‘Please do.’
‘You want me to help more with the Jewish mothers and babies,’ said Clara, feeling braver now she knew the men weren’t the authorities. Resistance she assumed.
‘Not quite,’ said Max. ‘Today a pregnant woman came to your clinic. Frau Müller. We need you to get close to her and find out certain information.’
Clara hoped her expression remained neutral. She wasn’t ready to reveal anything just yet. ‘What information?’
‘Her husband works in the housing department. He is in charge of relocating Jewish residents,’ said Karl, finally sitting down at the table.
‘We want you to visit Frau Müller at home. You will have to find a reason to do so. Insist on a home visit or something,’ said Max. ‘Her husband, Hans Müller takes work home with him. At six o’clock every evening, he takes a stroll around the neighbourhood with their pet dog. When he does this, you need to get copies of his records. We need to know who is being transferred, when and where, so we can move them to a safe house.’
Clara looked between the two men again. She thought of Friedrich and what he would think if he knew she was being asked this. More importantly, what would happen if she were caught. He would be arrested too. If he was found complicit .?.?. she didn’t want to think of the consequences. ‘I don’t think I can help you,’ she said.
‘That is not the right answer.’ Max took a cigarette packet from his pocket. He offered one to Clara.
‘No. I don’t smoke.’
Max lit his cigarette. His actions slow and deliberate. He took in a deep draw, holding it for a few seconds before blowing the smoke out into the room. ‘You don’t really have a choice.’
‘I can’t influence which patients I’m assigned to,’ said Clara. ‘It is not up to me.’
‘Why do you think you were assigned to see Frau Müller this morning?’ asked Max.
Clara was sure her heart missed a beat. ‘What?’ How on earth did they know that? She looked across the table. Max took another long lazy draw on his cigarette. And then it dawned on her. Frau Lange had made it happen. ‘Oh.’
‘Ah, now you get it,’ said Max. ‘So, you see. You can absolutely do this. All you need to do is arrange for a home visit.’
‘It’s not just that,’ said Clara. ‘My husband. I can’t put him in danger. It’s not my decision to make.’
‘Don’t even think about talking to him,’ said Karl.
Clara shrank back. Of the two men, Karl seemed more hostile and intimidating. ‘I wasn’t,’ she said. ‘But if I’m caught he will be arrested and questioned. Maybe imprisoned if they think his wife is working against the machine. He isn’t part of this.’
‘You have already made him part of this by helping the Jewish women. Maybe you should have thought about that first,’ said Karl.
‘If you don’t help us, he could still be arrested and questioned,’ said Max. ‘We can make things happen.’
Clara realised she was faced with a fait accompli. ‘I don’t appear to have any choice in this.’
‘Not really, but it would be better if you would do it willingly, then we really know we can trust you,’ said Max. ‘You have a lot to prove, being married to a German officer.’
‘Why me though?’ asked Clara. ‘Why not ask someone else?’
Karl gave a snort of laughter. ‘They told me you were an intelligent woman,’ he scoffed. ‘We can’t just go and ask anyone. You are the Angel of Life. You are trusted on both sides. You are our asset.’
Clara thought she should feel flattered at being considered an asset, but she wasn’t sure she would prove to be. It was one thing helping women give birth, but another stealing official documents.
‘Think of it like this,’ said Max. ‘You getting the information we need will help save many lives. It is doing what you’re already doing but on a larger scale. We can continue your work. We are another part of the chain in keeping Jewish women and children safe. You need to get that information.’
Clara nodded. ‘I understand.’
‘So, you are going to help us willingly?’ pressed Max.
Again, Clara nodded. ‘Yes. Yes, I am.’
Chapter 11
Clara spent another thirty minutes or so in the back room of the café, listening to Max’s instructions on what exactly she was looking for and how she would copy and pass the information onto him.
