“Hedwig, you killed him didn't you? You are just like them.”
She embraced her brother, causing onlookers to assume they huddled to grieve together. She whispered in his ear, “Edmund, I suggest you watch your tone. Look around. People might get the wrong idea.”
The boy began crying on his sister's shoulder, “I do not understand. I know what you said that night. You said it.”
Hedwig pulled back, looking into her brother's eyes, “Whatever you think I said was probably a dream. A dream which you will never speak of again.”
As she touched his cheek, he put his hand to hers and felt the engagement ring. He pulled her hand from his face and his eyes grew wide.
“Engaged? You two got engaged? Fritz was like a father to me. You agreed to marry without even mourning him properly? Then you killed the man you agreed to marry? What has happened to you?”
Hedwig lost patience with him. She grabbed both his shoulders, “Keep your voice down. I told you, none of this is your concern.”
Edmund looked at her as anger erupted within him. “Jacob told me you are both loyal Nazi Party members. I did not believe it until now. You are like them. Perhaps I should be the good little Hitler Youth and report you for your infraction.”
Hedwig grabbed him as he tried to turn away, “You keep your mouth shut and forget things that are none of your concern.”
The colonel and his wife approached the brother and sister. Hedwig pulled her brother's head to her chest and rubbed his head as if consoling him. “Darling, we all cared for him. It will be all right.”
Edmund pulled from her and snapped to attention, “Heil Hitler. Colonel Reinhard, sir, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. I am sorry for your loss.”
“At ease, son. At ease.” The colonel looked the boy over quickly, “My son had spoke very highly of you. He told me you are one of the great future leaders of the Third Reich.”
“Thank you, sir. He was an honorable man who taught me well.”
“Yes, that is evident by your deportment.”
Frau Reinhard reached for Hedwig's hand. “Dear, perhaps your brother should come stay with us for some time. It may help to ease your pain.” She turned to her husband, “Is it not possible for young Geiger to be granted leave from his schooling? He must come visit with us.”
Hedwig tried to intervene, “It might not be good to break his routine. Is it not best for children to stick to their schedule?”
“Dear, he is nearly a man. And his place is by your side right now. Yes, he will come with us. My husband will make the arrangements.” The two women walked slowly toward the waiting cars, Heidi joined them along the way.
Hedwig looked at her brother who wore an evil smirk.
The colonel leaned into him, “Who says women do not run the world?”
“It will be a great honor to come visit your home, sir. I would greatly like to discuss many things with you. I thank you for the opportunity, sir.”
The colonel looked toward his son's grave, “Well, your sister meant a great deal to my son. A great deal. I want her to suffer as little as possible.”
Edmund's evil smirk returned. “Lieutenant Reinhard meant a great deal to Hedwig also, sir. Perhaps one day you will realize just how great.”
Chapter 23
Jacob called the New York office of the Friends of New Germany to make his travel arrangements.
The voice on the other end of the phone greeted him, “Herr Geiger. It is so good to hear from you. Have you given any thought into heading an office in your city?”
“Actually, sir, yes I have. I am considering it quite seriously. However, a development has arisen. One of a personal nature.”
The voice replied, “How can we help?”
Jacob gripped the telephone, “I need to secure passage to Germany as soon as possible.”
“That will not be a problem, sir. Will you be needing traveling funds as well?”
“Yes. How difficult will that be to arrange?”
The voice added, “Please contact Mr. Prescott Bush, the President of the Bank of Manhattan. Give him reference number 50952. He will have traveling funds available for you to withdrawal immediately. You are located in Philadelphia, correct sir?”
“Yes, I am.”
With great efficiency, the voice informed Jacob, “There is a vessel leaving the port of New York the day after tomorrow. It is bound for Hamburg. You can then travel by train to Landstuhl. Do you have your passport readily available, Herr Geiger?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Good. There is a train out of Philadelphia bound for New York at 7pm tonight. A ticket will be waiting at the counter for you. Proceed to the Windsor Arms Hotel where a prepaid reservation awaits in your name.”
“I understand. Thank you.”
“Inside your hotel suite will be a key to a safe deposit box of the Bank of Manhattan. Give that key to Mr. Prescott Bush. He will provide you with documents which you are required to complete in exchange for your passage to Germany.”
Jacob was relieved, “Yes, I understand. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.”
Jacob quickly packed his bags and headed for the train station. He did not bother trying to explain to Alois. He needed to head to Germany to help Hedwig.
When he arrived at the train station, the ticket was waiting for him as promised. During the train ride, he wondered if what Alois said was true. Had he been translating documents for the wrong side? What side does one fall on when he is native to one country, yet lives in another? Jacob thought.
Jacob's immigration to America gave him an apartment wrapped in poverty and a low paying job. His employment with the Nazi Party not only paid the bills, but was depositing money into Hedwig's accounts so she and Edmund would want for nothing. To which of these countries should he remain loyal?
The troubled man with dual citizenship arrived at the extremely ornate hotel, never before having seen such decadence. Jacob felt under dressed as he looked around at the patrons.
