The Star and the Shamrock

by Jean Grainger

  ‘Well, I don’t know. Talia Zimmermann and Daniel Lieber from the refugee farm spend some time in the room. Talia teaches drawing, and Daniel does a lot of maintenance. I suppose in theory they could have taken some, though I must say it’s unlikely, not without asking me anyway.’ She had no idea what was going on, but she did not like the turn this was taking. ‘Where did you find it?’ she asked pointedly.

  Gaughran’s eyes fixed on hers. ‘At the refugee farm.’

  ‘But why assume I’d know anything about it?’

  ‘Because it is newsprint being used as school art paper, as you correctly point out, and you, Mrs Klein, are the only person in the village with any.’ He spoke as if that instantly made her guilty of whatever he thought was going on.

  ‘Well, I’ve no idea how it got there, but why is it a matter for the police anyway?’

  Gaughran looked grim. ‘Because, Mrs Klein, it is a map of the Royal Air Force base out at Ballyhalbert that opened last month, complete with coordinates. The Luftwaffe would be very happy to have such a map. There are many service personnel stationed there, not to mention a lot of vital equipment. And what we want to know is why someone other than the military would have a map of the area?’

  ‘I’ve no idea. I swear to you.’ Elizabeth’s mind was racing.

  ‘Who, apart from yourself – what adults I mean – has access to your classroom?’

  ‘Well, as I said, there’s me, Talia and Daniel. I mean, there’s only one key, and I lock up every evening. Mr and Mrs Morris teach in their own rooms and rarely come to mine, and when the children go to singing class, it is held in the hall with Mrs Ashe because that’s where the piano is.’

  ‘And this Talia Zimmermann, what do you know about her?’

  ‘Well, not much, just that she’s Jewish. But she’s just a girl…’

  ‘You don’t know her family history?’

  ‘Not really. Her parents were executed for opposing the annexation of Austria, I think. She’s from Vienna, and she went to art college, I believe… I don’t know much else…’

  ‘And Lieber?’ Gaughran’s voice cut through her recollections like a knife. ‘What do you know about him?’

  ‘Um…Daniel is also Viennese. He was raised Catholic, but his parents were Jewish…’ The moment she said the words, she realised she was betraying his confidence. He’d not told anyone else about that out of loyalty to his deceased mother and father.

  ‘Go on,’ Gaughran said.

  ‘And he…he came here. A friend of his from university, I think, a British man, helped, sponsored him, I think. He met the people and children from the Kindertransport on the boat, and he helped them, and then was offered a position here, so he came. I… He is an engineer,’ she finished weakly. The map was almost pulsating on the desk. She felt like she was betraying him, but she had to answer the policeman’s question. ‘But honestly, I don’t think either of them –’

  ‘And he has access to the classroom alone?’ the detective interrupted.

  ‘Well, yes, he does some odd jobs from time to time, but he –’

  ‘And what is the nature of your relationship with Mr Lieber?’ Gaughran asked, slightly more aggressively now.

  ‘We… Well…we’re friendly, I suppose you’d say…’ She struggled to describe it.

  ‘And you’re not romantically linked then?’ Gaughran’s eyes bored into hers.

  ‘No…no, not at all…’

  ‘Hmm.’

  ‘Look, neither Daniel nor Talia could possibly –’

  ‘Mrs Klein.’ Gaughran interrupted her once again. ‘The future of our country is at stake. We cannot rule anything in or out at this stage. There is no reason anyone would need a map such as this for civilian purposes, so we must assume, since the RAF know nothing of its existence, that it was created with some kind of nefarious intent. Do you know anyone who exhibits skills such as those?’ Gaughran pointed to the drawing.

  Elizabeth hesitated but looked more closely at the drawing. Daniel was an engineer, and he was capable of a drawing like this, but she was sure he would not try to undermine the British war effort. He hated the Nazis with more personal passion than most British people. He fervently hoped every follower of Adolf Hitler would be annihilated in this war. Perhaps he did the drawings for another reason, though what that might be, she couldn’t guess.

