Newborn Nazi

by Rhoda D'Ettore

  Jacob tried to humor his sister. “Okay. So the colonel is out of the way. How do we explain the death of his son? If the colonel could somehow be implicated in his own son's death, it would definitely absolve you of any wrongdoing. The 'two Jews' excuse probably won't last forever.”

  “That has to last forever. I already said it. Otherwise, I would be lying to SS officers, and could be punished.” She thought harder. “I wonder how we could arrange for something of the colonel's to wind up in the possession of a Jewish man the SS already killed. It would look like he ordered them to kill his son.”

  Jacob began pacing, “The colonel would need a reason for killing his son. It would have to be something people would believe.”

  “Well, I was the son's fiancee. What if it was Johann who was the one who intercepted the telegram and took the pictures of the colonel with the Prime Minister?”

  Jacob darted his eyes as he thought. “That might be more believable.”

  “What if I told them he gave me the information and wanted me to hold it until he gathered more proof. That if anything happened to him, he wanted me to come forward.”

  “It's sounding better,” Jacob agreed. “But how would you explain not coming forward earlier?”

  “Easy. Fear and grief.” She paused, “My fiance was just murdered in my home. His blood was all over me, and the colonel arrived at my house within an hour. In front of other officers, he asked me to move in with him. He just killed his son, and I thought he was going to kill me and Edmund next.”

  Then Jacob added, “If it really was Reinhard who gave the order to drag you into Gestapo Headquarters, then it could appear to be an intimidation tactic. Like he was telling you to keep quiet.”

  Hedwig bounced in excitement, “Yes. I think I can pull that off.”

  “No doubt, sister. Your acting is better than any stage actor working today. But still, this has nothing to do with stopping those death camps.”

  She looked toward the boxes and lifted a few papers, then dropped them. “Come on, Fritz. Couldn't you leave me anything I could understand?”

  Jacob laughed as he threw his hands up in frustration, “He did. He left specific instructions, passports and money to help you to leave the country.”

  “Get that idea out of your head. I'm not leaving. And turning in the colonel is just what we need to get the Gestapo to take it's eyes off of us.”

  “That does not help me with my problem. Reinhard arranged for me to kill the Prime Minister. He probably has evidence that I did it.”

  Hedwig stomped her foot like a child. “Must I think of everything? You are a Nazi Intelligence operative, following the orders of your superior. How could Reinhard blackmail you with it? Tell the Americans or the Brits? They are the only ones who would care. The Nazis would probably throw you a parade for demonstrating German superiority. I can see it now, banners waving saying, 'No one is safe from Aryan Strength.”

  Jacob grumbled, “I still don't like your thinking. You want me to help you discredit the colonel, then go deeper into the spy business in order to spy on Germany and expose the death camps.”

  “YES. That's it.” Hedwig shouted.

  “One problem, little sister. I don't know what I am doing.”

  “Is Mama really your mother? You harbor none of her skills, do you?” she laughed at him.

  Jacob rolled his eyes, “I'm so glad you did not lose your sense of humor. Let's get out of this room, I need some fresh air.”

  As they approached the basement steps, an image appeared in the window. “Boots,” Hedwig whispered. They both cringed, wondering if their plans would be interrupted.

  The siblings climbed the stairs as someone rapped at the door. Through the frosted glass, Hedwig could only make out the uniform.

  She opened the door, relieved to find Gustav on the other side. “Hello. I was not expecting you. Please come in.”

  “No, Frau Schultz. This is an official visit, and you must come with me please.”

  Hedwig distorted her face. “But Gustav, what is going on?”

  He winked at her. “Frau Schultz, I will not ask you again. Come with me. NOW.”

  Hedwig motioned to Jacob, wanting him to remain calm. She saw the wink and was not afraid.

  “Yes, Lieutenant. Of course.” Hedwig followed Gustav to the car, and they drove away.

  He placed his finger to his mouth, reminding her not to speak. She nodded.

  They pulled into the train station and walked along the platform of the trains, linking arms.

  Through smiling teeth she asked, “What is going on?”

  He patted her hand that rested on his elbow. “I discovered who reported your conversation with Edmund to the Gestapo. It was Heidi.”

  She instinctively jerked her hand and backed away from him shaking her head. “No. You are lying. No.”

  He went to her, held her close and whispered in her ear. “She told me herself. It was her.”

  Hedwig grabbed the back of his shoulders as she cried real tears into his chest. “Why? Tell me why?”

  “She does not comprehend she did anything wrong.” He groaned. “Years ago, the message of this party was German pride and excellence. Somehow it has become about hate and fear. This is not the country I swore my oath to.”

  Hedwig tried to calm herself. “You and Johann are so different. Sometimes he would scare me.”

