War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 62

Chapter 7

I

t was over! Anna had been counting the days, hours, and then minutes until she could leave this ghastly place for so long, she could hardly believe the time had finally arrived. She folded the last of her personal clothing items into her suitcase and shut the lid. The nurse’s uniform would have to stay, but she didn’t mind. The fewer reminders of her time here, the happier she would be.

T the devil had outdone himself throughout the past six days, thinking of new cruel ways to make her suffer. More than once she’d reached her limit, and only the knowledge that her martyrdom was about to end had kept her going.

Professor Scherer’s car would arrive any minute to take her to Berlin, her new job, and her new life. The sound of a car horn pulled her from her daydreams about the magnificent experiences that lay ahead, and she hurried down to the street.

Anna gasped at the sight of a gorgeous black Mercedes limousine waiting out front – the same kind of automobile that could be seen in propaganda pictures, the ones the Führer himself and his ministers used. She’d never seen such a fine vehicle up close and had never imagined she might actually be a passenger in one.

A queasy feeling passed through her stomach, but she ignored it as admiration of the fine automobile shoved it aside. The shiny black paint, a black leather convertible top that was tightly closed due to the cold temperatures beckoned her to climb aboard. White-walled tires sparkled with brightness and the chrome grill guard on the front reflected the sun shining from a clear blue sky.

To Anna, it looked like heaven on wheels.

A big man dressed in a dark suit with brass buttons and a driver’s cap stood waiting for her. She peeked inside at the tan leather seats, wondering where the professor was. As she took a step towards the automobile, the driver raised his head and her pulse sped up as she started into the glacial blue eyes of Peter Wolf.

He strode over, taking the suitcase from her clenched fingers and stowing it in the trunk of the automobile with panther-like movements. Then he opened the rear passenger door and gestured with a hand for her to get in.

“Herr Wolf...where is the professor?” she asked, her heart thumping like crazy.

“The professor left two days ago on a business trip. Are you ready to go, Fräulein Klausen?” he said with a gravelly voice that slithered down her spine. It was comforting and disturbing at the same time.

She’d never had such a visceral reaction to a man before, and while his physical appearance enticed her, she sensed something else lurking underneath the surface. He wore the same expression she often used to convince someone of her innocence while she lied through her teeth. This man owned dark secrets.

“I don’t…I didn’t know the professor wasn’t coming,” Anna stammered, as her composure spiraled into a full-blown panic. What if this rescue was a ruse? What if Herr Wolf had been sent to kill her…or worse? It was a two-hour drive to Berlin, through mostly uninhabited areas. He could stop at any moment and nobody would ever be the wiser.

“Come, we should leave. I won’t bite,” Herr Wolf said as if he’d read her thoughts.

Anna nodded and his lips curled into a smile. If it weren’t for those intense blue eyes, she’d feel calmer. They were eyes she was sure had seen things nobody should have to witness. Eyes that concealed the truth. Eyes that made her squirm.

She took a deep breath and slid inside the automobile. Professor Scherer wouldn’t put her into the custody of a serial killer, and this man wouldn’t dare to harm his boss’s new employee. At least that was what she hoped.

Herr Wolf took the driver’s seat and started the motor. But despite the comfortable interior and monotone humming of the Mercedes, she couldn’t relax. The man intrigued her.

“Are you happy to be returning to Berlin?” he asked after steering the automobile onto the main road.

Anna nodded and then realized he probably couldn’t see her. “Yes. I’m happy to be leaving the camp.”

“Working there was hard?” His gravelly voice contained a curious undertone.

“I…working around so much death without the ability to do anything about it was hard.” She realized after speaking that her words could be interpreted two different ways, but when he didn’t appear alarmed or question her further, she relaxed a bit.

“The professor said you had a place to stay in Berlin? Can you give me the address?”

Anna jerked her head up.

Why does he want my addres

s? But then it occurred to her that he was ordered to deliver her to Berlin, and he couldn’t very well drop her off in the middle of Kurfürstendamm with her suitcase. His boss surely wouldn’t approve of that.

“I live with my mother and sister.” She gave him her address and then added, “I’m sure they are expecting me.”

He must have noticed her fear, because he said with a chuckle, “Professor Scherer asked me to deliver you safely to your place – if that’s what has you worried?”

“How did you know?” Anna clasped a hand over her mouth, but the words already hung in the air between them.

