Hedwig entered the house and locked the door.
Jacob and Edmund sat on the sofa playing a board game, waiting for her return.
As Hedwig took off her shoes, she asked, “Edmund? Remember the day they came to take you to camp?”
“Yes, of course.”
“The two men who were here tonight were the ones that took you, correct?”
“Yes.”
“You are sure?”
“Of course, they are my instructors at camp.”
Hedwig kissed each of her brothers on the head before climbing the stairs. “Good night men.”
As she approached her room, Hedwig began to undress. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror, and whispered, “It is him. Do not doubt yourself. Edmund confirmed it. Get close to him, let others see you enjoying a loving relationship, and no one will suspect differently.” She took a deep breath as she examined her reflection in the mirror, “You can do this.”
Chapter 16
The next morning Jacob and Edmund went fishing. They headed to the lake next to the park where Hedwig and Edmund often picnicked.
As Jacob strung the rods with hooks and weights, he asked Edmund, “Do you remember when you were little? You used to tell me that not throwing the fish back was like murder. You called me a fish killer.”
“No, I don't.”
“There was one time you yelled at Papa for killing the fish like I did. 'Papa. You killed it, now you are just like him.' and you pointed at me.” Jacob continued stringing the next rod. “After that, you insisted we throw all the fish back into the lake.”
Edmund chuckled, “I don't remember.”
Very few people were around that morning, and Edmund felt they could converse freely. “Jacob, there is something I need to tell you. Last night Hedwig said something pretty frightening.”
Jacob tried to soothe his brother's worries. “Hedwig has gone through many changes and will need us to be patient with her. Dealing with our parents' deaths was hard for all of us, but she is a woman. Women react differently to such things. Then she and Fritz married, which brought more changes for her. Now that he is dead she probably seems lost.”
“So what do we do for her?”
Jacob put the bait on the fishing lines while sitting next to Edmund. “We try to help her. Be obedient. Listen if she wants to talk. Be sure not to discuss the things she says with anyone. No one. Do you hear me? Women are often irrational and do not mean the things they say.”
Edmund nodded.
“Our sister is headstrong. She always was, even as a toddler. Rather than ask for help, she would try things on her own.”
“Hedwig scared me when she got sick two weeks ago. She took one look at my instructor and fainted. Lieutenant Reinhard called for a doctor because she was so sick. And last night they went dancing? I do not understand.”
Jacob smiled, “It is my fault she went out with him. I thought it would be a good idea for her to laugh and have some fun. To enjoy some music. But what do you mean she fainted? Neither of you said anything about this before.”
Edmund was adamant, “When she saw him, she got sick. She fainted. And last night before they went out, she said she was going to kill him.”
Jacob looked around instinctively. No one was there. “She what? Are you sure? You must have misunderstood.”
Edmund shrugged his shoulder and cast the line into the water. “Believe what you want. My two instructors that were here last night were the same two men who took me six months ago. Our sister got sick when she saw the one, so she recognized him. She fainted and a doctor was called when she saw the other one. Last night she asked me if Lieutenant Gottlieb was a nice man.” Edmund reeled in some of the line before he turned to face Jacob. “When I told her he was, she told me she only needed to kill one of them.”
Jacob mulled over their conversation. His long separation from his siblings put him at a disadvantage for insight. Deciding if Hedwig was incapable of murder would be ill conceived. He did not know her well enough.
Jacob tried to change the subject, but kept the thoughts of Hedwig in his mind. “Tell me, what is it like at camp?”
“That is something else I wanted to talk to you about. They want us to tell them things about our families. The instructor, Lieutenant Reinhard, wants me to tell him if the other boys are lying or keeping secrets from him. It is not fair.”
Jacob cast his line, “What do they ask about the families?”
Edmund shrugged, “Things like Hedwig says. Who is saying bad things about the Fuehrer and Germany. Who says bad things about the Nazi Party.”
Jacob looked at his brother's face and saw no emotion. “And do some of the boys tell what their families are saying?”
“They do, but I can only guess what happens afterward. I assume bad things happen to them.”
Jacob reeled his line in slowly. “And did you tell them some of the things Hedwig said?”
“No. But it is hard to know what it right. I want to be a good person and a good German. I will one day be a member of the SS and lead Germany to victory. But I love our sister. I'm pretty sure if I told the things she says, they would throw her in jail. Maybe worse.”
“What makes you say that?”
Edmund turned to his brother. “The first day of class, a boy told them he and his father were not happy with the Nazi Party. An hour later, they executed him.”
Jacob dropped his pole, “What do you mean executed? What did he say about the party? He must have attacked an officer or something?”
“No, sir. He was respectful and taken out of the room for questioning. An officer shot him outside my classroom window where we all saw the body.”
Jacob looked out onto the water and whispered, “Hedwig said I would not understand. She warned me that I did not know.”
“What am I supposed to do, sir? What is right? It appears I am being expected to choose between loyalty to Germany and loyalty to Hedwig.”
