They walked on in a tense silence, every shadow seeming to hide watching eyes, every distant sound making Clara’s pulse quicken. When Friedrich finally stopped about five minutes from the pickup point, Clara felt her courage wavering.
‘Are you sure this is the only option?’ she asked, her heart hammering so hard she was certain he could hear it.
‘You know it is,’ Friedrich said softly, pulling her into the shadows of a doorway. His kiss was desperate and desperately brief. ‘I’ll see you tonight at the border. Don’t be scared. I won’t let you down.’
Clara nodded, fighting back tears. She wanted to cling to him, to draw strength from his presence, but even at this early hour, they couldn’t risk being seen and remembered.
Rising on her tiptoes, she kissed him one last time. ‘I know you won’t let me down. I’ve always trusted you.’ Her voice caught. ‘I love you.’
Before she could lose her nerve, she took her bag from him and stepped out from their hiding place.
Clara rounded the corner and crossed the road, as she headed for the pickup point. It would only take another five minutes, but she had never felt so alone as she did then, walking away from her husband. From the one person who had always protected her and stood by her.
The early morning dawn light was beginning to pierce the night sky, but the shadows in the narrow street seemed to swallow what little illumination there was. Clara pulled her coat tighter. She glanced back over her shoulder. The street stretched empty behind her, silent except for the distant rumble of an early tram.
She chided herself for being so nervous. How would she possibly deceive anyone if just walking down a street was making her jump at shadows?
Without warning, a hand shot out from a shop doorway, seizing her arm and yanking her sideways. She opened her mouth to scream, but another hand clamped over it, muffling her cry as she was dragged into the recessed entrance.
Thoughts of what had happened with Fuchs raced through her mind, making her fight back with all her might. She tried to pull the hand from her mouth but was shoved face up against the door. She kicked back with her heel. The assailant grunted and swore.
‘Be quiet!’ hissed a familiar voice. ‘It’s me. Max.’
Clara was spun around to face him. In the dim light, his face was haggard, his eyes filled with suspicion.
‘I’m going to move my hand away,’ Max said. ‘Don’t scream.’
Clara nodded frantically. When he released her, she gasped for air. ‘What on earth are you doing?’
‘Keep your voice down,’ Max snapped pressing closer. ‘Do you want the whole street to hear us?’
‘Maybe don’t grab women off the street,’ shot back Clara, her fear rapidly turning to anger. ‘Maybe next time, cough politely and make yourself known.’
‘So you can run away or call for backup?’
‘What are you talking about? Anyway, what are you doing here?’ She was very aware she couldn’t be late at the pickup point and this little interlude with Max was only going to hold her up.
‘I could ask you the same question.’ His eyes narrowed, studying her face in the shadows. ‘Out for an early morning stroll, are we?’
Clara’s patience snapped. ‘I don’t have time for games, Max. I’m expected somewhere and I can’t be late.’
‘What happened the other night?’ The question came out like an accusation.
‘Paul?’ Clara’s voice caught on his name.
‘Who else?’ Max’s jaw clenched. ‘My friend is dead and, somehow, you walked away without a scratch. Funny how that works.’
‘Paul came to my apartment asking for help. There was a woman, supposedly in labour.’
‘Supposedly?’
‘It was a trap.’ Clara’s voice broke as memories flooded back. ‘Brandt – former colleague of mine who has never liked me, was waiting. She had a gun. Marie tried to save me. And Paul died helping us escape.’
Max’s expression didn’t soften. ‘Convenient story. You survive, they don’t.’
‘How dare you!’ The words came out as a venomous whisper. ‘Paul redeemed himself. He chose to help me escape rather than complete Brandt’s trap. And Marie?’ Her voice cracked. ‘Marie claimed to be the Angel of Life to protect me.’
‘You forgot something important.’ Max stepped closer, his breath hot against her face. ‘You’re married to a Nazi officer. Maybe you’ve been working for them all along.’
