Murder's Art

by Christopher Nicole

  ‘And if this girl does not survive the journey back to Foca?’

  ‘I personally will have lost, but the victory will still have been gained. But she is going to survive, Sasha. I make that your responsibility.’

  Sasha gazed at him for several seconds, then lay down, her head against his shoulder. ‘So, she will survive,’ she said enigmatically.

  ***

  ‘Herr General?’ Ulrich hovered in the doorway of the general’s office. Although he had been summoned, he had no idea how to proceed. Blintoft sat at his desk with his head in his hands; his face was invisible.

  But now he looked up; lines of anguish were etched across his face. Yet his voice was firm. ‘Come in, Ulrich. Come in. Report.’

  ‘We have recovered the body of one of the Partisans, sir. It is the man Brolic, who escaped from Belgrade in October following the arrest of his parents. The evidence indicates that he was shot by his own people. Our own casualties were fifteen dead and nine wounded. All the wounded are serious. However, Major Wassermann is alive; he survived both the explosion and the subsequent shooting. With him were the two nurses and the doctor, who apparently hid in the carriage until the gunmen left. They are the only unhurt survivors.’

  ‘My daughter was with them,’ Blintoft said. ‘Why did she not survive with them?’

  ‘The evidence suggests that she left the carriage, Herr General. There are pieces of material, which we have identified as coming from the Fräulein’s clothing, attached to the door frame. There is also the dead body of her escort, which was found outside the train.’

  ‘You mean the bandits hauled her out?’

  ‘I don’t think they hauled her out, Herr General. I cannot believe that the Partisans would have entered the carriage and not killed Major Wassermann and the medical staff; they killed just about everyone else. I think the escort helped her to leave the carriage in an effort to save her life, and then she was captured outside, while he was shot.’

  ‘But she was captured.’

  ‘I believe so, sir. We have not found her body.’

  ‘So we must accept that radio message as the truth. They want to exchange her for Fouquet. And what do you think they will have done to her in the meantime?’

  ‘Ah …’ As usual Ulrich chose his words with care. He did not wish to distress the general further by telling him that the post-mortem on Brolic’s body indicated that he had had sex very shortly before his death, and that his clothes were stained with semen. ‘I believe she is unharmed, Herr General. She has to be, if she is to be exchanged for Fouquet.’

  ‘Fouquet …’ Blintoft nodded. ‘You say she has been in our cells for more than two weeks?’

  ‘Held incognito, sir. I did not know who she was. I obeyed Major Wassermann’s orders.’

  ‘I am surrounded by duplicity,’ Blintoft said. ‘Which has brought about my ruin.’

  ‘I still have every hope of catching these thugs, Herr General. There is evidence that, apart from the man killed, at least one of the Partisans was wounded. From the amount of blood we found on the ground on the top of the culvert, it is presumed quite seriously. But we have found no body. That means they are carrying a wounded man. Or woman.’

  ‘Do you not suppose the wounded person may be Angela?’

  ‘No, sir. The blood, as I have said, is on the top of the culvert. Fräulein Angela’s torn clothing was at the other end of the train, near to the track. There was no reason for her to be taken up to the embankment, as they were clearly in a hurry to get away, and the only blood near to where she was captured belongs to her escort and the man Brolic. No, sir, I believe they are travelling under great difficulties. If you would allow me to use all the men at our disposal, and really scour the country …’

  ‘No,’ Blintoft said. ‘The radio message said they would kill my daughter if they were too closely pursued. This must not happen. We must accept that we have been defeated, on this occasion. Use the call sign they gave us, and tell them we agree to the exchange.’

  Ulrich gulped. ‘All of them? The man Kostic and the Brolics as well?’

  ‘If that is their price, we must pay it. Your overwhelming – your only – responsibility is to have my daughter returned, unharmed. Understand that.’

  Ulrich clicked his heels.

  Angela sat beside Tony. It was now four days since they had left the train, and they were resting for the afternoon beside a tumbling mountain stream. They had left the plain behind and were now climbing, which had slowed their progress, although there was still no sign of any close pursuit. Tito had done his stuff.

