The Game of Treachery

by Christopher Nicole

  ‘What a defiant creature you are, Fräulein. You are going to work for me, because if you do not, I am going torture your lover to death, very, very slowly.’

  Joanna’s head jerked. ‘What a charming man you are, Weber. But surely even you have to arrest Liane before you can torture her?’

  ‘Liane de Gruchy is in our Gestapo cells in Paris at this moment, awaiting interrogation. I received the news yesterday, but I commanded the local commander, Colonel Roess, not to proceed until I had spoken with you. I was already planning this talk, you see.’

  ‘You expect me to believe this?’

  ‘Why do you not check it out? Here is the number to call.’

  Joanna took the card. ‘I will be allowed to speak with her?’

  ‘Certainly. But I must tell you that she resisted arrest, and is not in good condition. We are doing our best to put her back together, but these things take time …’

  Joanna picked up the phone, asked for the number. It took some time to get through, during which Weber smiled at her benevolently. When she was connected, and asked for Colonel Roess, there was more delay. But at last a man said, ‘Roess.’

  ‘I have a Herr Weber with me. I have been told that I may speak with Fräulein de Gruchy.’

  ‘I would have to receive that instruction from himself, Fräulein.’

  ‘He wishes to speak with you.’ Joanna handed over the phone.

  ‘Ah, Roess. Yes, it will be in order for Fräulein Jonsson to speak with de Gruchy.’ He smiled at Joanna. ‘She works for us, but as you know, the two ladies are acquainted.’ He handed the phone back.

  ‘If you will hold on.’

  There was another wait, and then a woman’s voice, speaking very low, said, breathlessly, ‘Yes?’

  It was impossible to identify Liane’s voice: the speaker was clearly under a great deal of stress. ‘This is Joanna.’

  ‘Joanna? Oh, my God, Joanna! Joanna …’

  ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘I …’ The voice hesitated, and Joanna supposed Liane must be looking at the men to either side of her. ‘Yes. I … I am all right. But Joanna, can’t you help me? As you helped me at Auchamps?’

  Joanna frowned. ‘I’ll try,’ she said. ‘But in Auchamps we had Aubrey to help us, remember?’

  ‘Ah … yes, I remember. Oh, to have Aubrey here to help me again. I love you, Jo. I have always loved you. I will always love you.’

  ‘As I will always love you,’ Joanna said. ‘I’ll be in touch.’ She replaced the phone. ‘Looks like you hold all the high cards, Weber. What do you wish me to do?’

  ‘Just two things. The first, as I have said, is to tell no one, however remotely connected with the war, who and what Christine von Ulstein is. Just forget she exists. At least for another month. Now, is that difficult?’

  ‘It doesn’t sound so. And the other?’

  ‘This will be your real task from now on. I will give you an envelope to carry with you to England. Once there you will mail it. Nothing more than that. The address is an accommodation, but will reply to … I assume you stay in a hotel in London?’

  ‘I use the Dorchester.’

  ‘That is capital. Nothing could be better. Then there is no need to write anything. Just place the envelope I shall give you in one of the Dorchester envelopes and mail that. Then bring the reply back to Berlin.’

  ‘You mean you are employing me as a courier.’

  ‘Yes. We know that the British MI5 open all mail going in or out of the country. But if you mail something from such a reputable hotel, to an address within England, and receive a reply to that address, no one will think twice.’

  ‘And if I were to be found out?’

  ‘You would be deported. They would not dare harm a prominent American citizen, any more, well …’

  ‘Than you would. And my reward is Liane’s freedom?’

  ‘Well, no, I cannot promise that, at least not immediately. She is a sworn enemy of the Reich. But I can promise you her survival, until this war is over, when you and she will be able to resume your lives together.’

  ‘You think she will be able to survive a concentration camp?’

  ‘She will not be in a concentration camp. You have my word. As long as you play straight with us, we will play straight with you. ‘

  ‘And you say this is for a month?’

  ‘As a courier? Why, I would hope for an ongoing situation. The month applies to Christine.’

  ‘You intend to take her out of there in a month?’

  ‘Ah … yes. The matter will be sorted out in a month.’

