‘Not intentionally, sir.’
‘I did not know that you had ever met Reichsmarshal Goering.’
‘I have not met him, sir.’
‘Then you need to explain this situation.’
Anna took a deep breath, but if this man was soon to die, he was hardly going to have the time to discover whether or not what she told him was a lie. ‘My mission to the United States was a success, sir. I was able to bring back the information the Fuehrer required.’
‘You mean you convinced him that now was the moment to go to war with the Americans?’
‘I did not know what he intended, Herr General. I only know that he was pleased with my report. He saw me privately.’
Heydrich raised his eyebrows.
‘In his office, sir. He wished to discuss many things. He told me that he was not as fit as he would have liked, and that he was considering appointing an heir, someone to share his duties and responsibilities, and in time take over entirely.’
Heydrich’s face remained expressionless. ‘He asked your opinion on this?’ His tone suggested that he was wondering if the Fuehrer was not more ill than was supposed.
‘No, sir, he did not. Not in so many words. He told me that his obvious successor was the Reichsmarshal. And then he sort of paused. I realized that I had to say something. So I said, “is not the Reichsmarshal the same age as yourself, my Fuehrer?”’
‘He is four years younger,’ Heydrich said.
‘That is what the Fuehrer said. But then he added, as if to himself, “and his health is not good”. And then he looked at me, and said, “Tell me, Countess, who you would choose as the next Fuehrer, if you were I?” I was so surprised I could not speak, so he said, “Do not be afraid to speak your mind. Your mind is the equal of half a dozen so-called savants. And what you say will never be known to anyone save me.”’
‘So you said . . .?’
‘I said that it should be someone young, and virile, with a proven record of leadership.’
‘And he said . . .’
Anna looked suitably embarrassed. ‘He said, “You are thinking of Heydrich.” And then he pointed at me. “Because he is your lover.”’ She bit her lip.
Heydrich continued to study her for several seconds. Then he said, ‘I have not shared your bed for four months.’
‘That was your decision, Herr General, not mine.’
Heydrich preferred not to comment on that. ‘And you think that your conversation, despite the Fuehrer’s promise of confidentiality, got back to the Reichsmarshal.’
The ice was suddenly growing thin. ‘I only know that I realized I was being followed.’
‘And you told the Reichsfuehrer. And you also told him of your conversation with the Fuehrer? I was under the impression that he had ambitions himself.’
‘His ambition is to serve the Reich, sir.’
‘Even if that means serving under me?’
‘He admires you greatly, sir. He is proud of having been able to give you the opportunity to prove your worth, and of the manner in which you have done that.’
‘Has he slept with you? What is he like in bed?’
‘I have never had sex with the Reichsfuehrer, sir.’
‘You are telling me that you have been chaste for the past four months? You?’
Anna’s gaze never flickered. ‘I have never had sex with any man unless commanded to do so by you, Herr General.’
‘Do you know, Anna, I cannot make up my mind whether you are God’s gift to mankind, or the Devil’s handmaiden.’ He picked up his house phone. ‘Haussmann? I wish an apartment prepared for the Countess von Widerstand, who is rejoining my staff. She will be down in a moment.’ He replaced the phone. ‘You understand that my wife and daughter are with me, so a certain amount of discretion is necessary.’ Anna gulped; she had not anticipated having to work at destroying this man virtually before his family. ‘However, my wife does not like living in a castle, so we have taken a house outside the city. I will be able to see you from time to time when I am here, and we will . . . discuss your duties.’
Anna stood up. ‘I will look forward to that, Herr General. Heil Hitler!’
*
She desperately needed a bath: she was dripping sweat. But once again everything was falling into place; she could have asked for no better reception.
Major Haussmann was one of those handsome young SS officers who was clearly nervous of his famous charge as he escorted her along a corridor. ‘Where is my maid?’ Anna asked.
‘I will send her to you, Countess, together with your luggage.’ He opened a door. ‘I hope this will be satisfactory?’
