‘Oh, my God!’ Jennifer gasped.
‘Do we have any idea of the German losses, sir?’ James asked.
‘They are admitting around three hundred killed, and thirty-odd planes.’
‘Oh, my God!’ Jennifer cried.
‘If you are going to have hysterics, Sergeant, kindly have them outside,’ the brigadier said. Jennifer gulped.
‘I assume those figures do not include French Resistance casualties, sir,’ Rachel asked.
‘We have no figures for those, although we do know they were considerable. Have you anything on that, James?’
‘I know the losses must have been heavy. But I was pulled out before I could form any estimate.’
‘And you are bitter about that. I understand your feelings. But you really are a valuable member of our organization, James. When will you hear from your people again?’
‘When — if — they get back to Vichy.’
‘Well, we must keep our fingers crossed. Now, as you may imagine, questions are being asked. How did Jerry know we were coming?’
‘1 have no idea, sir.’
‘No doubts about your people in France?’
‘We will hold a thorough investigation into that when they get home, sir.’
‘Yes. We will require a full report. What about Jonsson? I know it looks as if her Nazi masters have decided to drop her, but could not that have been a ploy?’
‘It does not matter whether it was or not, sir. Jonsson has been under guard in this country for the past two months.’ ‘So where is she now?’
‘Still under restraint. But I would like to release her.’ ‘And do what with her?’
‘Well, sir, we know that she did not betray the Dieppe business, simply because she could not have. But if she has lost her status with the Nazis, I don’t see how we can use her again. So I think we should tell her how much we appreciate her help, and send her back to the States. We will have to give her, shall I say, a clean bill of health, establishing that she has been working for us and not the Nazis.’
‘And suppose the Americans make that public?’
‘We will have to ask them not to, and hope for the best.’ ‘Hmm. Well, I’ll leave that with you. Bear in mind that she could earn herself a lot of money by spilling the beans to the newspaper she worked for.’
‘Joanna doesn’t need money, sir. And I don’t think she will spill any beans that could harm Liane de Gruchy.’
‘Well, I hope you’re right.’ The brigadier stood up and looked around the three faces. ‘Stop looking so damned disconsolate. So we got a kick in the teeth. But we learned a hell of a lot. All of our mistakes will be corrected. And the next time, when we go in, it’s going to be for good.’
‘So I’m to be deported,’ Joanna said over lunch at the Cafe de Paris. She looked as good as ever, although her confinement could hardly have been described as arduous. ‘There’s reward for two years’ hard work.’
‘You are being retired,’ James said. ‘And here’s a cheque for your back pay.’
‘Thrown aside like a worn-out shoe.’
‘Look, I’m trying to save your life.’
‘You expect me to believe that Oskar really meant to turn me in?’
‘It’s in writing.’
‘The bastard. Sheer jealousy, you know. He’d rather stop me marrying Hoeppner than have me bring back news about Dieppe.’
‘Supposing there was any to bring. But he does seem to have had an alternative.’
‘Who is this Seven, anyway?’
‘We’re working on it.’
‘And Burton?’
‘I’m afraid he’s for the high jump. Or you could say, the long drop. With you gone, he’s of no more use to us, either.’ ‘Poor sod. And I never even got to meet him. Well, thanks for lunch. It’s been fun. Just tell me that Liane is all right.’ ‘She was when I last saw her.’
‘You don’t sound convinced.’
‘She’ll be all right.’ He had to keep believing that. He leaned across the table to squeeze her hand. ‘It’s been fun for me. Working with you, I mean.’
‘Now that I never thought I would hear you say.’
‘Look, your boat leaves tomorrow evening at six. You’ll have to catch the noon train. I could take you to the station.’ ‘And we’d have hugs and kisses and tears all round?’ ‘You have to be seen off by somebody.’
‘Tell you what. Send Rachel.’
Rachel entered the office and threw her hat in the corner. ‘How did it go?’ James asked.
‘She’s gone.’