After registering and entering his room, he soon found the key. Jacob washed up and headed to bed, wondering what he would find in Germany. Is my sister an innocent suspect in a murder? Or an unsuspected murderer?
The next day he headed to the Bank of Manhattan, and met with Prescott Bush. “Good morning, Herr Geiger. I am pleased to meet you.”
“And to you, sir. I do thank you for making things so easy for me. My business is of an urgent nature.”
“I understand. If you allow me, I will take the key from you and return in a moment.”
Jacob complied and waited a few minutes for the man's return. Mr. Bush handed Jacob several envelopes and a cigar box made of wood.
“This first envelope comprises one thousand U.S. Dollars. The second envelope contains the equivalent in Deutsche Marks of the Third Reich. And finally, this third envelope contains the documents containing the tasks you are to complete in exchange for your passage. In the box you will find everything you need for such a task. Please open it in private.”
Two thousand dollars? That is a lot of money. Jacob shifted in his seat. “Tasks? I assumed I needed to complete some documents.”
Mr. Bush smiled, “My dear sir, I fear you misunderstood. The documents describe the mission you must complete. There is no other way.”
“I am sorry, you must be confused. I do not complete missions, I translate.” Jacob pushed the envelope and box across the desk to Mr. Bush.
Mr. Bush leaned forward in his chair, resting his arms on his desk, “Then translate this: Complete this mission, or the next envelope's mission will have your name in it.” He pushed the envelope and box across the desk to Jacob once more, then stood. “Good day, Herr Geiger. Enjoy your trip.”
Chapter 24
The Reinhards' butler prepared for the meal service while the family took their places. Hedwig and Edmund sat next to each other, while the colonel and his wife sat at either end of the elegant table. Gustav and Heidi entered the dining room.
Heidi blushed. Edmund stood at attention.
“Geiger, you may sit. We are all family here.” Edmund did as instructed.
Gustav leaned into Frau Reinhard and gave her a kiss. The older woman responded, “Nonsense dear. You never need apologize. Your presence is always desired regardless of tardiness.”
Gustav walked to the colonel who rose from his chair, and the two shook hands. Then Gustav reached for Hedwig's hand and kissed it.
Heidi playfully responded, “She is my friend, and you best keep your distance, Mr. Charmer.”
The group laughed slightly as the servers brought the meal.
“So did anyone read the papers today? There is good news for the economy.” Gustav questioned with a smile.
A group of soldiers burst into the dining room.
The butler ran into the room, “Forgive me, sir. They just barged in.”
Colonel Reinhard stood, “What is the meaning of this intrusion?”
The leader bowed to the colonel, “Forgive us, sir. But we need to take Frau Schultz and Herr Geiger to headquarters for questioning.”
The colonel threw his napkin on the table and straightened his back. “This is a house of mourning, Captain. I suggest you leave these premises immediately.”
“Colonel, sir. We have our orders.” He handed a piece of paper to the colonel who read it intently.
“No, this can't be. This can't be.” The colonel handed the paper back, “This is a mistake.”
“Sir, I received permission to occupy the house if you resist.” The colonel sat, looking into the distance.
Gustav grabbed the document, read it and replied, “The colonel is correct. This is a mistake.” He took a sip of his drink and touched the hand of Frau Reinhard. “Hedwig, Edmund. We must go with them for questioning.” Gustav looked into the captain's face, “I will remain with you as an escort to ensure all is handled properly.”
The captain bowed his head, “That is not a bad idea, considering your close relationship to Lieutenant Reinhard and Frau Schultz. Perhaps you can answer some questions as well.”
Frau Reinhard begged her husband, “Please, do something. This girl has been through too much already.”
“There is nothing I can do. The orders come from above me. I can try to make a few calls..... but...”
Heidi twisted in her chair, “What's happening? Where are they going?”
The siblings clung to each other while officers whisked them into a motorcade of police vehicles. Gustav followed in his own motorcar. They soon arrived at Gestapo Headquarters.
The captain insisted on separating the siblings into two different rooms. The rooms were dark, and water dripped from somewhere. There was a moldy, mildew smell in an otherwise pristine building.
The captain made Hedwig wait in the dark room for quite some time before he entered, followed by Gustav.
“Good evening Frau Schultz. I am Captain Weinhoffer of General Rothlander's staff. I investigate matters pertaining to the members of the SS.”
Hedwig folded her arms and sat in silence.
“I have some questions for you about your relationship with Lieutenant Reinhard. When did the two of you first meet?”
Still she sat silent.
“If you do not wish to talk, we have ways of making you talk.”
Gustav interrupted, “Captain, you are speaking to the grieving fiancee of an SS officer. Please, calm your tone.”
The captain sat in the chair across the table from Hedwig, and he did not even look at Gustav who stood behind him. “You would do well to remember your place, Lieutenant. You are here only as a courtesy. A courtesy I can terminate at any time.”
“Yes, Captain. I apologize.”
“Accepted, but do not let it happen again.”
The captain kept his gaze on Hedwig. “Again, when did you first meet Lieutenant Reinhard?”
Hedwig took a deep breath, “It was about six months ago.”
