Page 37 of Shadows In Paris
Hannah had planned that message carefully, after she secured the position as secretary to the second in command. She presented her request as a way for London to receive hand-picked intelligence on the Wehrmacht’s operations straight from German High Command. On top of that irresistible bait, Hannah made it clear she was going ahead anyway and therefore would be engaged elsewhere. The Liberty Network would lose the momentum they had gained in sabotaging German railways and transport systems around Paris. There were no other members of the network who were equipped and available to lead the network without her.
Fortunately, the SOE recognised the incredible opportunity, and Hannah was relieved when they agreed to sendbackup. She had called London’s bluff and had no intention of stopping the network’s operations, but it would be far easier this way.
Now Hannah could focus on her daytime role, and Lizzie would keep things running with her guidance. The network’s activities and nighttime strikes would continue with or without Hannah’s presence.
At the top of the shiny marble stairs, Hannah turned a sharp right, pausing only for a second to gain her bearings and scan the area. Then she resumed her brisk pace and arrived at a polished wood door with her new boss’s name inscribed on a gold plate.
Hannah knocked and when a woman’s voice called for her to enter, she opened the door to reveal the major general’s secretary, typing at a large, neat desk.
The woman looked up expectantly and then rose from her desk. Hannah saw the recognition dawn on her pale pinched face from when Hannah attended the recent interview.
‘Good morning. Welcome to German High Command,’ she said. ‘Herr Major General isn’t in the office yet, but you should see him this afternoon.’
The secretary seemed nervous. She showed Hannah around the office and explained that she would clear her desk by the end of the day.
‘Thank you so much. This is such an opportunity. You must be sorry to leave such a wonderful position.’
They spoke in French, and the secretary said she was indeed extremely sorry. She was devoted to the regime but had to leave because of ill health.
The hateful words choked Hannah, but she gave no outward appearance of disdain, and the secretary seemed assured she would replace her adequately in serving her Nazi boss. The secretary talked of him as though he were theMessiah, and Hannah wondered how she could be devoted to such a man.
The morning passed quickly as the secretary explained the role in detail and showed her how to perform the various tasks that would be required.
‘Herr Major General likes his coffee dark and sweet. He gets irritated if it’s not made properly, so let me show you exactly how to make it for him.’
The deference the French woman showed the Nazi brute made Hannah feel queasy, but she played her role impeccably as she watched the pandering secretary prepare the coffee.
Then she insisted on watching Hannah do the same.
‘It won’t do to upset him. His temper can be quite harsh,’ she said.
For a second, Hannah fantasised about throwing the hot black coffee in his arrogant face, and then wringing his neck.
She chided herself. It wouldn’t do to get carried away, no matter how much she despised her new boss.
‘Would you like a cup of coffee, Collette? Collette is such a beautiful name, by the way,’ the secretary said, flushing slightly as she complimented Hannah.
‘Thank you. Yes, I would love a cup.’
They stood by the large window, holding their coffee. The frost-covered Eiffel Tower twinkled in the sun and loomed in the Paris sky like an avenging giant.
‘The coffee is wonderful,’ Hannah said. ‘I don’t think I’ve tasted coffee this good since early in the war, before supplies ran out.’
‘Yes, we are fortunate Herr Major General commands only the best for our office. The entire building is entitled to the best coffee and food supplies. That’s one benefit of working here,’ she said, as if the Nazis hadn’t stolen her country.
Hannah’s hands itched to shake the collaborating secretary, who had clearly sold her own people out.
‘Herr Major General is so generous’ she gushed, oblivious to Hannah’s contempt. ‘You may eat lunch here and I recommend you do. It’s delicious and there’s plenty of choice.’
Hannah’s stomach rumbled at the mention of plentiful food, despite her disgust at the woman’s eagerness to accommodate the Germans.
‘That sounds excellent,’ Hannah said. ‘It’s difficult to get a good meal in Paris these days.’
‘You won’t have to worry about that now. I admit I will miss it tremendously. Back to ersatz coffee and dry bread for me,’ she said.
‘Do you intend to return to work when you recover?’ Hannah asked.
The woman looked suddenly miffed. ‘I want to, but unfortunately, Herr Major General says it is out of his hands.’
