“Let’s sit down here,” he said, indicating the two comfortable chairs next to a low table.
As they settled in the chairs, he continued, “I’m sorry I couldn’t see you yesterday. I was out on an errand.” That word was common usage in their unit, code for “in a foreign place.”
“I suspected that,” she replied.
Like Diedre he was very direct, always got straight to the point. He asked, “Do you have an operation going in Berlin? One I should know about?”
“Sort of, but I had to see you at once for another reason. Valiant asked me to tell you certain things. Do you want to have his message first or last?”
“Is his message good news or bad?” William asked, a frown creasing his brow.
“In my opinion, it’s not good, it’s great.”
“Then let’s keep the great news for last. I want to know about the operation, Diedre. I trust you were going to clue me in?” This sounded like a question, and he raised a dark brow.
“Don’t I always!” she exclaimed, and shook her head slowly. “This one’s complicated, so I would like to begin at the beginning, which is not really where the operation started. You have a need to know.”
“Tell it the way you wish. You know very well I trust you implicitly. Anyway, your narratives are always very clear and to the point.” He leaned back in the chair and crossed his long legs. “Commence please, Lady Diedre.”
She smiled as she generally did when he used her title and gave great emphasis to it. It really didn’t matter to her how he addressed her.
Taking a deep breath, she said, “It all started some few weeks ago, when my sister-in-law, Cecily Swann, told me that her assistant, Greta Chalmers, was worried because her father and his second wife and two children were trapped in Berlin, couldn’t get out, and—”
“Are they Jewish?” he cut in. “Greta Chalmers doesn’t sound like a Jewish name.”
“They are all Jewish, yes. Let me fill you in quickly. A bit of background. Greta’s late mother was English and Jewish by religion. She lived in London and Berlin after her marriage to Professor Steinbrenner. Greta was sent to school in England when she was eight. After her mother died in London, the professor decided to let Greta remain there with her grandmother, to finish her education. This she did. She also fell in love with an Englishman, Roy Chalmers, and they married. She’s now widowed and—”
“Wants to get her father and his family out of Germany as quickly as possible. Correct?”
Diedre nodded, and then proceeded to tell him the entire story, starting with her own efforts with Tony Jenkins and their lack of success, and ending with Tony’s connections leading him to Princess Irina. She then explained that they met the Russian woman at the British embassy.
“Nobody was more surprised than I was, when I suddenly saw the admiral walking toward me at the reception,” Diedre announced. Pausing, she gave her boss a small, knowing smile. “But I’m sure the ambassador mentioned he saw me talking to Valiant, and at great length.”
“He did, and I told him I wasn’t surprised, since you were old friends, that you had known him through mutual friends. And since the early thirties.”
“I bet that surprised him,” Diedre said, and laughed.
William couldn’t suppress the smile that crossed his mouth. “Nobody ever fools you, do they? Of course Nevile was startled. He usually is when women have large roles to play in world events.”
“I don’t think he knows much about women. He’s never been married. Anyway, to finish up this story. I was talking to the admiral when Cecily came over. She wanted to know if she and Miles could have lunch with the professor and Sir Anthony Parry. I hesitated.”
“Because you thought something might come up about the professor going to England. That was it, wasn’t it?”
Diedre nodded. “I knew Cecily would not say a word, but I had no idea what the professor or Sir Anthony might bring up. Maybe things which would create problems.”
He nodded. “Continue, Diedre.”
“Valiant said he admired Sir Anthony, that it would be interesting to lunch with him. Cecily invited the admiral but he declined. I had realized that Valiant didn’t see anything wrong with the lunch. I suggested Cecily should check with Daphne, but that I was busy on Friday. Once we were alone, Canaris asked me why I had been hesitating about the lunch.”
“And you told him about the connection between Cecily and Greta, and an urgent need for exit papers.”
“I did. He wanted to know why I hadn’t approached him. I said he’d done so much for me already. I then indicated that Tony and the Russian princess were talking in the corner, that Tony was dealing with her. He told me she was good, that she would come to him anyway. And that I should consider the matter a done deal.”