Jacob squatted down slightly to get even with Edmund's eyes. “Listen to me. I have recently made connections that can look into the things you are telling me. There is no way high ranking party officials would allow such actions to occur if they knew. They would never allow the execution of German children for disagreeing with politics. I will speak to my connections to try to get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, keep your mouth shut about Hedwig. She is still sick from grief of her husband dying. That is all. She is angry at the entire world because of it. It is normal. Didn't you feel that way when Mama and Papa died?”
Edmund nodded his head.
“Now that I have these party connections, I need you to call me or write me anytime you need help. If for any reason you or Hedwig are in trouble, you call me. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Jacob sighed, “Is there anything else you need to tell me?”
Edmund thought while casting his line into the lake again. “Yes. When I was away, I got letters in Hedwig's penmanship, but she says she didn't write them. One of the letters informed me Fritz died from illness, but in person she said an SS officer killed him. At first she tried to convince me Lieutenant Gottlieb killed Fritz, but I was with him the entire time. It was not him.”
Jacob was unsure what to make of that.
“Sir, is it possible Hedwig is going mad and does not remember writing the letters?”
Jacob shook his head and replied, “Perhaps I should visit more often.”
“Good idea. You can try to keep her from killing Lieutenant Gottlieb. I really like him. He is the nice one from last night. No one would miss the other one.”
The whole conversation rattled Jacob. Children reporting infractions of parents. Hedwig writing letters she did not write. Edmund hoping his sister killed the right instructor. This was madness.
Jacob watched Edmund cast his rod and thought, He does not even seem affected. This all seems normal to him. God help us all.
Chapter 17
On Monday morning, Edmund arr
ived at his classroom a little early. Johann sat at his desk looking over some papers.
“Geiger, come here.”
Edmund hurried to the front of the instructor’s desk and snapped to attention. “Yes, sir?”
“Is there anything you wish to tell me?”
“No, sir.”
“Nothing at all?”
Edmund remained a statue, “No sir. Nothing to report.”
“How is your sister, Geiger?”
Edmund grimaced, “My sister is fine, sir. Thank you for asking.”
“Did she speak of me at all?”
Yeah, she said she wanted to kill you, Edmund thought. “No, sir.”
Johann winced with disappointed, “Go back to your seat.”
The day started with the usual questions geared toward improving observation skills. However, Edmund noticed Johann seemed distracted. He was not his usual, intense self. He did not even record the names and addresses of the family and neighbors mentioned by the students in their routine reports.
When the class ended, the boys rushed out of the room. Gustav entered, “Hello, my friend. How are you this afternoon?”
“Gustav, I am in trouble. I cannot eat nor sleep. All I can do is think of her. Today I even asked her fifteen year old brother if she spoke of me.”
Gustav sat on one of the desks and laughed. “By God, you are in love. I never suspected the word was in your vocabulary.”
“Laugh all you want. I liked it better last week before I went out with her.”
“Did she agree to go out with you again?”
Johann nodded, “Yes, for dinner. Where should I take her?”
“There is a quaint place down on Howsen Street. I took Heidi there for our first dinner date.”
Johann lit a cigarette. His hands trembled. “Look at me, I cannot even light a match. What is going to happen when I fire a weapon?” Johann's eyes grew wide, then drifted to Gustav, “Did Heidi say anything? Did Hedwig tell her anything about me?”
“Perhaps I should enroll you in this class. It seems you should be a student not an instructor, because you are acting like a love sick schoolboy.”
Johann knew it was true. “I wish I could just order her to fall in love with me and be done with it.”
“If only life were that easy,” Gustav said. “Come, let us go get some coffee.”
As the two men walked to the front of the school building, Hedwig approached with a basket. “Hello. I hoped you would accompany me on a picnic in the park. Officers can picnic, can't they?”
Johann could not take his eyes off her and pushed his friend. “Gustav was just leaving. I would be delighted to picnic with you.”
“Good, I made something special, just for you.”
Chapter 18
Johann spread out the blanket on the freshly cut grass of the park. He extended his long frame across the blanket and admired Hedwig as she squatted to open the basket.
“This was a wonderful idea. Thank you for thinking of me,” he said to Hedwig. “But how did you find the school? I don't believe I told you where it was. And I hope Edmund did not disclose its location.”
“Heidi told me. Apparently she and Lieutenant Gottlieb are becoming close friends,” she responded. “I hope you are not angry, but I wanted you to enjoy this beautiful day. It would be a pity for you to miss it while locked up in the classroom.”
Hedwig pulled items out of the basket and neatly arranged them.
“Jacob returned to America today. I was sad to see him go,” Hedwig admitted.
Johann grabbed an apple slice and crunched it between his teeth. “I'm sorry to hear that. It's a shame you did not have more time to spend with him. He seems like a nice fellow, and I hope to meet him again.”
“And my younger brother has no time for me because of his mean, nasty instructor.” They both laughed.
Johann leaned into her, “Perhaps I should speak with this nasty instructor. How dare he put a frown on this goddess-like face.” His index finger stroked down her cheek and rested on her chin. He pulled her in close for a kiss.
Hedwig looked around, hoping to draw the attention of passersby. She needed others to regard them as a happy couple. It was all part of her plan.
