The Girl Who Walked Away

by David Adkins

  “I will just wait in the cab a minute or two,” I said.

  “Alright with me sir,” the driver replied.

  I watched as Deepdale and his companion alighted from their taxi and paid the driver. They headed straight for the entrance of the Mayfair Hotel and went inside. Deepdale was carrying a small case but the other man had no luggage. I paid the driver, giving him a generous tip and thanking him and then I followed them into the hotel. I had done all this without thinking of the consequences. I had felt an overwhelming conviction that I must find out the destination of Clive Deepdale. I would be late for my rendezvous with Cassie but that could not be helped.

  I watched as Deepdale and his comrade booked a room at the reception desk and signed a register. I watched as they went over to the empty lift and entered it. I watched as the lift stopped on the 4th floor perhaps to deposit them before continuing to the 6th floor. I felt a compulsion to know what room Deepdale was in. I went to the reception desk and spoke to the receptionist. “I would like a room for one evening please.”

  “Certainly sir, I will see what is available.”

  “Have you a room on the 4th floor?” I asked.

  He gave me a surprised look. “Yes we have, is 424 to your liking, sir?”

  “That will be excellent,” I responded.

  “Would you please sign the register?”

  I did so noting the last entry which indicated that Mr Clive Deepdale was in room 413.

  “Please also complete this form if you would sir.” He watched as I scribbled my information furiously, then continued, “do you need help with your luggage sir?”

  “No thank you. I only have a small bag as I am here just one night and anyway I think I will have a drink at the bar before I go to my room.”

  “As you wish, sir. Here is your key.”

  I wandered over to the bar next to the large reception area and ordered a dry white wine. A night at the Mayfair hotel was expensive for an office manager but I had ceased caring about expense. I needed to contact Jenna and bring her up to date on developments. I phoned the Tintree Arms but she had not yet returned. I settled down in the plush reception area on an outrageously comfortable couch, which I sunk into, and sipped at my wine. I decided I would ring Jenna every hour until I made contact. Sadly I would be late at the George Inn but hopefully not very late.

  It was about 5.30 when I was successful in contacting Jenna. The barman informed me that she had just walked through the door. I heard him say to Jenna that it was her friend Steve.

  “Why are you contacting me?” Her words were said with a hint of irritation.

  “Have you had any luck?” I asked.

  “No, I kept the compound under surveillance all afternoon but there was no sign of him. It was starting to get dark so I have just returned to the inn. It could take days before I sight him. Anyway it is now no longer anything to do with you, Steve.”

  “It could take longer than days, Jenna.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He left the base in an army truck which dropped him at Leamington Station and then he boarded a train for London.”

  I heard a prolonged sigh. “I should have guessed he would make a run for it. They knew that you had not been alone at Tintree. We have lost him now.”

  “You might have done,” I said smugly.

  “What do you know and how do you know he is London?”

  “I know more than that. I know that he is in the Mayfair Hotel in room 413.”

  She gasped. “That is wonderful,” she was almost purring with pleasure. “You can tell me how you managed it when I see you. I will leave Tintree now and I will see you later. Book a room at the hotel and wait for me.”

  “I have booked a room for that is how I found out which room he is in but I was not planning to stay.”

  “Steve, you must stay. What is your room?”

  “Just down the corridor from his, room 424,” I answered.

  “Excellent, if he has booked in for the night then he will not be going anywhere. Tell them at reception that your wife Jenna Coulson will be arriving about nine and they should let you know when she arrives.”

  “I will do that, but Jenna? The time has come for an explanation.”

  “Perhaps,” she replied. “I will see you soon.” The phone went dead. Why was I helping her when I was not even sure I could trust her?

  I now needed to make another telephone call but this time in order to contact Cassie. My call was answered promptly. “The George Inn.”

  “You have a Cassie Mitchell staying with you. Could I have a word with her please? Tell her it is Steve Coulson.”

  “I will sir. I believe she is in her room. I’ll have to fetch her, so could you hold on for a few minutes, please sir?”

  “Yes, thank you,” I replied. I waited for several minutes and then I heard the voice which had become so dear to me.

  “Steve, are you there?”

  “Are you alright, Cassie?”

  “Yes, it all went well and I sneaked away from my friend’s house unseen. I have a comfortable room here. When will you arrive?”

  “That is why I am ringing. I have been delayed and cannot reach you tonight. Everything is fine but I will not be able to see you until tomorrow. Do not go down George Lane for my house may be watched. Stay in the inn and I will ring you tomorrow morning to let you know when I will be arriving.”

  “I will, Steve. Do you still believe that you will be able to help Max?”

  “I am sure he will not be convicted,” I assured her.

  “I will see you tomorrow then.”

  “Good night, Cassie and sleep well,” I said with feeling.

  I then strolled over to the reception desk. “My wife Jenna Coulson will be arriving about nine o’clock tonight. When she arrives could you let me know please?”

  “Yes certainly sir. I could send her to your room if you wish.” Did he look at me a little suspiciously or was that just my imagination?