  Joanna appeared to consider. Then she sighed, and said, ‘OK, Herr Weber. I’ll play your little game for you.’

  ‘Excellent. Now you may ring down for a bottle of champagne and we will celebrate our partnership. And as we are going to be partners, why do you not take off that dressing gown? I have always wanted to share a bed with a lesbian.’

  *

  ‘Joanna!’ Madeleine said. ‘I have been trying to get hold of you for days, but you are never there.’

  ‘I was there.’ Joanna, having embraced her friend, stepped back to look at her. ‘You’re looking swell. But shouldn’t you be bigger?’

  ‘No, no. It is my first, and I am only just coming up to six months. Come and sit down. Hilda! Coffee.’

  Joanna sat beside her on the settee. ‘I’ve actually come to say goodbye. I’m leaving tomorrow. For Sweden.’

  ‘Oh! Will you be coming back?’

  ‘It’s possible. Now tell me, any news from Russia?’

  ‘Oh, yes. I had a letter only a couple of days ago.’

  ‘And is all going as well as it says in the news bulletins?’

  ‘Oh, yes. They still reckon on being in Moscow in another month. But Freddie says the weather’s not so good; it’s raining a lot of the time, and the transport keeps getting bogged down. But what have you been doing? You say you’ve been at the Albert all this time, and haven’t been able to speak to me?’

  ‘There’s been a lot going on. Have you ever heard of a character named Weber? First name Oskar.’

  ‘I don’t think so. Don’t tell me you’ve got a boyfriend.’

  ‘You must be joking. But he thinks he’s got a girlfriend.’

  She waited while Hilda brought in the coffee, and as usual opened the door after the maid had left. Madeleine watched her with a quizzical expression. ‘Now, Joanna —’

  ‘Keep your voice down.’ Joanna sat beside her. ‘He’s some kind of super-secret policeman.’

  ‘You mean Gestapo? Oh, my God! They’re on to you. To us.’

  ‘They’re not on to anything. He’s not Gestapo. He’s more important. When he snaps his fingers, the Gestapo jump.’

  ‘The SS! They’re worse. What have they done to you?’

  ‘Do I look as if anything has been done to me? Except for being fucked by that creep.’ Madeleine’s mouth made a huge O. ‘Oh, yes,’ Joanna said. ‘He exercised some kind of droit de seigneur because he reckons I’m working for him. I could have rung his neck, but I figured it wouldn’t be politic.’

  ‘You, are working for the Nazis?’

  ‘I said, he thinks I am. And he has some fairly conclusive arguments. So what’s more powerful than the SS?’

  ‘Only the SD.’

  ‘Say again?’

  ‘The Sicherheitsdienst. They’re the ultimate. No one even knows who belongs to it, except I suppose Hitler and Himmler. And perhaps Heydrich. If you’re involved with them …’

  ‘Let me worry about that. Have you been to Bordeaux to visit your parents?’

  ‘Well, no. I’m not sure they want to see me. I did write them, but they never replied.’

  ‘I think you should go down there. Now.’

  ‘In my condition?’

  ‘Pregnant women do travel, you know. And you’d be going first class the whole way.’

  ‘Well, I’ll think about it.’

  ‘I want you to go. Right away.�
��

  ‘Why is it so important? I should have thought it would be better to wait until after I’ve had the baby. That would give me a real reason for going.’

  ‘We can’t wait that long. You have to be there by the end of next week at the latest.’

  Madeleine stared at her. ‘You’re up to something. You’re trying to make me commit treason again. Well, I won’t do it. I told you, I’m finished with that.’

  ‘Madeleine darling, you are committing treason, to France, every day that you sit here in this lovely apartment being a German aristocrat.’

  ‘Oh, you … you are so hateful.’

  ‘I’m trying to save your family from destruction. Now listen. Are there people, servants or employees, in Paulliac who are trustworthy?’

  ‘Well … I suppose so.’

  ‘Right. I will draw you a map.’

  ‘Of Paulliac? Don’t be absurd. I was born there.’

  ‘Of a certain area at the south end of the Massif Central. That is where Amalie and Pierre are living, with Jean Moulin and a group of patriots.’

