Hidden Depths

by Ally Rose

  KLAUS SLEPT UNEASILY AFTER Ingrid’s revelations. He observed Felix at close quarters and noticed how jumpy he was when the news came on and quickly decided the promise he’d made to Ingrid would have to be broken. Klaus knew it would cause trouble within the family but it would eventually blow over and they would be a stronger unit for facing their problems and fears together. There was no time for procrastination, he needed to confront Felix. A man that dealt with problems through action, Klaus cleared his diary to arrange a round of golf with Felix early on a Sunday morning.

  They arrived at the golf club in separate cars and met on the first tee at their allotted time. Even as owners they had to book a tee off time, careful not to disturb the club’s etiquette rules and upset any members on their regular days of golf.

  Felix was a bit bleary eyed. ‘I thought Onkel Bernd and Axel were playing with us?’

  ‘No, it’s just us today. We’ve a nice morning for it.’

  They enjoyed some competitive banter as they played and half way around the course, Klaus sliced his tee shot into the woods on purpose.

  ‘Damn!’ Klaus cried. ‘That’s my favourite ball.’

  ‘We’ve got time to look for it as we’re ahead of play. We’ll find it, I saw exactly where it went in,’ Felix said confidently.

  They left their golf trolleys at the edge of the woodland, both taking a golf wedge to help them search the undergrowth for the missing ball. Once out of sight and earshot of any passing golfer, Klaus put his arm on Felix’s shoulder and looked him directly in the eye.

  ‘Felix… I know. I made Ingrid tell me.’

  Felix understood. He swung his golf club hard at the ground. ‘Fic !’ He turned to storm off but Klaus held his arms with as much force as he could muster.

  ‘Stop! Felix, we’ve got to talk about it.’

  ‘Who else knows?’ Felix demanded.

  ‘Just the three of us.’

  ‘I had the feeling you hit that ball in here on purpose,’ Felix said.

  Klaus nodded. ‘Now my lad, I want the truth. Did you really do it?’

  ‘What can I say? Yes, I did it. I killed three men and nearly killed that woman.’

  ‘You killed three Torgau men, that’s the difference, and that woman helped them. They all got what they deserved,’ Klaus stated.

  ‘I’m a murderer. It isn’t right but I had no choice.’

  Klaus shook his head. ‘No, you had a choice. Why the hell didn’t you talk to me? I could have helped you.’

  ‘One of them turned up at the golf club and threatened to set the paedophiles on Axel, and I panicked. I didn’t plan to kill him.’

  ‘But you took my gun?’

  Felix nodded. ‘To protect myself. I knew Horst would threaten me and when he wanted things back the way they used to be and said he’d go after Axel, I knew I couldn’t let him live. So I drove his car into the lake at Muggelsee. The others had to follow.’

  ‘You nearly lost your own life in the process.’

  ‘Axel’s life is worth more than mine. Onkel, sometimes in life we have to run towards the things that make us want to run away.’

  Klaus put his arms around Felix. ‘Thank you for protecting Axel.’

  ‘But how do I tell my wife and child who I am?’ Felix asked.

  ‘You certainly don’t tell her while she’s pregnant,’ Klaus advised. ‘When the baby’s born you could tell her, though. Martha loves you, she’ll understand.’

  ‘It might repulse her to be touched by me, a murderer.’

  ‘Never! She knows what they did to you at Torgau, she’s always known and loves you no matter what.’

  ‘I’m not the person she thinks I am,’ Felix said, tears in his eyes. ‘I’ve let her down. I’ve let you all down. Onkel, I feel so ashamed.’

  Klaus was outraged. ‘What about the Torgau rapists and their shame? My poor lad, doesn’t anyone ever learn? Isn’t it enough that Germans have always felt a ceaseless sense of shame? And yes, we were a disgrace, and to atone for Hitler’s war it might always be this way, this perpetual mantle of feeling ashamed. Felix, for different reasons, you’ll just have to be another generation of Germans that learns to live with your shame.’

  ‘You mean, hide how we really feel? I think we all hide as human beings and we only show the parts of ourselves we want others to see. Onkel, I’ve hidden so much that I’ve become an expert at hiding,’ Felix confessed.

  ‘Good. Felix, if you’d committed unforgivable crimes without any provocation, I’d turn you in myself. Just don’t tell me you feel shame for getting your own back on those bastards. Rapists and paedophiles get what they deserve.’