“It’s my job to know everything Fräulein Klausen. Or do you prefer Nurse Anna?” Anna couldn’t see his face, but nonetheless she

heard

the amused smile in his voice. And sensed the delightful trembles it sent through her body.

“Just Anna would be fine,” she answered, hoping he wouldn’t find it inappropriate.

“Anna.” He pronounced her name like a verbal caress, lingering over every letter. For a moment, she thought she noticed an accent in his voice, but that must have been her imagination. “That’s a beautiful name. Please do call me Peter.”

“Peter. Have you been working for the professor for long?” she asked, striking up a conversation.

“It depends what you consider long. You will enjoy working for him, I should think. Professor Scherer is a generous man and treats his employees well.”

“I’m very grateful for the offer to work on his team. I’ve always dreamt about becoming a biologist one day,” Anna said and waited. Usually at this point the other party would answer something along the lines of

A woman becoming a scientist?

and laugh. Like the guests at Professor Scherer’s soirée had done.

“I’m sure you’ll make your way,” he said, and then, after a few minutes of silence, “Are you originally from Berlin?”

“Yes. I love this city…or I love what it was before the war.” Anna beamed with pride and gushed about all the fantastic things the capital offered, or used to offer, before the Allied bombers had done their best to reduce it to rubble night after night. The one good thing about her stay in Ravensbrück had been that the town had been spared the shelling and ensuing destruction. But even from this far away, she’d witnessed the orange glowing night sky over her beloved city. Every time her heart had been squeezed with worry for her loved ones.

“What about you? Where are you from?” she asked.

Peter shrugged his shoulders saying, “I moved about quite a bit, but now I live in Berlin.”

It struck Anna again that he was hiding something. She’d also noticed the tension creeping into his neck muscles, making it all too clear that she shouldn’t ask further questions about his origin. Nowadays even being born on the wrong side of the tracks could cause problems.

Maybe he was a

Mischling

, someone with one or more Jewish grandparents. She scrutinized his profile to search for the typical traits of the Jewish race. But then she laughed at her own stupidity. She’d been immersed in Nazi ideology too long and forgotten her scientific knowledge. Not all Jews had big noses and dark hair. Not even half of the Jewish prisoners at Ravensbrück looked remotely like Jews. But then, after several weeks in the camp, they didn’t even resemble humans anymore. Anna had barely recognized her own sister Lotte when she’d seen her for the first time in the camp. A sigh escaped her, as memories threatened to break through.

“Are you alright?” Peter asked and turned to look at her.

“Yes. No need to worry,” she answered and rested her forearms on the back of the front seat. Peter moved his hand as if he wanted to touch her elbow, but then returned it to the steering wheel.

“You’re wearing a gun!” Anna blurted out, after catching a glimpse of the pistol strapped beneath his arm.

“A Mauser. Yes. It’s just in case,” he answered.

“Just in case of what?” Anna clasped her hands together. She couldn’t help it, but the sight of the smooth black weapon brought the sound of clicks and handguns firing to her mind. Click and shoot. A cry. The sound of a collapsing body. She put a hand across her eyes.

“I’ve never used it,” he added, turning around. His glance was meant to reassure, but Anna didn’t believe him for one moment. Deep inside his eyes she could see the truth. Maybe he had never used this particular weapon, but he had killed before. Fear trickled down her spine, and she leaned back in her seat, her mind running in circles as she tried to work out why the professor’s driver would need to wear a gun.

“This is the street?” he asked some time later, as he entered the street where she lived.

“Yes. That tall building over there.” Anna wasn’t sure whether she could trust him or not. While he’d never done anything to deserve her suspicions, she just

knew

there was more to him than everyone else seemed to see.

He parked in front of the building and then opened his door and came around the automobile to open the door for her. Then he retrieved her suitcase from the boot.

“Which floor? I’ll carry this up to the door for you,” he offered with a smile.

Anna shook her head and grabbed the suitcase from his hands. She could already imagine the gossip should her nosy neighbor Frau Weber see a handsome man like Peter carrying her suitcase upstairs.

“I’d rather go alone. Thank you for the drive,” she answered with a smile.

Peter gave her a small bow and tipped the brim of his hat towards her. “My pleasure. I hope to see you more often, Anna.”

Anna nodded, a strange feeling taking hold of her. Then she hurried to the front door of the apartment building. The door swished shut behind her, and she paused for a moment. She was home again. It was time to forget the past and embrace the future.