‘Well, don’t sound so gloomy. You’ll make me think you had something going for her.’
‘You don’t understand. She’s gone. After she lunched with you, she went straight out to Harwich and caught a boat for Gothenburg.’
James’s jaw dropped, but he snapped it up again. ‘That’s not possible. I dropped her at the Dorchester myself, and there was a detective waiting.'
‘What you forget is that she knows the Dorchester, and they know her. She must be just about their favourite customer; she’s been staying there for years. So she gave the detective the slip. With some assistance, I imagine. I would say she’s in Sweden by now.’
‘Shit, shit, shit.’
‘There is, of course, the possibility that she may just prefer to retire to Sweden than the States. We didn’t give her a choice.’
‘Do you really believe that?’
‘Frankly, no. Do you want to do something about it?' ‘Such as?’
‘Well, Pound Twenty-Three could possibly set something up.’
‘Rachel, that woman saved your life.’
‘I know. Just making sure you feel the same way.’ ‘Anyway, it wouldn’t work. There have been two contracts out on Joanna. The first survived, just, because he happened to be Pierre de Gruchy, and she decided to remember old times. The second didn’t. Let her get on with it. If she’s stupid enough to go back into Germany, well, it’s her funeral.’
‘You know,’ Rachel said, ‘I think that, deep down inside that tortured psyche of yours, you have something going for her.’
‘Ah, Oskar!’ Heinrich Himmler beamed. ‘Come in and sit down.’
Weber sat in front of the desk. He had actually expected a summons before this. But it had been worth waiting for.
‘So,’ Himmler said. ‘We have gained a great victory.’
‘Oh, indeed, Herr General. Mind you, it was a near-run thing.’
‘So I gather.' Himmler tapped the file on his desk ‘Our reinforcements got there in what could be called the nick of time. Roess performed brilliantly. How is he, by the way?’ ‘Remarkably well. There was a man standing in front of him, who took the full force of the grenade blast. Roess has a broken arm and some facial injuries, but is otherwise unhurt. I believe he will be fit for duty again in a fortnight.’ ‘Excellent. 1 should like to commend him personally.’
‘Of course, Herr General. I should point out that everything he did was on my orders.’
Himmler turned over the first page of his folder. ‘Rather belated orders.’
‘Well, finding out these things take time.’
‘So it would appear. But were you not warned, two months ago, by Colonel Hoeppner, that he had information that such a raid might be imminent?’
‘Well, sir, you know what Hoeppner is like … ’
‘But he repeated the warning only a fortnight ago, and this time submitted his information to OKW.’
‘Yes, sir. It was then that I decided to act.’
‘Because he had gone over your head? And when you decided to act, you did not go to Dieppe yourself, or even send Roess at that time. You sent the woman Jonsson to England. With what result?’
‘I sent Jonsson to England following Hoeppner’s first report, Herr General.’
‘With what result?’
‘There has been no result. 1 have heard nothing from her, or from any of our agents in England, for very nearly three months. I am worried that
something has gone wrong.’
‘I hope nothing has happened to her. She is such a beautiful woman. Is she your mistress?’
‘Ah … ’
‘You are a lucky man. Perhaps … Well, we shall consider the matter. But you are right to worry. We are fortunate it was a raid. Had it been the invasion, the Allies could have been at the Rhine by now. The only person who comes out of the whole sorry affair with any credit is Roess. Abwehr didn't have a clue what was going to happen until it happened. You sat on vital information for two months! And you have managed to lose your best agent.’
‘Well, Herr General, as regards Jonsson, 1 have serious doubts … ’
Himmler waved his hand languidly. ‘Your doubts do not concern me, Oskar. I have doubts of my own, as to whether you are truly suited to this job.’
‘Sir?’
‘This is a highly responsible position. It carries great power. To exercise such responsibility, such power, requires great judgement, the ability to make great decisions, instantly. It is my conclusion that you lack those necessary assets.’
Weber opened his mouth and then closed it again.
