Nicholas Searle - The Good Liar

The family awoke the next morning feeling that they should

have put more into the previous evening’s festivities. Magda had

drunk rather too much champagne, through nervousness and an

indistinct feeling of unease at her husband’s and daughters’ distraction, and was beset by an insistent headache. Albert went early to

his office and worried at the accounts while thinking about when he should see Taub again. Hannelore took her seat at her desk in

the same building an hour or so later as the day brightened and

her mood with it. Charlotte and Anneliese had a late breakfast and

went shopping for Christmas presents. The pain in Lili’s body had

passed and she could not quite believe that it had happened as she

recalled it. She sat in her window seat and read, distracted and

unhappy.

It was three mornings later that the SS came calling, at five a.m. Lili did not hear the commotion at first but came out to the landing to

see her father, head bowed, being led down the grand staircase in

handcuffs by two officers in smart uniforms. He did not turn to look at her, or at her three sisters, also standing outside their rooms in their dressing gowns. Magda waited by the door to watch the little

procession into the white landscape. She was not permitted to say

goodbye to her husband.

They were fortunate that they were a sufficiently prominent fam-

ily to attract the attentions of the SS proper rather than a group of grubby SA Brownshirts. They enjoyed the services not of mere

thugs but of sophisticated thugs. The officers understood that the

Schröders were well connected and adhered to procedure with an

insinuating politeness.

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The girls were permitted to dress in private and eat a rushed

breakfast with their mother.

‘The authorities will see that this is a mistake,’ she said, and Lili was not sure whether she was speaking to the four daughters, the

SS men or their servants, who stood and watched, not permitted to

prepare the meal. Or, quite possibly, to herself. At any rate, she

sounded desperate. ‘It’s a simple case of mistaken identity.’

The SS captain in charge said with courtesy, ‘Let’s hope so. In the meantime it is my duty to take you into protective custody. For your own safety. We cannot predict what citizens may do when they hear

of your husband’s arrest. Sadly all too many people are taking the

law into their own hands. You will be conveyed to a detention centre.

I am told it is comfortable enough. But of course not as luxurious as your beautiful house.’ He permitted himself a smile. ‘Would that be a Dürer I happened to see in your husband’s study? Magnificent. I

once studied the history of art. Now, if you are ready? One small bag each, please. And you have nothing to be afraid of. If what you say is true, you will be back in this house before you know it. We must

trust to the Reich’s system of justice.’

A van took them to an anonymous building on the outskirts of

the city. During the journey they were silent, not daring to share

confidences, not able to offer one another false reassurances. The

van drove through two sets of gates. Their reception was brisk but

civil. Their belongings were logged individually in a large stiff-

backed book before being taken for storage. In a small room they

were each given a rough grey serge uniform and told to change.

There was even a child’s outfit for Lili. A female guard watched

them and placed their own clothes into a large brown paper bag.

Back at the reception desk Magda was told to sign the book that

listed their belongings. They were shown to a white- walled, cold

room just large enough to accommodate five thin beds. There was

no bedlinen, only a dirty blanket folded at the foot of each bed.

Their mother muttered repeatedly, ‘It’s a mistake. We’ll be home

shortly.’

Eventually Charlotte interrupted her. ‘Don’t say that, Mama. We

all know what’s going to happen.’

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Her mother stared at her.

‘No, Charlotte,’ said Hannelore gently. ‘We don’t know. Mama

may be right. And Lili . . .’

Hannelore looked at her and smiled, soothing her with her eyes.

But Charlotte had no regard. ‘We’ve seen the families. We’ve forgotten them. No one’s ever come back. It would take a miracle.’

‘Well, let’s believe in that miracle,’ said Anneliese.

They fell silent again.

3

The publicly appointed defence lawyer met Magda and the girls in a

small, shabby office at the detention facility. Lili did not remember hearing his name. Though a kindly looking man in an old- fashioned wing collar, he sat on the only chair and spread his papers on the

rickety table, leaving Magda to stand before him like a supplicant.

Lili tried to pay careful attention but could not stop herself watching the trees swaying in the wind outside.

The man told Magda that the family lawyer was sadly unavailable

to represent them. In any case it was doubtful that sufficient funds remained to pay for him. Their assets had been confiscated pending

judgement. He had been appointed by the court in their interests

and would do his very best for them. He smiled comfortingly before

continuing.

‘Your husband’s case will be heard in two weeks’ time,’ he said,

‘and then your position will be clearer. But there are separate considerations, not least your husband’s Jewish heritage.’

‘But my husband isn’t Jewish.’

‘Of course. That may be so. But it appears that the state may con-

test that assertion. There is an allegation that one or more of his grandparents may have been Jewish. Researches are now taking

place. Given that your husband’s maternal grandparents grew up in

Pomerania, however, this may prove problematic. We’re reliant on

the Polish authorities.’ He looked at her with a little smile of helplessness. ‘Whether or not one or both of his maternal grandparents

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was Jewish is of course critical to a judgement as to your husband

being a non- Aryan of the first or second degree.’

Lili was having difficulty following the logic.

‘But neither of his mother’s parents were Jewish,’ said Magda.

‘They were Germans, from Danzig, with German passports. That

should be simple enough to check.’

‘Do you know for certain?’

‘Well, no. It never seemed important.’

‘Indeed,’ said the lawyer cheerfully. ‘Check they will. Diligently.

Naturally they cannot simply accept a citizen’s word. And given the, er, questions regarding your husband’s integrity and therefore the

family’s, they will also be checking carefully your own ancestry.’

‘Of course,’ said Magda. ‘I understand.’

‘Should it be discovered that relevant facts have been concealed

from the authorities by you or your husband, there will be an

impact. But the greatest consequences will flow from your hus-

band’s trial.’

‘I’m sure Albert would never be disloyal to Germany. He’s not

interested in politics.’

‘Naturally you would say that. But you can’t expect the state to

take it on trust. Especially in the circumstances.’

Magda stared at the man. Lili’s attention drifted. All she wanted

to do was to return home and lie in her soft feather bed. It had

begun to snow again and she watched the flakes driven by the wind.