  ‘Well, as I said, Daniel Lieber is an engineer by profession, and Talia is a talented artist, but I can assure you, Detective, I am sure neither of them is doing anything nefarious, as you put it. They just wouldn’t have any reason to do that.’

  ‘And your background – I understand your late husband was German?’ Gaughran spoke softly, his tone almost conversational, belying the gravitas of his question.

  Elizabeth was incensed – how dare he? She’d had enough of him and his insinuations. ‘My late husband, Detective,’ – she emphasised every word – ‘was killed by a German bullet on the last day of the war. His family had origins in Germany, it’s true, but generations ago. And I am from Ballycreggan and lived in Liverpool for twenty years before returning here. So if you are asking me if I am a German spy, then I’m afraid you are barking up the wrong tree.’

  ‘But you do have German relatives, those two children you care for?’

  Elizabeth felt her blood boil. The cheek of the man. ‘Yes, my father’s brother married a German, and their son Peter is my foster children’s father. They are Jews, Inspector Gaughran. Their father is missing, presumably in a German prison or worse, arrested for trying to defend an elderly Jewish woman on the street. And their mother put her children on a train because she feared for their safety. So yes, I do have German relatives who, believe me, have far greater reasons to hate Hitler than you or I.’

  She was breathless and knew her face was flushed, but she didn’t care. Something about the way he mentioned Liesl and Erich caused her hackles to rise. ‘Now if there’s nothing else, I have a class of refugee Jewish children waiting for me. Children whose stories would give you nightmares. Good day to you.’

  As she left, the detective spoke again. She spun round to face him.

  ‘It is of vital importance that you do not discuss the nature of this conversation with anyone else. Am I making myself very clear, Mrs Klein?’

  ‘Crystal,’ she replied coldly.

  Elizabeth stormed out and fumed as she stomped across the yard. The cheek of the man. Daniel and Talia were no more spies than she was. Honestly, what a suggestion.

  The rest of the day passed slowly, as she found it hard to keep her mind on the job. She wanted to speak to Daniel, to ask him straight out if he had done those drawings, and if he did, why? The clock crawled slowly to three o’clock, and finally, the bell rang and school was over.

  She went out with her class, and there was the bus in its usual spot, but as she approached it, she realised Daniel wasn’t behind the wheel.

  ‘Levi, hello.’ She tried to hide her disappointment. ‘Daniel isn’t here today?’ What a stupidly redundant question, she silently admonished herself.

  ‘No. Daniel has been arrested.’ Levi looked shaken.

  ‘What? Why?’ Elizabeth could guess but wanted to hear what Levi had to say.

  ‘Nobody knows, and the members of the refugee aid committee are stunned. They’re trying to find out more, but the police have said nothing so far.’

  Elizabeth could barely swallow.

  ‘Do you know something?’ Levi’s eyes bored into hers; her face must have given her away.

  ‘The police were here this morning, but I’ve no idea… I’m sorry, Levi, I have to go.’ Elizabeth didn’t even wave goodbye to the children, which was unusual; instead, she hurried back across the road.

  Mr Morris was in his office. She knocked gently.

  ‘Come in.’

  She entered the office, and the usual cheery greeting was notably absent.

  ‘I’m sorry to interrupt, but we must do something. The police have arrested Daniel, and they ar
e holding him. I just know –’

  Before she could go any further, Mr Morris raised his hand to stop her. ‘Mrs Klein,’ – he’d called her Elizabeth at her insistence since the first week – ‘I do not know what was going on between you and Mr Lieber, but I would suggest that you keep your distance from him from now on. I do not want the school involved in this in any way. I am sure the authorities will do whatever is necessary to determine why a civilian would create such a drawing, but until such time as they do, I think it might be best to have the refugee children split between myself and my wife. Most of them can speak reasonably good English now, and they will be able to participate. I’ll be in touch when I know more.’

  He returned to his writing, leaving Elizabeth stunned. Was she being dismissed? For what?