“And where do we stand today?” William asked.
“I spoke to Tony this morning. He said it was more or less ready to go. The four new passports and exit visas would be handed to the professor by next Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest.”
“Well, that’s a relief. Good work, Diedre.”
“Thank you. But Tony’s doing the work.”
“Under your supervision.”
She inclined her head. “We’ve got a problem, Will.”
William Lawson sat up a little straighter in the chair, his dark intelligent eyes riveted on Diedre. “Can we solve it?”
“We have to. Immediately. Time is short. The Steinbrenners must leave next week, and the tickets have been bought, the train seats booked. And there’s going to be a crackdown in Berlin.”
“Tell me the problem, Diedre.”
“Tony indicated to me today that Mrs. Steinbrenner has cold feet. She’s frozen in place. Won’t go. She’s afraid they’ll be caught fleeing Berlin, and be shot.”
William let out a long sigh, shaking his head. “Surely she understands the hideous situation in Germany … the methodical mass murder of Jews.”
“I think I know what to do about her. But I’m afraid there’s another problem to solve. Sir Anthony has now told the professor that he can get them out, that he knows important people, politicians, and can pull strings.”
“Oh, Jaysus!” William exclaimed, adopting an Irish accent. After a moment’s thought, he asked quickly, “Does he know anything at all about Tony’s plans for the Steinbrenners?”
“No! No! Nobody knows. Tony drilled it into the four of them that it had to be a total secret, that no one could know, not even other family members.”
“So presumably the professor remained silent when Sir Anthony came up with this new idea? Why am I asking you that? Of course he said nothing, he’s too smart a man to confide that he had all the arrangements made to leave Germany.”
“That’s right. I did some checking … about Sir Anthony.”
“How?” William gave her a puzzled look.
“I phoned Great-Aunt Gwendolyn this morning. She knows Sir Anthony’s wife. Without giving her the real reason, I asked her to give me her opinion of Sir Anthony. She chuckled and said he was brilliant, a nice man, but that he was boastful, a braggart, always wanted to make himself look more important than he really was. She said he promised people things he could never fulfill … like get them asked to tea by the queen. Indeed, even get them an honor from the queen. Or have the prime minister make them an MP. As if that’s the way it works.”
Diedre began to laugh. “I must admit, for a ninety-eight-year-old, Great-Aunt Gwen’s really on her toes. She asked me why I wanted to know things about him, an obvious question. I just whispered that it was top secret, that she must keep this to herself. Naturally she agreed. She thinks I’m a spy.”
William was half laughing himself, when he said, “So now we know pulling strings was just an idle boast on the part of the academic. Thanks to Lady Gwendolyn.”
“That’s correct. I’m not worried too much about Sir Anthony anymore. However, going back to Mrs. Steinbrenner. I did feel concerned enough to speak to Cecily. She’d cal
led me earlier, and I found a reason to give her a ring later. I then asked her if I’d mistaken what she’d said about Mrs. Steinbrenner being a nervous, somewhat high-strung person. She said, no, that she had said that, and wanted to know why I was so interested in Greta’s stepmother.”
“I bet that was a tough one to answer,” William murmured, his eyes narrowing as he focused intently on Diedre.
“I’d thought of the reason before I called,” Diedre responded softly, eyeing him. “I explained that it was really for her sake, Cecily’s sake, that I’d been thinking about Greta. I had been wondering how Greta would react when she realized her family were not able to leave. I told Cecily she needed a plan if she was going to help Greta get through the trauma that was bound to ensue.”
“Did she believe you?”
“She did. She’s a brilliant woman, very intuitive. She confided that she had also been wondering the same thing. I suggested going to a psychiatrist for advice. And to learn how to handle trauma of that nature. I volunteered to go with her, to help her with Greta if I was needed.”