Her hat blew off in the slight breeze, and she giggled loudly as Johann grabbed it. He placed it back on her head and kissed her again.
“Gustav suggested we dine at the new place on Howsen Street. Is that acceptable to you? Or do you wish to go elsewhere?”
Hedwig poured some wine and replied, “That is a wonderful idea. Heidi raved about that place.”
Suddenly a ball came hurling toward the couple, knocking the wine all over Hedwig's dress. Johann immediately switched into SS mode.
He stood and yelled to the boys who played nearby, “You two. Get over here, now.”
The boys were hesitant.
“I said NOW.”
This time they scurried toward the couple, heads hanging down.
Johann's voice became loud and cross, “Isn't there something you want to say to this young lady?”
“We're sorry, ma'am.”
“Is that the best you can do? What are your names and addresses? I shall discuss this with your fathers.”
Hedwig stood and wiped down her dress with a rag. “Really, it is not necessary Johann. It was an accident, and they did not mean it.”
He turned to her and with a cold tone said, “Never interrupt me when I am conducting my business. Never.”
Johann turned back to the boys, “Your names and addresses, NOW.”
Hedwig packed up the basket and headed for home while he was writing down the information he requested.
By the time he noticed she left, she was already at the entrance to the park. Johann ran to catch up with her. In a calm and pleasant tone he said, “I'm sorry. I did not mean to sound cruel. But I must deal with people in a certain way that demands results. It is my job.”
“Well, you are quite adept at your job, Lieutenant Reinhard.”
He grabbed her arm, getting her to stop walking. “If I allow you to undermine me in public, it will make me appear weak. In the SS, we represent the strength of Germany. You would not want me to dishonor our great nation in this way? Would you?”
Hedwig pulled her arm from his grip and continued walking. “You need to learn the meaning of the word compassion. You exude no thoughtfulness or concern for others at all.”
Johann threw up his hands. “How is it that companies of men jump at my command, and I cannot get you to even listen to my explanations?”
Hedwig looked at him, “The answer to that is easy. I am not afraid of you. Besides, I am not one of your men. I do not expect Sergeant Cold Heart when we are together.”
“I'm a Lieutenant,” Johann replied.
Hedwig responded, “Like I care.”
“Stop, please. Lieutenant Cold Heart admits he was wrong. This is all new to me. Never before has my heart been struck by the cupid's arrow as it was the day we met. Give me a chance, please.”
He leaned into her, and whispered into her ear, “Please. My cold heart will melt if you stand near me just a few moments longer.”
Hedwig glanced around noticing people within ear shot. She giggled loudly to gain the attention of those around them. To secure longer stares, Hedwig kissed Johann long and hard.
As they embraced, she thought, I used the last of my rat poison on those sandwiches you did not eat. Enjoy your time threatening people, Lieutenant Cold Heart. Your time on this planet is short.
Chapter 19
Hedwig and Johann had been dating for six months, and all seemed to be going well. Johann was deeply in love, and even Edmund commented that he seemed less strict in class. Colonel and Frau Reinhard enjoyed the company of both Hedwig and Heidi during monthly dinners at their home.
On the first anniversary of Fritz's death, Colonel Reinhard held a dinner party. Heidi and Gustav were in attendance as well as Johann and Hedwig.
Heidi
, Hedwig and Frau Reinhard gathered in one corner of the room. They chatted about recipes and baking while the men smoked cigars in the other corner. The men discussed the economy and military actions.
Hedwig's smile across the room distracted Johann from his father's words. Johann held a cigarette in one hand and a wine glass in the other while keeping a constant eye on Hedwig.
As he took a sip, his father exclaimed, “I'm still in shock over your relationship with this woman. I never thought it would advance this far, but she truly seems to make you happy.”
Johann responded, “And why are you shocked, Father?”
The colonel continued, “Because you killed her husband, that is why. Women do not look kindly upon men who kill their husbands.”
Johann choked on his drink. He reached for Gustav who pounded on his back. The two friends looked at each other then back to the colonel.
“What do you mean I killed her husband?”
“Surely, you must remember shooting a man?”
“Father, I shoot a lot of men in my service to Germany. Please explain your comment.”
The colonel took a drink from his glass, “It was about a year ago. Your report said the husband attacked you, and you had no choice but to shoot to kill. It was the day you took the boy from the house.”
Gustav's eyes sparked with recognition, “The husband who offered us the bribe not to take the boy. I knew that woman looked familiar.”
“Father, when did you discover this?”
“That night at the dance when you introduced us. I had already done business with her family.”
Johann's face went blank. His hands clenched. Gustav knew that look. “Perhaps she does not remember.” Gustav tried to convince his friend.
“She does not remember I killed her husband? Do you truly believe that?” Johann twirled around in a circle, thinking back on the past months. “That is why she fainted when she first saw me. She knew then.”
Johann darted across the room and grabbed Hedwig by the wrist. “Pardon me, Mother. We need to leave.”
“Johann, what are you doing? What's going on?” Hedwig protested, but it was no use.
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