Anna went into the apartment, which had big windows overlooking the inner lawns of the castle, and was light and airy. However . . . She crossed the lounge and opened the door to the bedroom, which had an en-suite bathroom. She turned to face Haussmann. ‘It is very small. There is only one bedroom, and no kitchen.’
‘It is the best I could do at such short notice, Countess. If we had known you were coming . . .’
‘How do I eat?’
‘There is the canteen . . .’ He paused on seeing her expression.
‘And where does my maid sleep?’
‘Quarters will be provided . . .’
‘I like my maid to be available at all times.’
‘I understand, Countess. I promise that I will obtain better accommodation for you within twenty-four hours. Now I will send your maid to you . . .’
He was definitely overawed. So why not take advantage of that? It could do no harm and would lay the groundwork for when she was with Heydrich. She gave a little grunt. ‘Oh!’ Then she sat down.
Haussmann had gone to the door. Now he turned sharply. ‘Countess? Is something the matter?’
Anna breathed deeply for several seconds. ‘I have this pain.’
‘Oh, Countess!’ He hurried back to stand beside her. ‘Is there anything I can do?’
‘It is my back. I hurt it in the gymnasium a few weeks ago and it does not seem to get better.’
‘Ah. Perhaps if I were to rub it . . .’ He paused optimistically.
‘It is not muscular. I think I have pinched a nerve. But thank you.’ She smiled bravely. ‘It will wear off.’
‘Well, you must tell me if I can help in any way.’ He returned to the door, reluctantly.
‘Perhaps there is a way,’ Anna said.
He turned again, this time eagerly. ‘Countess?’
‘I was told there is a very good chiropractor in Prague. A man called Telfer. Have you heard of him?’
‘Everyone has heard of Dr Telfer, Countess.’
‘Have they? That is excellent. Do you think you could obtain an appointment for me to see him? I am sure he would be able to relieve me.’
‘I am sure he would have been able to do so. Unfortunately . . .’
Lumps of lead suddenly appeared in Anna’s stomach. ‘Yes?’
‘It will not be possible for him to see you, Countess.’
‘Why not? What has happened to him?’
‘The day before yesterday, Dr Telfer was knocked down by a motor car.’
‘Oh, my God!’ Anna cried. ‘Is he all right?’
‘No, Countess. He was killed instantly.’
Chapter Nine – Counter-plots
‘Oh, my God!’ Anna said without thinking.
‘Countess? He was not a German, you know. He was a Bohemian.’
He was clearly finding it difficult to reconcile her very obvious concern at the death of an itinerant foreigner with her reputation as a professional assassin; she needed to be careful. ‘It seems such an irrelevant way to go,’ she improvised. ‘And he might have been able to help me. But the pain is wearing off. Send up my maid, will you, please, Captain.’
Haussmann hesitated a last time, then clicked his heels and left. Anna went into the bathroom and switched on the water, then stripped off her clothes, which were even sweatier now. Of all the fucking awful luck, she thoug
ht. A misfortune which had left her completely out on a limb. Telfer was to have been her only contact in Prague. Without him she had no means of contacting the assassination squad. And here in Prague she had no means of contacting London to inform them of the situation. What a fuck-up!
*
‘Haussmann tells me you have some back trouble,’ Heydrich remarked. ‘At your age? That is remarkable.’
Anna lay with her head in the crook of his shoulder, her hair scattered around her, her legs splayed. His love-making had been as violent and one-sided as always, leaving her feeling almost punch-drunk. Yet he expected her to have an orgasm every time he entered her, and such was her ability to concentrate on what she was doing that more often than not she did. Actually, it was not at all difficult, because she could fantasize while it was happening, as she had done in that charnel house in Washington. Now she moved against him, scraping her nipples against his ribs. ‘It is just a twinge. I think I pinched a nerve while training. It is gone now.’
‘So I observed just now. But he said you told him it was a recurring pain. Why have you not had it seen to?’
‘I did mean to have it seen to.’
‘Here in Prague? By that fellow Telfer? Why did you not go to a specialist in Berlin?’
