Page 34 of One Last Step

“Have a good evening, Mary.”

He turns around, and we both come face to face with a miffed Sophie.“Mary?The ice cream?”

I look at the ice cream to see it starting to melt.“Right.I apologize, Inspector, but as you can see, I have a serious matter to attend to.”

He smiles slightly.“Of course.I don’t want to keep you waiting.Good evening, Mary.”He nods at Sophie.“Miss Sophie.”

When the elevator door closes behind him, Sophie asks, “What did he want?”

“There’s been another theft,” I tell her.“Something called the Kaiser Wilhelm clock.”

Sophie wrinkles her nose.“That boring old thing?I don’t get it.It’s the least impressive clock we have.”

“Well, it was stolen, and your grandmother’s very upset, so please behave for her.No arguing, no attitude, and no incessant questioning.Save that for me.”

She giggles and says, “I will.If you can hurry up with my ice cream before it becomes ice cream soup.”

I hand her a bowl and say, “There.Happy now?”

She giggles again and takes a bite.“Now I am.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full.And go upstairs and put on a better movie.I’ll get myself a bowl and be up in a moment.”

***

That evening after Sophie falls asleep, I head straight to my room and pull out the journal.The plot in which this family is embroiled has become quite convoluted.It’s time to find some answers.

And if, along the way, I find some answers about my sister, then so much the better.

The next several entries are not related to the Museum and don't help me understand if Laura is my sister either.I read for nearly an hour and finish over a third of the journal before I come across something that captures my interest.

November 15th

My first actual snowfall in Geneva!I’m so excited!Carl says it doesn’t snow very much here, and there will never be more than a few inches on the ground, but that’s okay.It’s a much softer and prettier snow than I’m used to.The snow back home is aggressive.It’s like it’s trying to smother you.The snow here feels like it’s caressing you.I like that.

I visited the Museum again today.I think I’m getting an idea of how things went down.The German spies posed as antique buyers who met in Switzerland to take advantage of its neutrality.Carl says there’s no way they could have done that in the middle of a war.I love him so much, but he’s not cynical like I am.I absolutely believe that wealthy people could have bribed their way into pretty much whatever they wanted.

Anyway, I figured it out.The Museum operated as an antique store during the war.That was its front, anyway.Buyers would examine the clocks and leave messages in compartments.Then other buyers would retrieve those messages.The different clocks probably meant different types of messages.I don't know what yet, but if I can find one of the old hidden messages, then I'll know.

Well, that matches Sophie's story and confirms that intelligence agents from Germany used this Museum as a place to exchange messages.

But does that mean Elena is guilty of something?

Perhaps the answer to that has something to do with the secrets Margot and Elena argued about.Maybe Elena really does have reason to fear, and that’s why she’s so worried about Claudia.

Speaking of Claudia, I must find out if she is Annie’s daughter.This journal, I am sure, is Annie’s.The handwriting and style is Annie’s, but the subject matter is decidedly mundane.The notebook celebrates going to the market, enjoying the snow, and visiting museums.This little chase for Nazi messages is the most exciting thing Laura’s done so far.

But maybe Annie settled down.Maybe my sister finally found the happiness that eluded her overseas.Still, there’s no mention of a daughter.I suppose it could be that this journal was written prior to Claudia’s birth, but…

My eyelids droop, and I surrender to my body's need for sleep.The spirit, indeed, is willing, but the flesh is weak.

The last image in my mind before sleep takes me is that of Claudia’s amused smile, the one that looks so much like Annie’s.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Will you ever get married, Mary?”

I grin at my younger sister.“But I already am Mary?”

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