  ‘And Ingrid?’

  ‘It’s always been us as a family against the world. Felix, promise me you won’t be too hard on Ingrid for telling me?’

  ‘I promise.’

  ‘Good lad. But be on your guard, the police are on your trail. They rang the golf club a few weeks ago, asking if we remembered employing a security man in September 1992.’

  Felix was concerned. ‘That’d be Horst Gwisdek. What did you say?’

  ‘I told them I can’t remember last week, let alone over 10 years ago. They mentioned a cheque we sent him for his work because he never banked it. To think he was there, on our doorstep and we would have paid him for his contributions. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it,’ Klaus admitted.

  ‘Did they believe you?’ Felix asked.

  ‘I think so. They know there are lots of people that come and go over the years at a golf club. But I remember him and I’d bet Bernd would too. This Gwisdek was cocksure and sycophantic around the celebrity golfers.’

  ‘What if the police question Bernd?’

  Klaus shook his head. ‘After all his years in the Politburo, Bernd can smell a rat and would speak with me before he spoke to the police, so try not to worry.’

  ‘Onkel, I left clues at the scenes of my crimes.’

  ‘You did? You can’t obsess about that now, it’s done and you can’t change anything.’

  ‘Shall I give myself up?’

  Klaus was unsure how to reply. ‘That’s your decision.’

  ‘It would bring shame upon the family,’ Felix told him.

  ‘I’m not ashamed of you. Whatever you decide, we’ll cope and stick together and it doesn’t matter what others think. Stuff the law! We understand your motives.’

  ‘Onkel, in the eyes of the law, there are no excuses for murder.’

  ‘I might be wrong but I think you’d be tried as a minor. Felix, you were 17 when you committed these crimes. You’d be tried with older laws and subject to the legislation that was in force at the time.’

  ‘How many years would I get?’

  ‘Who knows? But they haven’t caught you yet,’ Klaus replied.

  Chapter Thirty-eight: The Nursing Home

  STEFAN GLOCKNER PICKED UP Hanne on Monday morning and they set off for Dresden. As he drove, Hanne looked through the case file and studied the birth and death certificates relating to Susanne Waltz and her son Axel. She was full of imponderable questions.

  ‘We need to find out what happened to Axel after his mother’s death,’ Stefan reminded her. ‘I thought you said we were going to check adoption records.’

  Hanne grimaced. ‘There’s not been time and getting evidence from old, East German records is like asking Kruger to stop being grumpy – bloody difficult and a slow process.’

  Glockner smiled. ‘You’re not wrong there! You don’t think Axel died too in the same accident as his mother, and it was all covered up?’

  ‘I’ve a gut feeling Axel’s alive so we have to ask ourselves who would be likely to adopt him. Someone must have helped Susanne Waltz after she left Torgau.’

  ‘Drais… You can’t present evidence in court on gut feeling alone.’

  Hanne read aloud. ‘Father Jakob Waltz, age 21, mother Sofie, nee Baum, age 20. If we get their marriage certificate it’ll show where they married.’

  G
lockner understood the direction in which Hanne’s mind was travelling. ‘Normally, you marry in your local church or town hall,’ he responded.

  ‘Exactly! My bet’s a town hall because Communism and Christianity were an unlikely alliance,’ Hanne agreed. ‘Faith wasn’t predominant in a Russian, Stasi-run state.’

  ‘And maybe Jakob and Sofie had brothers and sisters?’

  ‘Once we know where Susanne’s parents lived at the time of their marriage, we’ll check the census records – it might give us a list of possible siblings.’

  ‘Drais, do you talk about the case in your sleep?’

  ‘Dunno, ask Brigitte,’ Hanne replied with a cheeky grin.

  ‘She’s OK, you’re girlfriend, I liked her. Hanne, I’m pleased for you.’

  ‘Thanks, Stefan. I don’t want to tempt providence and say I’m happy but I am, and if my girlfriend can handle my mother, she’s doing well.’

  ‘Your mother is quite a cabaret act.’

  Hanne laughed. ‘Yes, she is!’

  ‘Are you really related to the inventor of the first known bicycle?’

  ‘Stefan! Don’t start!’

  Arriving at the Dresden nursing home a few hours later, they were greeted by a wizened and feisty Uwe Muller. He was the manager who had worked there when Susanne Waltz gave birth but had long since retired. His daughter was now manager of the home, currently catering for elderly, retired folk. Uwe visited daily to take part in yoga sessions, play cards, darts or bingo with his fellow pensioners.