The captain slammed a folder on the table, “LIE. When did you first meet Lieutenant Reinhard?”
Hedwig's voice rose, “About six months ago. Yell all you want, the answer won't change.”
Gustav's eyes widened. He thought, That is not true. But Johann and I did not remember the encounter until the colonel told us. Perhaps Hedwig did not recognize us from the incident either.
The captain opened the folder, displaying the reports of Fritz Schultz's shooting.
“There.” His finger pointed to the names of her husband and her fiance. “Lieutenant Reinhard killed your husband in your presence.”
“No. This can't be true. It wasn't Johann. This document is a lie.” She pushed the papers back to the captain. Taking a deep breath, Hedwig spoke in a composed voice, “The first day I met him, he came to visit my brother, Edmund. Edmund was one of his student's in the youth camp. I was very ill.”
Hedwig looked at Gustav then back at the captain, “That is right, I was ill the day we met. Johann called Gustav's father, Doctor Gottlieb, to come examine me.”
The captain looked over his shoulder for a response from Gustav. “It's true. My father visited Frau Schultz for illness upon the request of Lieutenant Reinhard.”
“Are you telling me you did not recognize the man who executed your husband? He courted you, and you agreed to marry him. Yet you never realized this was the same man?”
She squirmed in her chair. She wrung her hands and began to cry. “I think you are trying to trick me. Those reports are fake. Johann wouldn't do that.”
“Let's go on to something else, shall we?” Captain Weinhoffer handed her two copies of her signature. “Can you point to the one which you can identify as being your signature.” She chose one.
“You chose correctly.” He pulled out the original documents. “There are two different signatures for you on file. One on your sworn police report the night of Lieutenant Reinhard's death, and one on your Nazi Party membership card. Can you please explain why there are two different signatures?”
Hedwig grabbed the file to examine the papers. She noticed the date. The date is around the time of the sale of the business. Jacob kept pushing me to join. Would he have forged my signature on the membership papers?
“If you notice, the form is dated around the same time I was ill. Gustav can tell you I was ill for several days before Johann called for Gustav's father.”
Gustav agreed.
“It was a very bad illness. I'm sure it affected the way I signed the forms. I bet if you look at the signature on the sale of my husband's business you will find the same strange signature. It was all about the same time.”
The captain growled, “I am losing my patience, Frau Schultz. Even if you explain those things away, how can you explain away a witness? Someone overheard your younger brother say to you, 'You did it. You killed him, didn't you? Now you are just like them.' Do you deny he made these statements?”
Hedwig's mind searched the funeral guests trying to figure out who was close enough to overhear. She could not remember.
“Was your brother accusing you of killing Lieutenant Reinhard?”
“No.”
“To whom was he referring when he called you one of them?”
“I can't remember.”
He pounded his fist on the table, “Think.”
Hedwig's eyes got wide, “The fish. That is what he was talking about. His goldfish died when he was away. He called me a murderer, just like the people who do not throw the fish back in the lake after catching them.”
“Do you seriously want a captain of the SS to believe that at the funeral of your fiance, your brother called you a murderer because his pet goldfish died?”
Defiantly, Hedwig insisted, “Believe it to not, it is the truth. Go ask him, he'll tell you.” Please, don't ask him. He'll have no clue, Hedwig thought.
“Oh I will, Frau Schultz,
I will.”
The captain closed the folders and neatly stacked them. He placed his folded hands on top of them, and said, “Frau Schultz, are you a supporter of the Nazi Party.”
Hedwig thought to herself, I support the torture and death of each and every one of you. “Yes, captain. You acquired my membership card, which I signed while fraught with grief and physical illness.”
He looked deep into her eyes, “And is your brother, Edmund, a dedicated, dutiful member of the Hitler Youth? Will he answer all of my questions truthfully and report any infractions as is required of him?”
With a straight face, she stared back into his eyes, “Yes, captain. Edmund will dutifully report the truth and all necessary infractions. He is a proud product of my fiance, Lieutenant Reinhard, and a future leader of the Third Reich. Check his evaluations. I am told he is among the best of his division. Even Colonel Reinhard mentioned that.”
The captain stood and looked at Gustav as if wanting confirmation. Gustav nodded. The captain turned back to her, and pushed his chair under the table. “We shall see, Frau Schultz. We shall see.”
Chapter 25
Jacob returned to his hotel room with the documents he received from the banker, Prescott Bush.
When he opened the envelope, he saw a picture of a man who looked familiar. Further down the paper, he saw the name, “Ramsey MacDonald, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.” There was also a schematic of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel's kitchen and exits.
The last paper in the folder said:
“Your mission is to terminate the target in the photograph. Target will be dining at the Waldorf-Astoria at 6pm tonight. In the closet of your hotel room you will find the appropriate attire. Inside the box you will find the tools you need to complete the mission. Leave the contents of the box at the scene.”
Jacob jumped up from the bed and headed to the closet. Hanging on the bar was a waiter's uniform with the insignia of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. White gloves hung from the pockets of the jacket.
Dread filled him as he looked toward the box still sitting on the bed. He crept to the box and took a deep breath before opening it.
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