  As for the girl, Tony thought he had never seen a more forlorn waif. Apart from her tattered clothing, the very last remnants of chic had disappeared; she wore no make-up, and her hair was a tangled mess – rather like Draga and Sasha. But at least, although she was clearly exhausted, she had stopped complaining.

  Now she looked from left to right. For the moment they were relatively alone. Draga was lighting a fire, Sasha was reconnoitring, and the two men were sprawled beneath the trees; they were more exhausted than anyone, as they were the stretcher bearers. ‘How much further?’ Angela asked.

  It was the first time she had addressed him directly since he had first awoken. ‘Another few days.’

  ‘Are you in much pain?’

  Since they had entered Bosnia, Sasha had allowed him more morphine, so he was able to reply, however drowsily, ‘Not as much as you would like me to be in, Fräulein.’

  Her face twisted. ‘Did you shoot my mother?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘But you were there. In command.’

  ‘Yes. I was sent to shoot your father. But your mother stepped in front.’

  ‘So you shot her.’

  ‘I told you, I did not. I would not have fired at all. But one of my people did so, against my orders.’

  ‘Sandrine?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘The man Kostic?’

  ‘You have seen him?’

  ‘I have watched him being tortured.’

  Tony tried to focus on her face, which remained impassive despite what she had just said. ‘And have you also watched Sandrine being tortured?’

  This time her nostrils flared. ‘I saved her.’

  ‘Why did you do that, Fräulein?’

  ‘Because … because I wanted her for myself. I took her, for myself.’

  ‘Did she not resist you?’

  ‘I think she wanted to. But she was in my power.’ Again the defiant look. ‘She is very beautiful.’

  ‘I think so. Is she still very beautiful?’

  ‘More than ever. Do you not resent what I have told you?’

  ‘No, Fräulein. Firstly because I know you only said it to hurt me, and secondly because Sandrine is Sandrine, and I will love her no matter what may have happened to her.’

  Another flare of the nostrils, then she spat at him. ‘I hate you.’ Her hand moved, and it held a knife. But she had not noticed Sasha returning to the camp. Now Sasha struck her on the side of the head, tumbling her full length to the ground. Then she crouched over her, hitting her several times on the face; Angela whimpered with pain and fear.

  ‘She must live,’ Tony said.

  Sasha looked at him; her expression was the same as when she had been crouching over the Cetnik prisoner on the retreat from Uzice, and this time he knew she was going to disobey him. But then they suddenly heard a sound on the far side of the stream. Sasha looked up, and saw men standing there. They were relatively clean-shaven. ‘We thought we’d never find you, Captain Janitz,’ one of them said. Tony gave a sigh of relief.

  ‘He is quite distraught,’ Ulrich said into the telephone. This was a private line, linking the Belgrade office to Berlin. ‘Nothing matters save the return of his daughter.’

  ‘He is not the man we once thought he was,’ Heydrich said. ‘Perhaps it was the murder of his wife. Perhaps it was the Russian front. Who can say? He will be retired.’

  ‘And the g
irl, Herr General?’

  ‘She has caused enough trouble. This whole business is setting up to be a colossal propaganda coup for these Partisans. This must not happen.’

  ‘You mean, we just leave her with them? They may well execute her.’

  ‘Of course. But it occurs to me that we could make this proposed exchange work to our advantage. You will agree to it, as Blintoft wishes. You will have the woman Fouquet with you. As she is the man Davis’s lover, there can be no doubt he will be present when you meet. There is even a faint chance that Tito himself may attend. This will be your chance, Ulrich, to achieve great glory. You will have the opportunity to wipe out the leaders of this band of vipers at one blow.’

  ‘Ah … I am only allowed to take six men with me, Herr General.’

  ‘Six soldiers, Captain. But here is another thought. You still hold the man Kostic, do you not? Under sentence of death?’

  ‘Yes, Herr General. He is to be part of the exchange.’

  ‘Exactly. Have a talk with him. Remind him that if he is returned to the Partisans, as they wish, they will certainly execute him for treason. Whereas if he were to cooperate with us, his death sentence would be lifted. He will agree to this. Then give him a concealed weapon, and you have a hidden reserve.’