  The interview took place in a conservatory overlooking a garden where the signs of spring were evident in the daisies and daffodils pushing through the earth. Refreshments were provided and Stefan and Hanne were invited to help themselves to drinks and sandwiches.

  ‘Thank you for the refreshments,’ Hanne said.

  ‘You’re welcome,’ Uwe replied. ‘When I heard the police were interested in a girl from Torgau I was a bit surprised but I hope I’ll be able to help in some way.’

  ‘When did this place stop being a nursing home?’ Stefan asked.

  ‘Oh, not long after the Wall came down. It was a bit sad taking in all those young girls with their teenage pregnancies, so we modernised the place and turned it into a retirement home. So much nicer and more respectable as an establishment.’

  Hanne tried not to be judgmental of this old man. ‘Were there many under age pregnancies from Torgau?’

  Uwe nodded. ‘And you’re interested in Susanne Waltz?’

  ‘You remember her?’ Hanne asked.

  ‘Yes, she was a sweet girl. Never said much, she seemed lost in her own little world. She was the last Torgau girl to give birth here,’ Uwe told them.

  Stefan read from his notes. ‘Susanne Waltz gave birth to a boy, Axel, on 30thSeptember 1989. Who delivered the baby?’

  ‘That’d be Dr Jens. He brought Susanne here, said he wanted to help deliver the baby and we were to call him when she went into labour.’

  Hanne recalled that Wolfgang had spoken of a Dr Jens. ‘The doctor brought her here?’

  ‘Yes. Dr Jens worked at Torgau.’

  ‘What was his full name?’ Stefan asked.

  ‘My memory’s not what it was,’ Uwe admitted. ‘We all just knew him as Dr Jens. He brought a lot of girls here to have their babies, before they returned to Torgau, sadly without their babies.’

  Hanne was intrigued. ‘Who kept the babies?’

  Uwe felt uncomfortable but knew he had to answer the questions truthfully. ‘The state authorities decided and the children were put up for adoption.’

  ‘Including Susanne Waltz’s son?’ Stefan asked.

  ‘No, that was down to Dr Jens. He felt there was imminent change in the air, what with all the demonstrations and the fall of Communism in the Eastern Bloc. He told us Susanne was keeping the baby and was to stay here under his jurisdiction until she’d recovered from the birth. And he’d pay all her costs.’

  ‘And when the Berlin Wall fell and Torgau closed? Susanne Waltz was free to leave with her baby son?’ Stefan asked.

  ‘That is correct,’ Uwe replied.

  ‘Could your old records tell us when she left and where she went to?’ Hanne asked.

  Uwe shook his head. ‘I don’t have any records. Who wants to be reminded of that era?’

  Hanne sighed. ‘That’s a shame, but I understand.’

  ‘It’s funny isn’t it? Old people talk about the past because we don’t have much of a future but we want to be selective. A lot of us don’t care to talk about the past in East Germany, as if we’re ashamed about our lives,’ Uwe told them, wistfully.

  ‘We’ll have to find another way of tracing the boy, Axel,’ Hanne said.

  Uwe was confused. ‘I thought you wanted to trace Susanne?’

  Hanne shook her head. ‘Sadly, no. Susanne’s death was recorded in Kopenick in December 1989. She died as a result of a fall.’

  Uwe was genuinely dismayed. ‘Nein!’

  ‘I’m sorry to be the bearer of sad tidings,’ Hanne said apologetically.

  Glockner thought they were wasting time. ‘Herr Muller, thank you for seeing us.’

  The old man’s eyes lit up. ‘Wait a minute… When Dr Jens left Torgau, he came to goodbye to Susanne. I remember the poor girl saying Dr Jens told her he’d got a job at a surgery in Kopenick. He paid her bills in advance but never came back to see her and I think Susanne felt abandoned all over again, that is until...’

  Hanne interrupted. ‘Do you think Dr Jens registered the death?’ she said and looked at Susanne’s death certificate. ‘I didn’t spot it before, the doctor’s name is illegible! Here, take a look.’

  Uwe shook his head. ‘Even with my glasses I can’t read that signature but I was about to tell you, Susanne’s relatives turned up here unexpectedly and took her away.’

  Stefan perked up. ‘Susanne’s relatives?’

