The Hornet's Sting_ The Amazing Untold Story of World War II Spy Thomas Sneum - Mark Ryan [89]
Although desperate to speak to Sigfred for the first time in more than a year, Hildur felt that he could not approach his sibling. He had heard through Thorbjoern that Sigfred was back in town, and he knew his two brothers had begun some kind of secret work together. Drawing attention to Sigfred now might endanger him. So Hildur Christophersen kept his distance, and, at the end of the show, he allowed Sigfred to leave the theatre without saying a word. Much later, Hildur confided in a voice betraying the sorrow he had carried inside for many decades: ‘I will always remember that evening because it was the last time I ever saw Sigfred alive.’
Shortly before Christmas, Emmy Valentin left St. Annaegade to visit relations. It was going to be a busy week for a socialite of Emmy’s standing, and there would also be much to do for the Countess Trampe. If she could get some of her family obligations out of the way early, Emmy’s own diary would be left a little bit clearer for Christmas itself. She told her daughter Birgit that she should call Tommy on the fifth floor in case of emergency. If any suspicious stranger rang the front doorbell, she should also warn Tommy immediately. A little later, with very different kisses, Emmy bid farewell to her two loved ones on the fifth and ground floors. She said she would be back in four days.
At twenty-six, the buxom Birgit was only a couple of years older than Tommy, and blessed with a vivacity which men found attractive. He had noticed the way she looked at him, but knew the situation would become far too complex if he took advantage of her obvious interest.
The night after Emmy’s departure, Tommy heard a knock on his door. He reached instinctively for his pistol and crept up to the little spyhole he had drilled for the early detection of unwelcome visitors. He heard Birgit’s whisper and saw her on the landing. She was wearing a flimsy nightdress and asked if she could come in. Deciding it would be less than gentlemanly to tell his girlfriend’s daughter to go away, Tommy opened the door. Birgit walked confidently into his room, pulled off her nightdress in the semi-darkness and climbed straight into Tommy’s bed. He nearly asked her if she was sure this was a good idea, but there seemed little point. They both knew what was going to happen next and it was a long time before they paused for conversation.
‘This is going to make life a little complicated,’ suggested Sneum at last.
‘Not really,’ Birgit explained. ‘Perhaps I should have told you. I’m leaving for Germany after Christmas.’
She then revealed that she had met someone who wanted her to work in the Propaganda Department of the Ministry of Information in Berlin, as a secretary behind the scenes for German radio. But that would only be her cover, she explained conspiratorially. In reality she would be sending information back to Denmark, effectively working as a spy. If the Germans grew suspicious, she was supposed to send a postcard to request her withdrawal.
Sneum thought the whole notion ludicrous, since Birgit had no experience or training, would probably be caught and might then be forced to reveal the names of everyone she had met in Copenhagen. He pleaded with her to reconsider.
‘I’ll think about it,’ said Birgit. ‘But I’ve just bought a new fur coat especially for Berlin.’
Tommy couldn’t believe how naïve she was being. He had seen her stylish winter outfit already, and now imagined how it would go down in Germany. He remembered later:
She had a big coat and hat, both made of really beautiful furs because she and her mother were rather wealthy. When I told her that she couldn’t wear them in Germany, she didn’t understand.