  ‘It will still be highly dangerous.’

  ‘War is a dangerous business, Captain. But here is another thought. You are in touch with the Cetniks, are you not?’

  ‘Major Wassermann had a contact,’ Ulrich said cautiously.

  ‘Who is known to you?’

  ‘Yes, Herr General.’

  ‘Very good. Get hold of this contact, and inform him of the coming exchange, and the date given to you by the Partisans. Tell him that you would like him and some of his people to be present – perhaps under the guise of wanting to keep in touch with the Partisans – just to make sure there is no treachery. But if there is treachery, they will be required to support you. Then all you have to do is make sure there is treachery.’

  Ulrich thought of his wife, waiting patiently in Hamburg for his return. ‘Yes, Herr General. You understand that Fräulein von Blintoft will die?’

  ‘I wish her to die, Ulrich, just as I wish Fouquet and Davis to die. Just make sure that the Fräulein is killed by a Partisan bullet. Have the shot fired by Kostic. That will further discredit them. Report to me when the mission is completed.’

  ‘Yes, sir. May I enquire after Major Wassermann?’

  ‘He has survived his ordeal very well. I am told that he will recover. Given time.’

  ‘He will be very upset to learn of the death of his fiancée.’

  ‘We will not tell him until he is stronger. And then … if what has happened makes him hate the Partisans the more vehemently, that will be for the benefit of the Reich. I will wish you good fortune, Captain.’

  Ulrich stood in the doorway of cell thirty-one. ‘Well, mademoiselle, you are to be set free. Does that not please you?’ He held out a heavy coat, and threw a pair of boots on the floor. ‘It is very cold.’

  Sandrine did not move. ‘Do you expect me to believe you, Herr Captain?’

  ‘Yes. Because I am telling you the truth.’

  ‘You are going to set me free? Just like that?’

  ‘Well, actually, you are going to be exchanged. Your friends have captured Fräulein von Blintoft, and wish to exchange her for you. And some others.’

  ‘You have agreed to this?’

  ‘The general has, certainly.’

  Slowly Sandrine sat up. ‘Is Angela – Fräulein von Blintoft – all right?’

  ‘The Partisans say that she is in good health. We shall have to see. They also wish you to be in good health. But you are, are you not, mademoiselle?’

  Sandrine sat up, pulled on the boots, and then stood. Ulrich held the coat for her, and then the door. She stepped into the corridor, and faced Anke, who was also wearing a coat. Sandrine looked at Ulrich.

  ‘She will accompany us,’ Ulrich said.

  Sandrine looked past Anke at Svetovar, also fully dressed.

  ‘Him too,’ Ulrich said jovially. ‘And the Brolics. We will make a happy party, eh?’

  Sandrine walked in front of them along the corridor to the steps. She knew this had to be a trap. But was it a trap for her, or for Tony? She felt the tension begin to grow. But she could do nothing until the trap was sprung.

  ‘How do you feel?’ Tito sat by Tony’s bed.

  ‘Bloody awful, sir.’ Over the past couple of days he had been weaned off the painkillers.

  ‘But, as usual, you will recover. You are like the cat with nine lives, eh?’

  ‘Yes, sir. Have we heard from Belgrade?’

  ‘Oh, yes. They have agreed to the exchange.’

  ‘Just like that?’

  ‘Yes. I feel the same. Obviously they are up to something. But we will be ready for them.’

  ‘When will it happen?’

  ‘In three days’ time.’

  ‘I would like to be there.’

  Tito nodded. ‘I imagine you would. I think it can be arranged. Captain Janitz will make the actual handover, and receive Sandrine and the others. That includes Kostic.’

  ‘He is willing to do this?’

  ‘I do not suppose he had any choice. We gave them a list of who we wanted in exchange for the general’s daughter, and they accepted.’

  ‘And when we have him?’

  ‘Oh, he will be court-martialled. But really, his crime was that of overeagerness and disobedience of orders. We cannot condemn him for anything he may have told the Gestapo under torture. Now, I have a visitor for you.’

  Tony raised his eyebrows, and even more so when Curtis entered the room. Tito left them, and the major said, ‘I see you have been in the wars again, Colonel.’