  “That is most helpful of you. Yes please send her to my room.”

  I took the plush staircase to my room. I did not want to find myself in the same lift as Clive Deepdale. I opened the door to room 424 and strolled in. It was the height of luxury which had been reflected in the bill and I wondered where Clive Deepdale got the funds to stay in such a place. For a moment I contemplated asking at reception how long he was staying at the hotel but I figured that was not wise. They might tell him that someone was inquiring about him and they probably would not tell me anyway. I ordered some sandwiches and coffee from room service and settled down in my plush surroundings to wait for Jenna. It gave me time to ruminate on what I was doing here and what course of action Jenna would adopt when she arrived. I felt nervous but I had made my decision to follow Deepdale here and now I must see it through wherever it took me. If I did not like the destination then perhaps I could influence events accordingly.

  I was relaxing on the extremely comfortable large bed when there was a soft knock on my door. I looked at my watch and it was 8.25. I surmised it must be Jenna jumped off the bed, crossed the room, and opened the door. There was Jenna, standing on the threshold grasping a bottle of wine. “Thought you might be thirsty,” she smiled.

  “Come in,” I smiled back. I noticed she was still carrying her two bags.

  She entered the room. “Very nice,” she commented. “You are wealthier than I imagined, Steve.”

  “Helping you out is an expensive business,” I replied.

  “Well, pour us some wine and you can tell me how you ended up here.”

  I did as she suggested. “Cheers, Jenna,” I said. “I did not expect to see you so soon.”

  “Nor I you. Cheers,” she responded. “These are large glasses. Are you trying to get me drunk?”

  “You looked thirsty,” I smiled.

  “Now tell all,” she suggested.

  “There is not very much to tell,” I replied and related the rest of my afternoon to her. “His taxi depos
ited him outside the Mayfair Hotel and here we are.”

  “You are becoming quite the investigator,” she smiled.

  “And I am not sure why,” I added. “Perhaps you should explain.”

  “Was he with anyone, Steve?”

  “Yes. There was a fellow in plain clothes who travelled with him and accompanied him to the hotel.”

  “Is that man still with him?”

  “I do not know. He went up in the lift with him but he may have left by now for he had no case. Now, tell me why we are here and what you intend to do.”

  She sighed. “It is better for you if you simply left. I could take over your room. It is best for your peace of mind that you do not know.”

  “I followed him here and now I have brought you here. For my peace of mind, I need to know what you intend to do.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I am absolutely sure.”

  She sighed again. “I intend to kill him.”

  “Like you killed Nesterman?”

  “Yes,” she replied. “Now that he is in a room just down the corridor my task is made easier than it was at Tintree.”

  “I do not like the man, but I cannot let you do this. I would be an accomplice in a murder. I cannot walk away knowing your intention.”

  Her face hardened. “You cannot stop me.”

  “Why? Would you kill me too?”

  She took a deep breath. “No, I would not.”

  “You will have to tell me why, then.”

  She nodded. “I thought it might come to this.” She reached out to her bag and took out some files. “Let us go to the table Steve.”

  We walked across the room and sat down by the glass-topped coffee table and she placed the two folders on the table. I stared at the two files in disbelief, my eyes flitting from one to the other. The first was headed Rudolf Neuman and below the name was a photograph of a man in a Nazi uniform. I recognized the man in the photo. It was Rupert Nesterman. The second file was headed Carl Dengler and below the name was another photograph of a man in a Nazi uniform. I recognized this man too for it was Clive Deepdale.

  I sat back in my chair trying to digest the implications of the two images. “They are Nazis?”

  “They are Nazi war criminals who have never been punished for their crimes. I administer that justice.”

  “Then all we have to do is tell the authorities,” I suggested.

  “It is the British authorities who protect them.”

  “No, you must be mistaken. I have heard that we have a special unit for bringing war criminals to justice. The British authorities would not be protecting them. If you have evidence you must give it to the authorities.”

  “I have plenty of evidence. However, the unit you refer to does not have power or authority when it comes to the likes of Neuman and Dengler.”

  “What do you mean?” I gasped.

  “Neuman and Dengler are designated ‘useful’ to the British war effort,” she said bitterly.

  “How are these Nazis useful to us and what war effort are you referring to?”

  She took a long draught of her drink. “They are genetic scientists who worked in a number of concentration camps conducting awful experiments on some of the prisoners. Despite their crimes, the fact that they are outstanding scientists make them invaluable to your country in keeping scientific pace with the Russians in the war,” she sneered.

  I looked at her like she had lost her mind. “The war ended more than ten years ago.”

  “Not the cold war. At the end of the real war Britain, Russia, and the United States were frantic in their efforts to get their hands on German scientists. Neuman and Dengler were two that the British managed to acquire. Their crimes were forgotten in the race to secure their knowledge and their working expertise. They were given new identities to make them impossible to track down but there are those who will never forget the crimes they committed.”