‘It only happened a week ago, and I knew I was coming here, and someone I mentioned it to said I should go to Dr Telfer as he is the best chiropractor in Europe.’
Heydrich began to slide his hands over her body, his way of conveying a return of passion. ‘You’re sure it has nothing to do with that bullet wound of yours?’
‘Quite sure. It is on the other side. Anyway, I shall have to grin and bear it, as the doctor appears to have got himself killed.’
‘Yes. I am glad you did not have the time to go to him. He was under investigation.’
Anna raised her head. ‘You mean . . .?’
‘No, no. We did not kill him. It was a legitimate accident. Feutlanger – you remember Feutlanger?’
‘Yes,’ Anna said grimly. She remember the little rat-like Gestapo officer who had handled the investigation into the three men she had killed, here in Prague, the previous year.
‘Well, he was investigating some rather guarded but somewhat suggestive phone calls the good doctor made from time to time.’
‘You mean his phone was tapped?’
‘Of course. I have placed taps on the phones of every intellectual in Prague.’
My God, she thought. Perhaps Telfer’s death, however tragic for him and disastrous for Operation Daybreak, had after all been a blessing in disguise for her. Had she visited him, and had he referred to her in one of those mysterious phone calls . . .
‘But as I said,’ Heydrich went on, ‘that particular investigation must now be considered at an end. I believe Feutlanger brought in his nurse for interrogation, but he learned nothing.’
Which means, Anna thought, knowing Feutlanger’s interrogation methods, that the woman was either very tough or she did indeed know nothing of her employer’s secrets. In either event, the nurse was clearly too dangerous to be approached. So she remained in limbo.
Heydrich gave her a last squeeze and swung his legs out of bed. ‘I must go. I have a dinner engagement. Now, Anna, you know that over Christmas and the New Year I must spend as much time as possible with my family.’
Thank God for that, Anna thought. Apart from sparing her from his sexual attentions, it would give her time to think, and hopefully come up with a solution to her problem. There had to be a solution. Apart from the obvious one that, as Heydrich was turned away from her as he dressed, she could almost certainly get out of bed and kill him before he knew what was happening. But she had been ordered not to get personally involved and she really had no wish to commit suicide, a suicide which would involve her family as well. So she remained lying still, looking at him.
He turned round. ‘However, I do not wish you to have a lonely holiday. I have instructed Haussmann to take care of you. You like Haussmann?’
‘I have not really thought about it,’ Anna said, with perfect honesty.
‘Well, he is a very nice chap. He will squire you wherever you wish to go, dance attendance on you, eh?’
Anna had not seen a lot of the adjutant since her first day, but she remembered him coming on strong that afternoon. ‘And suppose he wishes to do more than dance, Herr General?’
Heydrich knotted his tie. ‘I imagine he dreams of getting into that bed. Well, you could humour him, I suppose. Life here is rather dull for an ambitious officer.’
And in your opinion, I am nothing more than a whore, Anna thought. Your whore, to be pedalled around to your favourites.
Heydrich put on his tunic. ‘You will also need him to look after you while I’m away.’
Anna sat up. ‘You are going away?’
‘I have been summoned to Berlin for a conference with the Fuehrer. I am to go in the New Year.’ He smiled. ‘Who knows, the scenario you outlined to me last week may be about to become reality.’
Shit, Anna thought. Shit, shit, shit. ‘Can’t I come with you?’
‘No. My wife is coming with me.’
‘Oh! But . . . you will be coming back?’
‘Of course. If only to tie things up and hand over to my successor. Do not look so alarmed, Anna. If things turn out as we anticipate, I will be able to offer you the full protection of the Fuehrer-in-waiting, and place you in the most advantageous position I can think of. I will see you tomorrow.’
*
He left the room, and Anna stared at the closed door. What a total mess. She could have no doubt that he was being summoned by Hitler to make the appointment, and that would mean . . . It must never be allowed to happen, Clive had said. But do not get personally involved. It must never be allowed to happen, Himmler had said, but do not get personally involved. And yet she was the only person in the world who could be personally involved, who knew that it was going to happen.
