Page 51 of Echoes of Betrayal

Miss Gale took his elbow. ‘That sounds like a good idea.’

Voss turned at the door. ‘Stay here for a few more minutes and then follow us out. I will need to talk to you again in private. I’m sure I don’t need to warn you of the ramifications, Brunner, if you have passed bank or state secrets to the British. This is your chance to put back whatever it is you have taken.’

Ernst stared at Voss, processing his veiled threat.

‘And you, Miss Gale. I recommend you see to it that you receive an urgent recall to London and leave Bern without delay. I can’t search you without risking an international incident, but consider yourself unofficially warned. If I find you have stolen as much as one record from this vault and are attempting to smuggle it to London, I promise you will wish you had never set foot in Bern. Diplomatic immunity or not.’

The reinforced door thudded closed behind Voss as he bungled Hauser out in front of him.

Ernst looked at Miss Gale. ‘What do you make of that?’

CHAPTER 44

Brunner looked glued to the spot, and Lizzie took control, leading him to the door. ‘Key in your combination,’ she instructed.

The stunned banker did as she said and opened the door. Lizzie breathed in the cool air as they entered the corridor. The vault had been claustrophobic after being locked in there for so long, and now she felt the thrill of freedom. It had been close, but Voss had let them go.

‘What should I do now?’ Brunner asked, his tone almost childlike, not that of a wealthy, influential banker.

Lizzie could see he was shocked by the events in the vault and hadn’t fully digested what had happened. He needed firm guidance, or he might do something that would get them both into trouble. ‘You should carry on as normal, as though nothing untoward has occurred.’

Brunner raised his troubled eyes and whispered. ‘How can I carry on as normal when Hauser is threatening me with Nazi retribution?’

Lizzie pushed him along gently, and they moved down the dimly lit corridor and up the first flight of stairs. ‘I have a feeling he won’t bother you again.’

Brunner jerked to a stop. ‘What do you mean? What will Voss do to Hauser?’

Lizzie leaned in closer. ‘That’s a question you shouldn’t ask if you want to keep Brunner & Cie out of the spotlight and avoid an investigation or even a trial.’

Brunner still didn’t seem to grasp what was going on. ‘But Hauser must have been informing on me to Voss. Why would he take him away instead of me?’

Pausing again and turning to face Brunner, she whispered in his ear. ‘When Voss questions you, and he will, do not say one word about the camera. If he pushes you to give him something, say I asked to take some documents, but Hauser interrupted us. Blame it on me and say I coerced you. I should be long gone soon.’

Brunner nodded, slowly beginning to understand the situation had spun around in his favour. ‘So, Voss won’t tell the Germans about me working with you, and the Swiss government will not charge me with treason?’

Lizzie felt sorry for the banker who had clearly been in over his head since the beginning. He had fallen into doing what the Swiss expected of their banks and had made huge financial gains as a result, but it was Hauser who was the greedy one. It was his partner who was selling his soul for more gold profits, no matter how rotten the source, and whatever the human cost.

Lizzie said in a low voice that she must go. ‘I will not see you again, Herr Brunner, but we thank you for the risks you have taken to help us. As promised, you can rest assured your contribution will be noted when the great reckoning comes, which God willing won’t be too long now.’

Brunner shook her hand. ‘How will you get the camera or the film out?’

Lizzie put her finger to her lips. ‘What film? There was no camera and no film, remember.’

They continued walking up the steps until they reached the ground floor, and after one last glance at Brunner, Lizzie crossed the lobby to the doorman. ‘Is it still fine weather out?’

The doorman said it was a beautiful afternoon, and after wishing each other good day, Lizzie stepped into the cobbled street and meandered through the arcades as though she had emerged from an ordinary meeting and had nothing to hide.

The mini camera nestled snugly in her waistband as she walked along the cobblestoned street, thinking it would probably be for the last time. She turned her head towards the riverbank and saw a familiar figure standing on the old stone bridge, gazing out at the river.

Lizzie’s heartbeat drummed harder, and her mouth was dry as she recognised the greedy banker’s coat. Hauser stood there, smoking a cigarette as though it were just a normal day. She had thought Voss had arrested him so he wouldn’t be an ongoing danger to their Swiss-Nazi collaboration. The realisation that the Swiss agent had released him knocked the wind out of her. Hauser was dangerous, and Brunner wouldn’t be safe with him around. He would happily feed his partner to the Nazis and take over the bank. Then he would have even more power to launder Nazi-looted gold and Jewish assets.

Fury coursed through Lizzie as she watched him. She imagined him orchestrating Brunner’s downfall, contemplating how to profit from more gold ripped from the poor, murdered Jews’ mouths and dormant bank accounts.

She had planned to ask Tom to update her on Hauser’s arrest when she was back in London. Her breathing quickened and her muscles tensed as Lizzie made a split-second decision. Walking stealthily towards the bridge, adrenaline flooded through her as she readied herself to strike. Looking around, she saw it was clear. It was a quiet, scenic spot, but she couldn’t afford to wait. Someone could appear at any moment.

Hauser was still smoking and didn’t hear her approach. She crept behind him, both hands raised, and using all her body weight, she slammed into his upper back.

A strangled cry echoed on the wind as the banker toppled over the iron railings into the fast-moving glacial river below with a splash.