  The corner of Gustav's mouth twisted, “Yes, he would scare me sometimes too. I never truly felt safe with him, yet I always thought our friendship would come first.”

  “Friendships do not mean much anymore,” Hedwig muttered.

  “I want to ask you, and I want the truth. Did you kill him? Did you kill Johann?”

  Hedwig looked deep into his eyes, trying to find the right way to answer him.

  Finally, she admitted, “Yes. I did.”

  Chapter 39

  Jacob walked into Gestapo Headquarters, hoping he'd make strides in solving their dilemma.

  The guard stopped him at the desk, “Papers.”

  Jacob produced the passport from his pocket.

  The guard reviewed them and said, “Herr Geiger, with whom do you wish to meet?”

  “I would like to meet with Captain Weinhoffer. He knows who I am.”

  The guard chuckled. “You do not have an appointment. You can leave your name, and I will have someone come for you when the captain is available.

  Jacob taunted the guard. “Fine. But I need your name. When the captain asks me why such extremely urgent information was delayed in getting to him, I want to be accurate with my explanation.”

  The guard groaned. Turning to the guard next to him, he ordered, “Watch this man. Do not allow him to leave the premises.”

  The first guard warned Jacob, “We will discover just how urgent your business here is.” The guard left through a door, taking Jacob's passport with him.

  After a few minutes, the guard returned. “The captain will meet with you. Come with me.”

  Jacob extended his hand, “May I have my passport, please?”

  In a very hateful tone, the guard said, “It will be given to you when you leave. If you leave.”

  Well, I don't like the sound of that, Jacob thought.

  He followed the guard to Captain Weinhoffer's office and found the captain sitting at his desk. The captain said, “Dismissed.” As the guard left, he closed the door behind him.

  The captain looked up from his paperwork and asked, “So Herr Geiger, what important matter do you need to discuss? Last time you visited, your family wanted to discuss dead goldfish. Perhaps this time it is puppies and kittens? I do not have time for any more games.”

  “Captain, would you be interested in evidence that proves a high ranking officer sold military secrets to another country?” Jacob asked.

  The captain's ears perked as he lifted his head. “How high ranking?”

  “He outranks you,” Jacob said flatly.

  Sitting back in his chair, the
captain replied, “You have my attention, Herr Geiger. Please sit.”

  “Thank you. Captain, I have come into evidence which proves a certain officer was involved with a high ranking political figure in Great Britain. Apparently they have been sharing information with each other for decades.”

  “And you know this how?” the captain asked.

  Jacob became very confident. “You saw my passport. How do you think I would come about such information?”

  The captain groaned and nodded.

  “So where is this evidence? Who is this officer?”

  “The evidence is safe outside of this country. I can have it mailed to your superiors. You told my sister you answer directly to a general. Is this true?”

  The captain nodded, “Indeed. I do.”

  Jacob took a deep breath, not knowing if his clout from the passport would help him. “Is it possible to get me a meeting with your general?”

  The captain began laughing. “Give me the evidence. I will review it and pass it along if I believe it to be accurate. The general has no time for games.”

  “The officer outranks you captain. I need someone to review it who is higher than the officer. This man has ordered the assassination of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He also ordered the death of a German Intelligence operative, as well as the death of the person he used to kill the operative—an SS officer.”

  The captain searched Jacob's eyes, trying to discern the truth. Finally, he asked, “What is it you want? Everyone wants something who comes here with information?”

  “Leave my family alone. I am a loyal Nazi Intelligence operative. My sister is a registered party member, and my brother is in the Hitler Youth's most elite program. We are loyal to the party. Clear my sister of the murder of Lieutenant Reinhold.”

  Laughing, the captain reached for his telephone, “This high ranking officer claims to be loyal to the party as well.” He ordered into the telephone for someone to come to the office.

  A guard entered. “Yes, sir.”

  “Take Herr Geiger to a holding cell.”

  Jacob turned his head back and forth. “Wait. Wait.”

  The captain ordered, “TAKE HIM.”

  When they left, the captain picked up his telephone again. “General, sir. I believe we may have found the double agent we sought.”

  Chapter 40

  Gustav looked at Hedwig in disbelief. “How? How could you do that? He loved you. I could have you executed for this.” He pulled away from her, shaking his head and staring into the distance.

  “Wait. Please. I know he was your friend, but he killed my husband for a reason. And he was going to kill me, too.”

  Gustav looked in her big blue eyes and took a deep breath. He and Johann had killed many people, often without a reason. At least she had a good one for killing his friend.

  “Explain,” he said flatly.

  “I'm telling you this because I trust you, so listen to everything. Please.”

  He laughed, “Trust? You and I both trusted Heidi. Johann trusted you. I'm beginning to realize I cannot trust anyone at all.”

  “Please?” she gave him sad, begging eyes.