‘And when, in addition, I learn that you have been badgering Frau von Helsingen, wife of one of our greatest war heroes … Did you know that Colonel von Helsingen is to receive the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves for his courage and leadership on the Russian front?’
‘I did not know that, sir. I will congratulate him when next we meet. But as regards his wife, may I remind you, Herr General, that you gave me permission to employ her in an attempt to winkle out Amalie de Gruchy?’
‘You should remind yourself, Colonel, that I expressed grave doubts as to the usefulness of that plan. And what do I find? That all the time you were rushing about like a chicken with its head cut off, the de Gruchy woman was in England, and has now been there for six months. You have managed to make a laughing stock of the SD. That is not acceptable.’ Weber’s expression was a mixture of consternation and terror.
‘Well,’ Himmler said, ‘you have expressed a wish to congratulate Colonel von Helsingen. I am going to give you an opportunity to do that. You are seconded to the Russian front. Oh, I do not expect you to fight, Oskar, but you may be more successful at finding and destroying Russian guerrillas than you have been at dealing with the French Resistance. And winter is coming on. I am told that a Russian winter is an experience not to be foregone.’
Weber licked his lips. ‘When Jonsson comes back, if you wish her services … ’
‘What an obscene idea. You are dismissed, Colonel.’ Weber swallowed and stood up. ‘Am I allowed to ask the name of my successor, Herr General?’
‘I have not made a decision yet. But I am sure 1 will think of someone. Good day to you, Oskar.’
‘Fraulein Jonsson,’ said the Immigration Officer jovially. ‘It has been a long time.’
‘It has been an even longer time for me,’ Joanna assured him.
‘Still travelling on a Swedish passport, I see. This gentleman would like to have a word.’ He gestured at the man standing in the inner doorway.
‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ Joanna said. ‘Do we have to go through all of that again?’
‘If you would be so kind.’
‘Oh, well.’ Joanna walked round the desk and into the inner room. ‘You know the phone number. Get on with it.’ She really couldn’t wait to see Oskar’s expression when she turned up, after he had tried to shop her. As she had told James, she knew it was sheer jealousy, to stop her marrying Franz. Well, she was going to stuff that up his ass.
The Gestapo agent stood in front of her. ‘That phone number is no longer accessible, for you, Fraulein.’
‘I am not in the mood for jokes. I wish to speak with Colonel Weber. Now.’
The agent smiled. ‘That would require a long-distance call. To Russia.’ Joanna stared at him while beginning to wish she had not breakfasted. ‘However,’ he said, ‘his replacement has left us orders that should you return to Germany, he wishes to see you. He also said that you were to be placed under arrest, the moment you set foot on our soil. So … ’ He snapped his fingers and his companion produced a pair of handcuffs.
Joanna drew a deep breath to prevent herself from panting — or screaming. ‘Why is Colonel Weber in Russia?’
‘You will have to ask his superiors that, Fraulein. Who knows, one of them may come to your hanging. Now.’ He stepped away from her, and drew a Luger automatic pistol. ‘We know all about your skills, Fraulein. If you attempt to resist us, I am empowered to shoot you, not fatally, but somewhere painful.’
Think, goddamn it, Joanna told herself. But this had to be a nightmare, one from which she could awake at will. She took another deep breath. ‘1 am a Swedish citizen. You have no right to arrest me. My father is a member of the Swedish Government. This mistake will cost you your job.’
‘Alas, Fraulein, here in the Reich we are required to obey orders, not debate them. You should take up your situation with Colonel Roess.’
Joanna’s jaw dropped. ‘What did you say?’
‘Colonel Johann Roess has replaced Colonel Weber as Executive Commander of the SD, Fraulein. Your wrists.’
Oh, Jesus, Joanna thought. Oh, Jesus! Before she could recover, her arms were pulled behind her back and the handcuffs clipped into place
‘Now,’ the agent said. ‘Let us see what you have under there.’ Another smile. ‘You robbed us of this pleasure the last time we met.’