  ‘But why? What have I done? Please, Mr Morris, I don’t understand. Do you think I had something to do with –’

  He sighed. He was not a bad man; in fact, he’d been very kind to her since she arrived, and she could tell this had shaken him.

  ‘Mrs Klein, I’m not doing this lightly. I just want the police to get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible. And in the meantime, because of the situation, I think it might be best for you to take some leave.’

  ‘I can’t believe this. We don’t even know that there is anything sinister about that drawing. It might be perfectly innocent! But even if it’s not, I can promise you the first I saw of it was today in this office –’

  ‘Mrs Klein, please. Just take some time off, and the police will figure it out soon enough, I’m sure.’

  Elizabeth knew he was not for changing. He wasn’t asking; he was telling.

  ‘Mr Morris, please don’t do this. I swear to you, there is nothing going on between Daniel and me. I know absolutely nothing about this. We were friendly but nothing more, and of course I have helped the police. I’m on their side.’

  He looked up and took off his glasses, cleaning them with his tie.

  ‘Mrs Klein, Elizabeth…’ His voice softened. ‘This is a very difficult situation, and if you are associated with –’

  ‘But I’m not. I swear to you, I’m not. If you dismiss me now, you might as well tell the whole of Ballycreggan I’m guilty of something. Innocent people do not get suspended from their jobs. It would be devastating, not just for me, but for Liesl and Erich as well. Please, Mr Morris, don’t do it.’ She knew she was begging, and denying any relationship at all with Daniel was hard to do, but she needed to prioritise the children.

  ‘Do you give me your solemn word that you know nothing of this business and that you and Lieber are not involved in any way?’

  ‘I give you my word we are not.’ She felt like Peter denying Jesus.

  He looked conflicted and did not speak for a long minute, obviously weighing the right thing to do.

  ‘I am deeply sorry for everything that happened, but in the light of the discovery… Well, I was advised by the police to put some distance between you and the school until it could all be cleared up. In these times, you can’t be too careful. I hope you understand?’

  Her eyes pleaded with him. She knew he was a decent man, and the children liked him and his wife, and she supposed he had to do what the police advised.

  ‘I do.’ She had no choice but to be magnanimous. ‘And to be honest with you, I was as shocked as everyone else. I…I got to know Daniel, and I still can’t believe that he would do something like that…’

  Mr Morris’s face flushed. ‘I’m sorry to have to say this, Elizabeth, and please understand that your private life is just that and nothing to do with me as such, but if I were to allow you to continue in your capacity as a teacher here, I would need to be sure that there would be no contact between you and the man in custody.’ He appeared mortified now, but obviously her remark about Daniel’s innocence had changed things. ‘Now or in the future. The police seem very suspicious that he is an enemy agent, and whether you believe him capable or not…’

  Elizabeth knew her future was on the line. She needed this job for Liesl and Erich as much as for herself.

  ‘Mr Morris, there never was a relationship between me and Daniel Lieber, and I give you my word, I will not have any contact with him from now on.’ She felt such a traitor saying the words, but she was backed into a corner, and she could see how it would not go down well in Ballycreggan if the man they suspected was a German spy was on close personal terms with the local schoolteacher.

  ‘Well, if you tell me that’s the case, I believe you. We can’t do without you is the reality, but I was just trying to do what was best…’

  ‘I understand, Mr Morris. This is a difficult situation. Thank you for giving me the benefit of the doubt.’

  His smile was kind, and she could hold no grudge against him.

  Chapter 16

  In her classroom, Liesl and Erich were waiting patiently. She would explain as best she could, but not now, not there. She put on a bright smile, gathered up her things, locked the door and ushered the children out of the school ahead of her. Once home, she gave them a very rough outline of what had happened but left out that the police thought Daniel was guilty. She said they just needed him to help them with their enquiries. The news upset them, she could tell. Another adult they loved and trusted had been taken away by the police. They didn’t cry but went to their rooms, and she didn’t see them until dinner time. They ate in silence, and then they went to bed.

