as Hannah would prepare them at the ministry for her sudden absence, Lizzie would do the groundwork at the boarding house.
Frau Fischer asked if she had seen their mutual friend Hildegard recently, and Lizzie said she hadn’t because they had both been busy. The landlady said she hadn’t seen her much either, but the last time they bumped into each other, Hildegard told her she had to take more business trips to Bern.
Lizzie excused herself and set out for the convent as usual, a fresh flurry of snow in her face as she walked.
It would be sad without Liesel’s sweet face and affectionate manner, and she thought of the little girl clutching her knitted patch and hoped they were near the Swiss border by now, if the snowfall hadn’t slowed them down.
She didn’t let herself think her worst fear, which was that the authorities could have stopped them during the long journey and their identities questioned before they reached Switzerland.