Diedre paused, cleared her throat, and went on. “Cecily thought the idea of a psychiatrist to guide us, and also help Greta, was the best solution. Later today, it suddenly struck me that insecure people only respond to authority and that we should get help from a psychiatrist when Mrs. Steinbrenner arrives in London. Cecily had pointed out to me earlier that nervous, insecure, highly strung people can be difficult. Greta’s stepmother will be in a new country, a foreign country, where everything is different, including the language.”
William had listened attentively. “Well, you do now have an important insight into Mrs. Steinbrenner, but how will this actually help you to defrost her? You say she’s frozen in place and won’t leave Berlin.”
“Good question, Will. What Cecily’s comments told me is that we can’t simply hand the passports, exit visas, and the train tickets over to the professor and send him and them on their way. The Steinbrenners have to be taken out of Berlin, and Mrs. Steinbrenner forcibly, if necessary.”
A look of genuine alarm spread across Will’s face. “Forcibly? Who’s going to do that? And wouldn’t it draw attention to them?”
“I don’t mean forcibly in the way you think. I shall have Tony inform the professor that he is going to accompany them on the train. Just to make sure all goes well. However, I fully intend to see Jerry Randell, my friend in intelligence at the American embassy. I’m going to ask him to arrange for Alexander Dubé to accompany them from Berlin to Paris.” Pausing for a moment, Diedre then continued, “Tony, if he wants, can leave the train in Aachen. Once he’s sure the Steinbrenners have crossed the border.”
Taking a deep breath, Diedre finished, “Alexander Dubé will be nice, but authoritative, and Tony will behave the same way. The professor will be told in advance that he must support them in this, and he will. And that’s it, boss.”
William Lawson sat staring at her for a long moment thinking she was undoubtedly one of the smartest people he had ever worked with. “Well done, Diedre. Well done, indeed. Extremely cleverly thought out, and you’ve covered everything to get the Steinbrenners away safely. And I know for a fact that Valiant will have made sure that the documents are perfect, cannot be challenged. And speaking of the valiant admiral, don’t you have a message for me from him?”
“I do, yes, Will. And what I’m thinking, now that it’s six o’clock, is that we leave here and go for a drink somewhere. I for one could use a glass of water.”
William grinned at her. “I think a glass of champagne might be more like it. You’ve talked yourself dry.” He stood up, and walked over to his desk, locked several drawers, pocketed the keys. “Let us wander over to the Ritz Hotel. The walk will do us good, as will the fresh air.”
“You’ve got a deal,” Diedre said, and thought to add, “I know it’s totally safe here, but even safer in a hotel bar. No eavesdroppers.”
* * *
Once they made themselves comfortable in the bar of the Ritz Hotel on Piccadilly, and ordered two glasses of pink champagne, Diedre said, “I want you to know that I trust Wilhelm Canaris implicitly. I’d trust him with my life. Do you feel the same way?”
Although he was momentarily taken aback by the question, William did not hesitate. “Of course I do. Absolutely. He’s true-blue, and we share the same code of honor. And he’s proven himself to me in the past.”
The champagne arrived, they clinked flutes and said cheers. After a few swallows, Diedre murmured, “Just before he left the party, our friend asked me if I could meet him for lunch the next day. We did meet at that restaurant near his office. We were joined by Hans Oster. After he left, our friend spoke to me about you.”
Diedre sat back, sipping her drink, recouping a little after her long story recited to him in the office.
William understood this, and simply did the same thing. He sipped his champagne and relaxed, knowing she was pulling herself together, in a sense catching her breath and going through the knowledge implanted in her brain by Canaris.
Moving closer to William, Diedre spoke at last, her voice low but her diction so perfect she was audible. “The first thing he said was that he wanted you to know that he had been, and would be, true to his last words to you. He added that you should never doubt his honesty and integrity. He asked me to tell you he would always speak the truth to you, never mislead you.”
Nodding, William also drew closer; their heads were together across the table. “Continue, Diedre, please.”