And there was the temptation to do nothing. If Heydrich became the next Fuehrer, with her as his favourite, she could be the most powerful woman in Germany. In Europe. Perhaps in the world. She might even be able to get her family out of their prison camp. But she doubted that Heydrich, who loved control more than anything else, would ever be prepared to relinquish his complete control over her. And to go down that road, which would mean turning her back forever on Clive and Joe and Judith, would be finally to sell her soul to the Devil, for the rest of eternity.
So think, God damn it, she told herself. You are supposed to be a genius. There is no problem that does not have a solution. But the only solution took her back to suicide. She had spent all but four years in this ghastly business, simply to keep her family alive. To condemn them to death now, even if she went with them, would make a nonsense of those four years, of the twenty-one people she had killed, just to keep her family alive.
Thought was increasingly difficult over Christmas. The Wehrmacht might have failed to take Moscow and be suffering frightening casualties as they endeavoured to hold their ground against both sub-zero temperatures and Russian counter-attacks, but no one seemed to have any doubt that the offensive would be resumed once the weather improved, and that victory would be achieved this coming summer. Certainly the German colony in Prague found no reason not to enjoy themselves. Haussmann was in constant attendance, but Anna did not find it difficult to keep him at arms’ length, partly because she quickly discerned that he was basically terrified of her, and clearly was sufficiently content to be seen everywhere with her at his side, with all of the suggestions that might raise in the minds of his jealous fellow officers. But it was necessary to do a great deal of dancing, and even more drinking, which most nights had her collapsing into bed exhausted. And the date of Heydrich’s departure for Berlin, January 15th, was rushing towards them. Once he got on that train . . .
It was a few days after Christmas, when she had managed to get out on her own for a walk through the city, that she stopped to look in
a shop window, and a quiet voice said, ‘Well, hi there. Remember me?’
Anna resisted the urge to turn violently, and now she made out the woman’s face in the window. ‘Judith?! Oh, Judith . . .’
‘I think we should have a cup of coffee,’ Judith said. ‘There is a shop just over there.’
They ordered, and sat opposite each other at the small table, smiling at each other. Like Anna, Judith wore a fur coat and a matching hat, and appeared her usual confident and ebullient self; if she did indeed live in a state of terrified apprehension, she was apparently able to keep it well concealed. ‘Isn’t this very dangerous?’ Anna asked.
Judith made a moue. ‘Yes. But I am doing what I have been told to do. Anyway, London does not feel that the danger is extreme. We are old school friends, are we not, meeting once again by happy chance, and my papers are impeccable. You could at least say that you are pleased to see me.’
‘I am delighted to see you,’ Anna said. ‘You have no idea what has happened.’
‘We know what has happened. Why do you think I am here?’
‘You? But . . .’
‘This is an emergency. I have been sent in to replace Telfer. I hope you have something for me.’
‘You are in contact with Operation Daybreak?’
‘I am now in command of it.’
God, if London knew the risk they are taking, Anna thought. But she said, ‘That’s a relief. Listen . . .’ And she outlined what had happened over the past fortnight.
‘And you think he will be confirmed as the Fuehrer’s heir on this visit?’ Judith asked.
‘There is no other reason for him to have been summoned.’
‘Then he must never get to Berlin. You say he is leaving on fifteenth January? At what time?’
‘He will be catching the eight o’clock out of Prague Central.’
‘Excellent.’
‘You think so?’
‘That train travels very slowly for the first half-mile, because of all the lines and other trains using the station at that time in the morning. That stretch of track is also overlooked by a derelict warehouse. We could not ask for a better opportunity. Leaving at eight o’clock, he will almost certainly use the restaurant car for breakfast. That has huge windows. He will be a sitting duck for an expert with a high-powered rifle.’
Angel of Vengeance: The thrilling sequel to Angel in Red (Anna Fehrbach) Page 21