  The rest of the week went on uneventfully. There was no word of Daniel or what was happening, and though she desperately wanted to hear news of him, she was afraid to ask in case it made her look guilty. She battled feelings of disloyalty but rationalised them by telling herself that she had to protect Liesl and Erich, and that if all the evidence suggested it, then she had to face the fact that perhaps the police were right. She had slept badly every night since the police came to the school, pitching between being totally sure Daniel was innocent and convincing herself he must be a spy. It was exhausting.

  A week after Daniel’s arrest, having finally fallen asleep at two a.m., Elizabeth woke to the sound of screaming. She sighed – this was happening most nights now. She crossed the landing to Erich’s room and went to him, holding him until he woke up properly, soothing him.

  ‘It’s all right. You’re safe. You’re here with me. Don’t worry, Erich. Don’t worry, my love…’ She crooned the words until he was awake and his sobs had subsided.

  ‘I dreamed they took you away. They took Papa and Mutti and now Daniel. They always take people away from children, and there is nobody to take care of them…’

  Almost every night, they had the same conversation. Whatever progress the Bannon children had made since the move to Ireland was gone; they were back to square one again. Daniel’s arrest had shaken them both.

  Liesl, who normally calmed Erich down, was equally upset. She had a special bond with Daniel, especially since he had backed her request to have her bat mitzvah, and she felt his loss keenly, Elizabeth could tell.

  ‘Erich, my darling, please believe me, I’m not going anywhere. I won’t let anyone –’ She tried again.

  ‘But Papa was bigger and stronger than you, and they took him. Daniel is even stronger than Papa, and they took him too. If they want to take you, they can! You can’t stop them.’

  She couldn’t argue with the logic of a nine-year-old. The argument she had used at the start, that the police didn’t just come and take people away in Britain, held no water now.

  ‘But, my love, I haven’t done anything wrong…’ She was tired but realised immediately she’d said the wrong thing.

  ‘But Papa did nothing wrong, and you said Daniel did nothing wrong…’ Erich was becoming distraught again.

  ‘And they didn’t,’ she agreed wearily.

  ‘So not doing bad things doesn’t mean they can’t take you away…’ Erich disintegrated into another series of sobs that racked his body.

  His cries woke Liesl – or perhaps she was already
awake. Either way, she was now in his room too.

  ‘Daniel didn’t do anything wrong, so why is he in prison?’

  She would have to tell them the truth. She pulled the covers back on Erich’s bed and got in beside him, making space for Liesl on the other side.

  ‘All right, I’m going to tell you as much as I know, which isn’t much, but you mustn’t talk to people in school or in the village about it because people love to gossip.’ She inhaled, praying she’d find the right words. She wasn’t disclosing any classified information, and as was the nature of things in a small Irish village, everyone seemed to have a version of the story anyway.

  ‘The police found a map at the farm, and they think Daniel might have made it. It’s a map of the air force base out at the coast, and they are afraid whoever made the map wants to give it to the Germans.’

  ‘But why do they think Daniel did it?’ Liesl asked.

  ‘Because, as you know, back in Vienna, Daniel was an engineer, and he’s able to do drawings and make them very accurate. So he is one of the people who could do this.’

  ‘But Daniel wants Germany to lose the war, just like we all do, so why would he do something to help them?’ Erich asked.

  Elizabeth knew what she said next was going to be vital. She would have to reassure without giving false promises, exactly as she’d done on the subject of Ariella and Peter. Daniel was an important part of their lives now. They saw him as theirs, and he spent a lot of time with them. He read them stories and made things with them. They trusted him and so did Elizabeth, but what if she was wrong? The facts were stark. He was the only one who could have done the drawing, and if it was him, why would he do it if not for counter-espionage?

  ‘I don’t know,’ she said quietly.

  ‘Do you think he did the drawing?’ Liesl asked, and Elizabeth knew she would have to be honest.

  ‘Perhaps. It certainly looked like something he would be able to do. But if he did do it, I don’t think he drew it to give to the Nazis.’