“He had four things he wanted me to convey. The first is that when you receive information from anyone in the Vatican, you must understand that it will be from him especially if it has to do with our country. The second thing is similar. Any information emanating from Spain, again affecting our country, will be from him. The third is that he will often funnel information through me, and sometimes perhaps through Tony to me.”
After a moment, William said quietly, “And what is the fourth message, Diedre?”
“That he will do everything in his power to keep Spain neutral, that he will endeavor to prevent the Nazis from invading Spain. He said I should tell you that he wants to protect Gibraltar for us, and the Mediterranean. His last words to me were: Franco is my friend. Make sure William knows this, believes it.”
William gaped at her, stunned by this last statement. How on earth could one man, a German admiral, keep Spain neutral? He had no answer for himself at this precise moment.
After a short while, Diedre said, “You haven’t said a word. What are you thinking?”
“That he’s just handed us something so fantastic I can hardly believe it. A source of invaluable information. He himself. And I’m thrilled, of course I am, Diedre. I just don’t understand why he thinks he can keep Spain free of Hitler’s domination. How can he do that?”
Diedre stared back at him, frowning. “Because he’s head of Abwehr, German military intelligence. If that’s not immense power, I don’t know what is.”
William nodded. “You’re absolutely right.” He tossed back the last drops of champagne and studied her face. It was beautiful. “I need another drink. What about you?”
She began to laugh, “You’re the one who cautioned me, and later Tony, about not drinking on the job.”
“Tonight’s an exception to the rule; we’re off duty. And by the way, will you have dinner with me?” He couldn’t believe he’d just said this, and he motioned to the waiter, wanted to hide his sudden confusion.
Once the waiter had gone off to get their refills, William turned to Diedre, and asked, “Well?”
“I’d love to have dinner with you, Will.”
Twenty-seven
They went to a little restaurant in Chelsea called Le Chat Noir, which William knew well. It was tucked away in a cul-de-sac, off the beaten track, and was run by a French couple whom William had known for years.
After they were seated and given the menus, Diedre turned to him. “Isn’t it stran
ge that all the spies I know have funny little restaurants hidden away somewhere? And I don’t.”
“Then you must find one, and make it your own. Or you can use this one … black cats are lucky, aren’t they?” he said in a teasing tone.
Shaking her head, she answered with a slight shrug, “I don’t really know. But I’ll ask Charlotte this weekend. She’s a mine of information about such things, like odd sayings and ancient superstitions.” There was a pause before Diedre added, “Do you think Sir Francis Walsingham had a favorite little spot tucked away somewhere?”
“More than likely, I should think. England’s greatest spy, and spymaster, was something of a magician, in my opinion.”
“And our Tudor queen also thought that, Will. She put all of her faith in Walsingham.”
“Who helped her to run England along with William Cecil and Robert Dudley, in whom she also had great faith. Now, enough history, shall we order?” He opened his menu as he spoke and scanned the dishes which were listed.
Diedre did the same thing, and said, “I’ll be guided by you, Will. What are your favorites?”
“They do a great entrecôte steak with green salad and chips, one of their best French dishes. I also like their rack of lamb, Provençal style. I’m so tired of eating fish, I think I’ll go for the steak, actually.”
“I will too, and for the same reason.”
William waved to the owner, Jacques André, who was by their side in a minute. After ordering their food, and a bottle of his favorite red wine, William turned to Diedre and asked, “Would you like a glass of champagne while we wait for dinner?”
“If you’re having a glass, I will too. Thank you.”
“So be it, Jacques. You heard the lady.”
With a smile and a nod, Jacques departed, and William said, “There’s one important question I have to ask you, Diedre, before we discuss anything else.”
She nodded. “Please ask it then.”
“Earlier, when you mentioned you had telephoned Cecily to ask about Mrs. Steinbrenner’s health, she apparently asked you why you wanted to know.” William’s brow knotted in a frown. “But you didn’t answer her. Not according to the way you related the story to me.”