Joanna could think only that she was in the hands of Roess. But now she was also in the hands of this slimy rat who was fondling and squeezing her breast before moving down to her groin. She considered kicking him, but again before she could make a decision she was turned round and forced against the desk, the other man grasping her hair so that she was bent over, the wood eating into her thighs, her face banging the blotter. She felt her skirt and petticoat being raised, hands searching under her knickers to caress her buttocks and slide between. She felt physically sick, less from the degradation, or even from the thought of what might yet happen to her, than because her persona of arrogant invulnerability was being stripped away. But she told herself that even that had to be a temporary glitch. She was Joanna Jonsson. She was a Swedish citizen. She was the daughter of an important man. Not even Roess would dare do anything more than humiliate her.
And yet the drive to Berlin was the longest of her life. She remained handcuffed, and was thus unable to adjust her clothing, which remained disordered, and she was accompanied by two agents who spent the journey staring at her, clearly having difficulty resisting the temptation to touch her. But at last the car rolled into that so well-remembered courtyard, and she was marched through that so well-remembered doorway, and up the stairs to the huge office. Roess sat behind the desk beneath a portrait of Hitler. His left arm was in a sling, but otherwise he looked better than when last she had seen him, in the Gestapo cell in Bordeaux. He did not get up to greet her.
‘Fraulein Jonsson,’ he said. ‘Have you any idea how long I have waited for this moment?’
Joanna had prepared her defences. ‘Well, now you’ve had your fun. Will you kindly remove these things?’
‘Why should I do that?’
‘Because if you do not — ’
‘You will appeal to your father and the Swedish Government? What do you suppose they will do? Send a Swedish army to invade us and rescue you? My dear Joanna, in modern terms, you belong to a little country. Charles the Twelfth has been dead over two hundred years. Sweden is a cipher.’ Now he got up and came round the desk to stand in front of her. ‘Do you know, I made a deal with Weber that if I found Liane de Gruchy and handed her over to him, I would be given you in exchange. Isn’t it quaint how things turn out? I have not yet found Liane, although I came very close to it a month ago, but I have still obtained you.’ He ran a finger over Joanna’s cheek, down her neck to her throat, and then across the bodice of her dress, pausing to locate and stroke the nipple. Joanna kept still with
an effort. ‘Now, 1 would like you to tell me where your old chum is at this moment.’
‘I have absolutely no idea. But I am sure you will hear of her again.’
‘Do you know, I believe you. But we are going to play a little game, you and 1.1 am going to assume that you do know where Liane can be found, but are refusing to tell me. So I am going to question you about it, again and again and again, using all the methods at my disposal to obtain this information.’ Joanna could only stare at him, trying to keep her breathing under control. ‘Some of our methods are very interesting,’ he explained. ‘One of them was a favourite of Weber himself. Do you know of it? Electricity?'
Joanna licked her lips.
‘I have seen him use it on a young woman,’ Roess told her. ‘This girl was not by any means in your class, Joanna, either in breeding or in looks. But she was an attractive little thing, and her reactions were most stimulating. It is simply a matter of attaching a pair of wires to separate parts of the body, shall we say, one to each nipple. The wires are then jointly attached to a box capable of generating electricity. When this box is activated, an electrical current passes up the wires and into the body. I am told the pain is quite paralysing, although from the way that girl reacted I would say it is more galvanizing. Now that is what I am going to do to you, over and over. Something to look forward to, eh?’
Joanna realized that he meant what he was saying, and that there was nothing she could do about it. She had to make a decision, and hope for the best. In any event, she did not see how anything she could say could harm Liane. ‘I can tell you where Liane was a month ago,’ she said. ‘She was in Dieppe.’ ‘I know she was in Dieppe,’ Roess said. ‘I was there. I saw her, standing in front of me, with her brother. That was when I broke my arm. They threw a grenade at me.’
Legacy of Hate Page 25