  A cold feeling settled into my stomach as I realized just how over my head I was. “Who are you?”

  “I am an agent for the INH.”

  “What does it stand for?” I asked in amazement.

  “It’s not it’s official title, but I work for the Israeli Nazi Hunters. Only some Nazi criminals were brought to trial at the end of the war to pay for their crimes. Many escaped and fled to South America and other parts of the world where they thought they would be safe from justice. Others, like Neuman and Dengler, were granted protection by the very countries that fought Nazi oppression. I work for a special unit set up in secret by the government of Israel to administer justice. We seek out these hideous criminals and we execute them. I am in London to execute Neuman and Dengler, but the job is only half done. Dengler will be executed and you should not try to stop me.”

  I was staggered by her revelations. “They conducted their experiment on Jews,” I gasped. “Now you seek revenge.”

  “I seek justice.”

  “I knew that some German scientists were employed in this country but I was not aware some were Nazi war criminals.”

  “That’s because the British Government set out to hide their identity to prevent public outrage.”

  I considered her words. “You mean that the British Government has protected them and given them new identities so that they will work for us.”

  “That is so,” she replied.

  “Why was the blame for Nesterman’s death pinned on Max Lucas?” I asked.

  “Think about it, Steve. There would be hell to pay if the British public and your newspapers ever got to hear that your government were harbouring vile Nazi war criminals, guilty of heinous atrocities and indeed giving them a life of luxury in return for their services. When Nesterman was murdered they would have passed it off as a simple robbery and the murderer would never have been found. Few questions would have been asked and it would have remained secret that many ex-Nazis are in the government’s employ. However, the presence of Lucas standing over the corpse made that impossible.”

  “They are willing to sacrifice Max Lucas to keep the dirty secret that we are employing Nazis.” I could hardly believe what I was saying.

  She nodded. “I suppose his life was considered a small price to pay.”

  “Why do you not expose them?”

  She laughed. “Who would believe me? To be honest it is much more efficient to administer justice in a more clandestine fashion. We do not want a political incident between the British Government and the Israeli Government.”

  “Are there are other Jennas working in Russia and America?”

  “Yes and we have agents in South America too.”

  “Why should I believe you?” I asked.

  “Look through the files if you can bear it.”

  I turned over one horrific page after another. The accusations against Neuman and Dengler were listed and they made grim reading. There were pictures and photographs that turned my stomach. Neuman and Dengler experimented to develop biological and chemical weapons. They experimented on prisoners, mainly Jews, but also Poles, Slavs and Soviets, to measure the effects of such chemicals and biological substances on humans.

  “These photographs are from Dachau and Auschwitz concentration camps. A few were somehow smuggled out. One of these is a picture of Dengler.” She pointed at a photo of Dengler in his Nazi uniform in a medical laboratory. “It was taken at Dachau where prisoners were exposed to mustard gas and extremely badly burnt. Then they tried to find the best cures though most of the guinea pigs died in agony.”

  It was distressing just looking at such hideous images. I shook my head. “I have spoken with this man.”

  “Most of the pictures were taken when the camps were liberated. The German military sometimes tried to flee but they had nowhere to go and many tried to brazen it out saying they were simply taking orders. There are two pictures there of German officers being rounded up and German prisoners being taken away in trucks. Look at them closely, Steve.”

  I did as she instructed and I cou
ld see Neuman and Dengler being rounded up and then loaded into trucks. They were wearing their Nazi uniforms. “I wonder how they fell into British hands,” I mused.

  “The Americans were probably not aware of who exactly they were. Those photos were taken just after Auschwitz was freed.”

  I nodded and I continued to look at horrific pictures and sketches of children being experimented on and of heads being cut open while the victims were still alive for the working brain to be studied. I read descriptions of people being frozen or boiled and injected with god knows what. I closed both the folders. “I have seen enough, Jenna.”

  “You understand now why Neuman and Dengler must be executed.”

  I nodded again. “It is, I suppose, justice.”

  “You also understand now why I was unwilling to tell you all this. I wanted to spare you the detail and also the unwelcome knowledge of what was going on.”

  “Jenna, I fought in the war against Nazi tyranny. I was in the navy and saw terrible things but this…” I shook my head. “Are we really protecting Nazi war criminals?”

  “Steve.” She looked over at me carefully. “You must promise me that you will not try to expose it. These are ruthless people, and you would be made to suffer or killed before you could succeed.”

  “What about the trial? If it’s a court of law, they’ll have to take it seriously.”

  “No! If try, Lucas will meet with an accident and there will be no trial. They will do whatever it takes to stop all this being made public.”

  “He’s in prison, how could it look like an accident,” I asked stubbornly.

  “He will hang himself.”

  I shook my head as I understood her words.

  “Steve, you have enough to save Lucas. Keep it to yourself and Lucas’s new lawyer, who I hope you can trust. Take them by surprise at the trial and get Lucas off. But do not mention any of this.” She glanced at the files.

  “And tell them you are German.” I laughed at the irony.