  Madeleine’s eyes were enormous. ‘Amalie? But …’

  ‘She is not dead. She pretended to commit suicide, and then went off with Liane.’

  ‘But she was in Paulliac.’

  ‘So was Liane, briefly, only no one knew it, except Amalie. It’s a long story, and I can’t go into it now.’

  ‘And she is with Liane and the bandits who blew up that train?’

  ‘She is with her brother and sister. Your brother and sister, Madeleine. Now, from what Weber told me, I am pretty damned sure that the Germans intend to raid that camp and wipe them out.’

  ‘But the Massif Central is in Vichy.’

  ‘Sure it is, but I’m also pretty damned sure that when push comes to shove Vichy will do no more than protest at a German raid into their territory, especially if, as it will be, it is represented as the necessary elimination of a bunch of terrorists. You have got to get a message to them warning them of their danger, and telling them to move out and go some place else. I do not think the raid is going to take place for a month, so you have time, just.’

  Madeleine stared into her coffee cup. ‘You are asking me to betray Frederick again. Betray the Reich.’

  ‘I am asking you, I am begging you, to warn your own family of their danger.’

  ‘They are terrorists. You said so yourself.’

  ‘I said that is how the Germans will describe them. They are still your flesh and blood. And you will not be betraying Germany. What real harm can a handful of outlaws do to the mighty Reich?’

  ‘Suppose they blow up another train?’

  ‘Is that likely? It is nearly a year since they blew up the last one. It was an act of defiance. Now they are wanted men. And women. Will you not allow them to survive?’

  Madeleine sighed. ‘I will be taking a great risk.’

  ‘You? What risk can Madeleine von Helsingen possibly take?’ Joanna put her arm round her and gave her a hug. ‘I knew I could rely on you.’

  *

  ‘You look pleased with yourself,’ Heydrich remarked. ‘How did you get on with your American friend?’

  ‘Very well. She is now working for us.’

  ‘Indeed? Did you persuade her to keep quiet about Ulstein?’

  ‘She fell for my ploy. Would you like to hear about it?’

  ‘Not particularly. How is she working for us?’

  ‘As a courier. She is the perfect material. She leaves for Sweden today, and thence England, taking a letter for Burton.’

  ‘And you really think you can trust her? Burton is a good man. I would not like to lose him.’

  ‘I believe I can trust her, because of the hold I have established over her. But Burton is in no danger, because I am taking no risks. The letter she is carrying is a blank sheet of paper except for the words “reply in kind”. If she brings a reply, we are in business. If she does not … well, she knows the consequences. Or she thinks she does.’

  ‘If she betrays us, the British will watch the accommodation address until he turns up.’

  ‘And if they arrest him, what have they got? A blank sheet of paper, which is hardly incriminating. There is not a shred of evidence to suggest that the letter she mailed came from anywhere but the Dorchester Hotel. But I repeat, I am quite sure she will not betray us.’

  ‘Very good. I will take your word for it.’

  ‘And, of course,’ Weber said, ‘once she carries out this mission, she is ours completely. Even the Americans will disown her if they were to find out, or be informed, that she is a German agent.’

  ‘You could be right. Anyway, her importance ceases to exist in a month’s time. Monsieur Laval has agreed to our removing the guerillas from Vichy territory.’

  ‘That is splendid.’

  ‘Yes. But it is also delicate. The Vichy government must not be involved in any way; it appears that there is a considerable anti-German sentiment, and Laval fears civil unrest if it were known that he was collaborating in the elimination of these thugs. This means that our government cannot be involved either. Thus we are talking of a wholly covert and indeed illegal operation. All we have been able to obtain from Laval is a promise that his government will do nothing more than formally protest at our action, and that, should anything go wrong and any of our people be arrested by the Vichy police, they will be returned to us as rapidly as possible, without being brought to trial. Our people must go in, complete the job, and be out again in five hours.’

  Weber nodded. ‘The commander of this force will have to be very carefully briefed.’