  Uwe nodded. ‘We all thought she was an orphan but apparently these relatives knew nothing about her being in Torgau and when the Wall fell they came looking for her.’

  Hanne was pleased to hear this. ‘Do you remember anything about them?’

  ‘They were brothers and Susanne was their niece.’

  ‘Do you recall their names?’ Glockner asked.

  ‘It was a long time ago… Wait! One of them was a politician.’

  ‘A politician?’ Glockner repeated.

  ‘In East Berlin,’ Uwe recalled. ‘He came to assist his brother in an official capacity and waited in the reception area. Yes, I remember. It was his brother who was Susanne’s Onkel… Onkel Klaus. That’s right, his name was Klaus.’

  ‘That’s great that you remembered,’ Hanne enthused.

  ‘I asked Klaus for proof of who he was, I mean, Susanne knew him and told me he was her Onkel but I insisted on seeing some sort of proof before I let a girl leave the home with two men.’

  ‘What proof did Onkel Klaus offer?’ Glockner asked.

  ‘It was a will that stated Susanne would inherit her grandmother’s house. Klaus showed his marriage certificate to prove he was married to the grandmother’s daughter.’

  It was a long shot. ‘Do you remember where Klaus lived?’ Hanne asked, thinking her question would be in vain.

  Uwe nodded his head. ‘They lived by a lake, around the Spreewald.’

  ‘If you do remember any names or any other details, please, give us a call,’ Glockner said, handing Uwe his card.

  ‘Thank you, Herr Muller, you’ve been a great help.’ Hanne said appreciatively.

  When Glockner and Hanne were alone in the car, Hanne began to cry.

  Glockner understood. ‘This case has got to you, eh?’

  ‘More than usual, more than I thought possible.’

  ‘Because there are kids involved?’ Stefan surmised.

  Hanne nodded and blew her nose. ‘It’s silly, I know, but I was happy to hear Susanne had a family and they didn’t forget her and found her. But she didn’t get a happy ending, did she?
’

  ‘Does anyone? Onkel Klaus arrived a few years too late for her. You’re a big softy inside your tough shell, eh Drais?’

  Hanne didn’t answer until she added: ‘I don’t believe Axel was given away, because he’s all they had left of Susanne. My bet is that Onkel Klaus and his wife adopted him.’

  Chapter Thirty-nine: Wannsee

  IN THE MIDDLE OF March, Lotte Holler decided she’d had enough of hospital life. No one could get her to change her mind and wait any longer and Lotte presented her sister and Dr Roth with a fait accompli . She would continue her rehabilitation in a home of her own and much to Julia’s annoyance she discharged herself from hospital and moved into her beautiful, modern rented home on a hill scattered with pine trees overlooking the River Wannsee.

  Lotte had insisted on four bedrooms because she wanted her nephews to have their own rooms, complete with en suite bathrooms, when they came to stay. There were two reception rooms and a conservatory overlooking a south-facing garden containing a pond and rockery. In secluded areas of the expansive grounds were seating areas and a summerhouse amid the topiary. A small hut for Frank and Tomas to play in was filled with games, a computer console and large screen plus a billiards table.

  Julia and the boys spent the Easter holiday weekends at the Wannsee house and their routine was soon established. They would go there on Friday evenings through to Monday mornings and quickly adjusted to their new life by the lake and surrounding countryside. They enjoyed living between two places – Berlin city life during the week and the wealth and luxuries at Wannsee – courtesy of their kind and generous benefactor, Tante Lotte – at weekends.

  After two years of negotiation, which started way before she came out of her coma, the courts compensated Lotte for being a victim of crime. The Berlin solicitors representing her secured Lotte a settlement of just over one million euros, which meant she was financially comfortable for life.

  Lotte was at last feeling well again and enjoying her new-found wealth. She had bought a new car for Julia and one for herself, which she drove tentatively. She tended not to drive anywhere far and stuck to local roads for the time being. There was a lot more traffic now and drivers seemed far more aggressive and prone to outbursts of road rage. She began attending events at her new social club in the area, keeping herself busy during the week while she looked forward to Julia and the boys arriving on a Friday evening. She didn’t get the chance to feel lonely because she had company most of the time. She could afford to employ a nurse and a housekeeper and the local police checked on her daily. Plain-clothed police officers were stopping by to check on her every couple of hours and were only a phone call away should she need them.