Buried Angels

STOCKHOLM 1925

The woman who opened the door was not at all the way Dagmar had pictured her. She was neither beautiful nor seductive, but tired and haggard. She also appeared to be older than Hermann, and everything about her exuded an unexpected ordinariness.

Dagmar gawped at her in silence. Had she come to the wrong place? But it said ‘Göring’ on the doorplate, so she decided this woman must be the couple’s housekeeper. She took a firm grip on Laura’s hand.

‘I’ve come to see Hermann.’

‘Hermann isn’t here.’ The woman looked her up and down.

‘Then I’ll wait until he comes home.’

Laura was trying to hide behind Dagmar, and the woman gave the child a kind smile before she said:

‘I’m Mrs Göring. Is there something I can help you with?’

So this really was the woman that Dagmar hated. The woman who had been in her thoughts ever since she’d read her name in the newspaper. Dagmar regarded Carin Göring with surprise: the sturdy, practical shoes, the well-tailored ankle-length skirt, the blouse that was primly buttoned up to her throat, and her hair pulled back in a bun. Tiny lines were visible around her eyes, and her complexion had a sickly pallor. Suddenly everything fell into place. Of course, this was the woman who had duped her Hermann. An old spinster like her could never get a man like Hermann without some wicked trickery.

‘Well, we have a few things to talk about, you and I.’ Dagmar yanked on Laura’s hand and stepped inside.

Carin moved away, doing nothing to stop her. She merely nodded at the child. ‘Shall I take your coat?’

Dagmar eyed her suspiciously. Then without waiting to be invited she barged into the room closest to the front hall, stopping abruptly on the threshold of the large parlour. The flat was as beautiful as she’d expected Hermann’s home to be – spacious, with tall windows, a high ceiling, and a gleaming parquet floor – but it was almost empty.

‘Why don’t they have any furniture, Mamma?’ asked Laura, her eyes big as she surveyed her surroundings.

Dagmar turned to Carin. ‘Yes, why don’t you have any furniture? Why would Hermann live like this?’

Carin frowned for a moment, indicating that she found the question impertinent, but then she replied in a friendly enough tone:

‘Things have been a bit difficult lately. But now you must tell me who you are.’

Dagmar pretended not to hear the request, merely giving Mrs Göring a disdainful glance. ‘Difficult? But Hermann is rich. He can’t possibly be living like this.’

‘Did you hear what I said? If you don’t tell me who you are and what you’re doing here, I’ll be forced to ring the police. For the child’s sake, I’d prefer not to do that.’ Carin nodded at Laura, who was once again hiding behind her mother.

Dagmar grabbed her arm and pushed her towards Carin.

‘This is my daughter. And Hermann’s. From now on, he’s going to live with us. You’ve had him long enough, and he doesn’t want you. Don’t you understand that?’

Carin Göring flinched but maintained a calm demeanour as she studied Dagmar and Laura in silence for a full minute.

‘I have no idea what you’re talking about. Hermann is my husband. I’m Mrs Göring.’

‘I’m the one he loves. I’m the great love of his life,’ said Dagmar, stomping her foot. ‘Laura is his daughter, but you took him away before I could tell him that. If he knew about Laura, he would never have married you, no matter what you did to force him into marriage.’ She was beside herself with rage. Laura had crept behind her again.

‘I think you should leave before I call the police.’ Carin’s voice remained calm, but Dagmar could see the fear in her eyes.

‘Where is Hermann?’ she insisted.

Carin pointed at the front door. ‘Get out!’ Still pointing, she moved resolutely towards the telephone. The clack of her heels echoed in the empty flat.

Dagmar seemed to calm down as she paused to think. She realized that Mrs Göring was not going to say where her husband was, but at least the woman knew the truth now, and that gave Dagmar a sense of satisfaction. Now she just had to find Hermann. Even if it meant sleeping in the doorway, she would wait here until he came home. Then they would be together for all eternity. Keeping a tight hold on Laura’s collar, Dagmar dragged the child towards the door. With a final triumphant glare at Carin Göring, she closed the door behind her.