Page 20 of The Last Safe Place

Carola hung up, leaving Michaela alone with her thoughts. In her mind she went through every single one of her acquaintances, friends and patients, hoping there might besomeone among them influential enough to help her out. A knock on the glass tore her away from her thoughts.

“Hey you, are you coming out? Other people want to make a telephone call, too.”

“I’m sorry.” Michaela left the telephone booth and walked home. Shortly before she arrived at the door, she turned on her heel. She didn’t have the strength to go into the empty place and stare at Dieter’s bed: she went for a walk.

Suddenly it hit her: Erika Canaris, Admiral Canaris’ wife. Many years ago, Michaela had treated their daughter who was mentally disabled. The Canaris family had a certain reputation for being sympathetic to the plight of their fellow Jewish citizens. Not officially, of course, but the grapevine had hinted at it on more than one occasion.

With renewed courage, Michaela resolved to visit Frau Canaris, in the hope that she still remembered the young doctor who had treated her daughter more than a decade earlier.

The next day, Michaela put on her best dress and made her way to the Canaris residence in Zehlendorf. A maid opened the door. “Can I help you, madam?”

“Good morning, my name is Michaela Kronberg. I would like to speak to Frau Canaris.”

“What shall I say it’s concerning?”

Michaela thought for a moment. “Please tell her that I treated her daughter a few years ago.”

The maid disappeared, returning shortly after. “Madam is prepared to receive you. Please follow me.”

She had passed the first obstacle. Heart pounding, Michaela followed the maid into the drawing room.

“Frau Kronberg, what a pleasant surprise. Please have a seat. Would you like a coffee?” Frau Canaris had aged visibly since last they had met.

“Thank you, I’d love one.” Michaela settled on a chair, wondering how she should best broach her concern, when Frau Canaris opened the conversation. “What brings you to me after all this time?”

Of course, she knew that Michaela was Jewish. It had been the reason she hadn’t been allowed to continue treating the Canaris girl.

“My Aryan husband has passed away and I received my deportation papers yesterday.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” The door opened again, and Frau Canaris indicated to the maid to put the tray with the coffee pot and two cups on the table. “I’ll pour, you go upstairs and carry on with the cleaning.”

“Yes, madam.”

As soon as the door had closed behind the maid, Frau Canaris turned back to Michaela. “When must you report to the assembly point?”

“Next week.”

“Didn’t you have a daughter?”

“Two.” Michaela took a sip of coffee while considering her next words. “They live in the country with my sister-in-law and are safe there for the time being. But I fear they will be deported too, once I have been taken away.”

Frau Canaris nodded slowly. “You are in a difficult situation. Fortunately, you aren’t obliged to wear the star, or the maid wouldn’t have been allowed to let you in.”

Michaela startled. “Please forgive me, I wasn’t aware of that. I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward position.”

“People often think we can do whatever we want because my husband is an admiral. Nothing could be further from the truth.It is precisely because he holds such a high position that he must appear particularly loyal to the party line and cannot allow the slightest suspicion over his loyalties.”

“I should leave. I don’t want to get you in trouble.” Michaela put the cup on the table and stood.

“No, please, stay. You did wonders for my daughter back then. If it’s at all possible, I would like to show my appreciation. However, you mustn’t breathe a word to anyone.”

“Of course not, Frau Canaris.” Michaela would never betray the person intending to help her.

“I’m sure my husband remembers you. I’ll ask him if there is anything he can do about your case. The Abwehr has occasionally managed to rescind a person’s deportation.”

Michaela was almost dizzy with relief. She had to hold herself back from throwing herself at Frau Canaris’s feet and kissing them. “That’s too kind of you. I am deeply indebted to you.”

“I haven’t done anything yet, and I can’t promise you anything either.” Frau Canaris seemed genuinely saddened by her own powerlessness.