Page 57 of The Berlin Sisters
‘There was a failed attempt on the Führer’s life today.’
She trembled, thankful for her father’s touch as she realised what a dangerous position they were now in.
‘Hundreds of men are being arrested, and there will be more tomorrow,’ he whispered, directly in her ear, so low that she had to concentrate hard to hear him. ‘Noah is to be executed for treason.’
Her body stilled as her eyes filled with tears, her heart began to thud and the room swam around her. She dug her fingernails into her desk, leaning back into her father as he kept his hand on her back, steady, comforting her. He knew how much Noah had come to mean to her.
‘There must be something you can do to stop it,’ she whispered back.
‘There is nothing I can do,’ he murmured. ‘I’m sorry. They’re all to be executed by firing squad.’
A tear escaped the corner of her eye and she lifted her chin, fighting the emotions that were rippling inside of her. Noah had known the risks, and so had she, but for him to be caught and arrested so quickly? She couldn’t stop seeing it happening in her mind, his body being ricocheted by bullets, slumping over, his beautiful brown eyes lifeless as he fell to the ground.
Her father squeezed her shoulder, standing beside her for another moment before walking away, and she sat there, numb, digesting the fact that it had all been a failure. The risks she’d taken, the risks Noah had taken; it had all been for nothing.
‘Is something wrong?’
Ava blinked and quickly wiped her eyelashes with her finger, braving a small smile as she looked over at Greta, who was studying her with a puzzled expression on her face.
‘My father had news of a family friend who’s just passed away,’ she said. ‘It took me by surprise, that’s all.’
It wasn’t even a lie. As far as she knew, Noahwasalready gone.
‘Well, let me know if I can take over some of your typing for you,’ Greta said. ‘I can see how much it’s upset you.’
Ava only smiled and nodded, not trusting her voice. But as she shuffled the papers to her left, she saw that her hands were trembling so much there was no way she could resume her typing. She closed her eyes for a moment and took a couple of deep breaths, seeing Noah in her mind, remembering the last time they’d been together.
Noah had made it clear that he didn’t love her the way she’d fallen in love with him, but it didn’t stop her heart from breaking knowing that she would never see him again. And then her heart began to pound all over again as she looked up at the door,wondering if anyone was going to come in and look for her, wondering how long it would take for the SS to point the finger internally and ask who had access to information within the ministry.
Lieutenant Schwägermann entered the room, then disappeared into Goebbels’ office without pausing to look at or speak to any of the secretaries. He was in there for some time before storming out in a hurry.
‘Do you think something has happened?’ Ava overheard one of the other women whisper.
She closed her eyes again, trying to breathe, fighting against the feeling that she should walk out the door and run for the safety of their apartment. But she knew that if the SS wanted to find her, they would search for her everywhere, which meant that nowhere was safe. They knew where she was, they’d know where to find Hanna at the hospital, and they would know exactly where to find her mother, too.
Ava had held herself together for the rest of the day, but as she glanced at her wristwatch she was relieved to see that it was almost time to finish. There had been a steady stream of uniformed men coming in and out of the building for hours, but so far nothing had been said. And no one had come looking for her.
She had tidied up her papers before standing and reaching for her bag, when she felt someone watching her. Ava looked up and saw that Heinrich was standing in the doorway, his gaze trained on her.
She put her bag over her shoulder and collected her coat, before going over to him. He was smiling, but she still felt nervous, as if he might know something.
‘Heinrich! What a lovely surprise,’ she said, hating how false her voice sounded.
‘I was called back to Berlin,’ he said. ‘Have you heard what happened?’
She shook her head. ‘What has happened?’ Ava hoped he bought her look of innocence. ‘We’ve all wondered what’s going on, as there’s been a lot of activity in the building today but no one has told us anything. Is something wrong?’
‘Look after this one,’ Greta said as she passed them, leaving for the night. ‘She had some sad news today.’
Heinrich looked down at her, his eyebrows drawing together. ‘Sad news? What is she talking about?’
Ava’s pulse ignited as she looked up at him. ‘A family friend passed away. Father came to tell me earlier, he’d had news.’
‘This friend, was that the man you’d been to visit that evening I came looking for you? The one you took fruit to?’
She nodded, touching his arm and trying to distract him. ‘Yes, that was him, but Heinrich, you had something to tell me. I’m certain it’s more important than the news of my father’s old friend passing.’
Her smile and warm touch seemed to catch him off guard, just as she’d hoped.