  ‘That is what I have just done.’ Weber sat up straight. ‘I am not asking you to go in with guns blazing,’ Heydrich said. ‘Unless you feel like doing so. But I am placing you in overall command of the operation, and I require you to be on the scene, even if discreetly in the background, to make sure that the job is properly carried out. Laval will keep his promise, I am certain, but there will still be considerable adverse publicity. It took me some time to get permission. Heinrich was uncertain. Fortunately the Führer was for it, but equivocally so. What I am saying is that we are being given this one opportunity. Therefore it must be a one hundred per cent success.’

  ‘I understand. What do I have? Gestapo people?’

  ‘No. I have no confidence in their ability to carry out something like this. You are being given a company of the ss.’

  ‘A company.’

  ‘There are, so far as we know, only thirty-odd of these creatures. You will also have support from the Wehrmacht. You will liaise with the local commander, Colonel Hoeppner. But your people will not wear uniform. Apart from this, I leave the details up to you. Requisition whatever you need, but get the job done.’

  Weber nodded, thoughtfully. ‘And the date?’

  ‘That is your decision. We wish the business completed by the end of September.’

  ‘That is five weeks away.’

  ‘It is also seven weeks after the St Valery raid. We must give as many of the guerillas as possible time to get home.’

  ‘Understood. However, I will leave for Bordeaux the day after tomorrow.’

  ‘Just remember, Oskar, that no one is to know of this raid until it takes place. You will inform Hoeppner personally, and the SS unit will be on a training exercise. My secretary will give you the necessary written instructions to show to their commanding officer when you choose, but you should leave it as late a possible. And remember also that anything less than the total destruction of these people, in a single five-hour period, will be regarded as a failure.’

  *

  ‘Well,’ Rachel said. ‘Look who the cat brought in, sir.’

  Joanna, standing in the doorway of the office, looked from face to face. ‘Say again?’

  ‘I say,’ remarked the man behind the desk. ‘Who is this woman? And how can she come barging in like this?’

  Joanna stared at him in stupefaction. His voice was a trifle high, he was
slightly built and not very tall, he had sandy hair and a small sandy moustache … Anyone less like James Barron could not be imagined. Rachel got up from her desk. ‘This, sir, is Joanna Jonsson. Pound Three. Jonsson, this is Major Herbert Lockridge. Our new Pound One.’

  ‘Pound Three,’ Lockridge said. ‘The brigadier mentioned her. Said she was … ah …’

  ‘A loose cannon, is his usual description, sir.’

  ‘Where is James?’ Joanna inquired.

  ‘Ahem,’ Lockridge remarked.

  ‘Major Lockridge,’ Rachel explained, ‘wishes our affairs to be conducted in a proper fashion, remembering always that we are a military establishment. He does not regard the use of Christian names in the office to be conducive to discipline.’

  ‘Look,’ Joanna said. ‘Cut the bullshit.’

  ‘Here, I say.’

  ‘We have got to move very fast,’ Joanna said. ‘Now tell me where James is.’

  ‘Major Barron is listed as missing in action,’ Rachel said.

  Joanna stared at her. ‘Missing in action? Oh, Jesus! Don’t tell me he went on that raid?’

  ‘Yes, he did.’

  ‘I say,’ Lockridge protested. ‘That is classified.’

  ‘So am I,’ Joanna told him. ‘Didn’t you get my message?’

  ‘Yes,’ Rachel said. ‘But there was no means of aborting.’

  ‘You mean the Resistance bought it too?’

  ‘We don’t know. We have heard nothing from them since.’

  ‘Holy shit!’ Then what she had sent Madeleine to do might be a total, and dangerous, waste of time.

  ‘Now look here,’ Lockridge said in an effort to take control. ‘How do you know all of this stuff? And why are you here?’

  ‘I am here, Major, because I have vital information to give you.’ She looked at Rachel. ‘You can just stand there, cool as a duck, and tell me that James could be dead and all his people wiped out? You!’

  Rachel bit her lip. ‘I feel like shit.’ She glanced at Lockridge. ‘I am sorry, sir. But Major Barron was my friend. I felt like shit at the time, and I still do. But we don’t know for certain that he is dead. I felt I had to carry on.’ There were tears in her eyes.

  ‘OK,’ Joanna said. ‘You’re a gutsy chick. Now tell me about Liane. Were you able to contact her?’