  ‘It’s my business. What brings you to Foca?’

  ‘Actually, General Mihailovic has sent a small party, at my suggestion, to make his peace with Tito. He wishes to make it clear that the attempt to prevent your withdrawal from Uzice was not authorised by him, but was due to a misunderstanding of his orders.’

  ‘And Tito has accepted that?’

  ‘Well, I’m sure it is true. But there is another reason: this exchange.’

  ‘You know about that?’

  ‘Our agents in Belgrade reported it. Apparently, it is the talk of the city. It will be quite a coup – if you pull it off.’

  ‘We’ll pull it off.’

  ‘Don’t you suspect that the Jerries may have a trick up their sleeve?’

  ‘We are prepared for that.’

  ‘Well, do you mind if I come along, with my people?’

  ‘You mean Mihailovic’s people.’

  ‘They are Cetniks, yes.’

  ‘And why should you wish to be present?’

  ‘Well, were there to be any treachery, we would hope to intervene. I understand you are limited to six soldiers. But nothing was said about us not being present. The Nazis cannot object to that.’

  Tony considered. ‘How many men do you have with you?’

  ‘Six privates and a major. A man I think you know. His name is Matovic.’

  ‘I remember Matovic. Not my favourite person. I’m surprised he had the cheek, or the guts, to come here.’

  ‘He volunteered. And he’s a good soldier.’

  ‘Well, Major, I will discuss your proposal with General Tito. But you need to understand that you will be held responsible for the behaviour of your Cetniks.’

  ‘They are under my command, and will do as I wish,’ Curtis said stiffly.

  ‘I would not trust a Cetnik further than I can spit,’ Sasha declared. ‘They killed seven of my girls.’

  ‘And you killed several of them,’ Tony reminded her gently. ‘What do you think, General?’

  ‘Oh, they are up to something; their turning up here immediately before we make the exchange, and wishing to be present, indicates that.’

  ‘You think Curtis is part of it?’

&
nbsp; ‘No. He is an honest man. But as I said once before, he is also a dupe, because he believes all other men are as honest as himself. But I think it might be a good idea to play along for a while. If by any chance Mihailovic has decided to come off the fence and join forces with us, well, I do not think that is an opportunity we can afford to pass up.’

  ‘And if he is going the other way?’

  Tito grinned. ‘Then I think it will be a good opportunity to find out.’

  The general left, and Sasha would have followed him, but Tony caught her hand. ‘I haven’t seen much of you recently.’

  ‘I would have thought you had seen far too much of me,’ she said. ‘And I have been busy, guarding our prisoner.’

  ‘What have you done to her?’

  ‘What she would no doubt have done to me, had I been her prisoner. Do not worry; she is not harmed, visibly. Does this make you angry?’

  ‘I could never be angry with you, Sasha.’

  ‘You are my commanding officer. I did my duty.’

  ‘In everything?’

  Her lips twisted. ‘It is often a pleasure to do one’s duty.’

  ‘And now?’

  ‘I will continue to do my duty as required. But I am assuming that, once Sandrine returns, what you require of me will be less onerous than recently.’

  She made to free her hand, but he tightened his fingers. ‘I reckon you think I am all kinds of bastard.’

  Now she did free her hand. ‘Not at all. You are just a man.’ She went to the door, looked over her shoulder. ‘But it was a pleasure, sir.’

  ‘What did you see?’ Tito asked the captain in charge of the reconnaissance patrol.

  ‘As they were instructed, General. Two command cars, six soldiers and a captain, one female gaoler, and six civilians.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘That is all, General.’

  ‘You waited to make sure no one was following?’

  ‘Yes, General. There was no one following.’

  ‘Thank you. Dismissed.’ Tito looked at Tony, who lay on a stretcher beside him on the hillside overlooking the shallow valley through which a rough track wound its way. The Partisan doctors had patched him up as well as they were able, and his life was no longer in danger, although it would be some time before he was again fit for duty. But this exchange was more Tony’s business than that of any other man in the army, and Tito had had him brought to the rendezvous. ‘What do you think?’