  “Go on,” he said.

  Hedwig considered how much to tell him. “The day you and Johann came to pick up Edmund for the first time, Johann had already been ordered to kill Fritz.”

  Gustav twisted his face with skepticism.

  “Just listen, please.” She gathered her strength. “Fritz worked for Colonel Reinhard for many years, even before the Great War. Fritz found evidence the colonel sold secret plans to another country.”

  “Now you are truly making up stories.” He was not sure what to believe. She sounds convincing, but I was convinced when she said two Jews killed my friend, Gustav thought.

  “Listen, please,” she continued. “After you left the house with Edmund, Johann had the guards search the house. They looked for the evidence against the colonel.”

  “Did you recognize him when you met? During the time you dated, did you realize he killed your husband?”

  She let out a sigh. “Gustav, I thought every man in a uniform was the one who killed my husband. I hated you all. No, I did not realize it was him. Remember the first time I saw you? How did I react?”

  He nodded. “Continue.”

  After a moment, she explained, “I think Johann courted me to find the evidence Fritz had against his father. When he could not find it in the search, he thought he could get it from me in other ways.”

  “No. He loved you.” Gustav shook his head violently, “I can tell you without a doubt. He loved you. You captivated him when he met you.”

  Hedwig wept. “I know he was your friend. But after I accepted his proposal, his whole demeanor changed. He grabbed my throat and ordered me to hand evidence over to him. I did not know what he was talking about.”

  Gustav thought back for a moment. Johann did change personalities quickly. Often, Gustav wondered if Johann would report him for some minor infraction. Johann teasingly threatened him with it enough. “No. He didn't know who you were until the night he died. When the colonel told us the truth, Johann dragged you out of there.”

  “The colonel told him? Why would the colonel tell him that?” Hedwig questioned.

  “At the time, I thought the same thing myself. He knew Johann would fly into a rage, and--” he interrupted his own words.

  Gustav processed his thoughts, The colonel knew what Johann was like. The father knew if Johann went into his officer mode with Hedwig, she did not stand a chance. Killing him was probably the only way to save herself.

  “What about this evidence? Did he mention it before that night?”

  Hedwig stood firm with her story. “No, he proposed to me on the couch and once I accepted, he changed. He started demanding photographs and telegrams. None of it made any sense to me. He squeezed my throat... and....” She reached for her neck and cried.

  Gustav wrapped his arms around her, “Is there anything else?”

  “Well, two things actually. Once I knew to look for something, I found it. The other thing is that the colonel ordered the assassination of the United Kingdom's Prime Minister.”

  She snuggled into his chest as he stared into the distance, trying to process her words. “I have something to tell you also.” Gustav gathered his thoughts. “Edmund's new instructor is some sort of fraud. I think he was placed there to watch Edmund. He may be monitoring me as well.”

  She pulled back and looked at him, “Would they hurt Edmund?”

  Gustav answered, “I do not know. Tread lightly, Hedwig. Tread lightly.” Gustav held her close to keep up the facade of a young couple in love, but seemed to notice her for the first time. Her cheeks and nose were rosy from the sobbing, but her bright eyes were quite inviting.

  Chapter 41

  After a few hours of sitting in a cell, Jacob was escorted to two black motorcars decorated with Nazi flags. The captain sat in the back of one of the cars, and Jacob was pushed into another.

  Jacob asked the guard, “Where is my passport? Wait. My passport.” The door slammed on his face without explanation.

  He looked at the driver in the rear view mirror, “Are you going to tell me where you are taking me?”

  Silence.

  “Where is my passport?”

  Silence.

  “I demand to know where you are taking me.”

  The driver slammed on his brakes and turned to him, “The next demand you make will get you shot in the head. Then I will demand the cost of the bullet from your family.” The driver slowly turned back to position. Jacob stared out the window in silence, wondering if he was going to die.

  After an hour, the car stopped.

  “Get out.” ordered the driver.

  Jacob exited the car in front of a massive building with columns. It was draped in various versions of the Nazi flags and eagles. The captain and two guards escorted him into the building.

  The group of men climbed a
set of marble steps and walked through a door with several sets of guards on both sides. One guard announced, “Heil Hitler, Captain Weinhoffer. The general is expecting you, sir.”

  The men marched down a hall, and the captain motioned for Jacob to enter an office. The captain barked to the guards, “Wait here.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Inside the office sat General Rothlander, trimmed with braiding and metals. “You are Herr Jacob Geiger?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  The general inquired, “What is this evidence you claim to have regarding one of my men? I want a name.”

  “Sir, I have a picture of an officer meeting with the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. I also have a telegram which implies this officer exchanged classified information for a promotion in the British military.”

  The general raised an eyebrow. “Where is this evidence? I want to see it.

  “General, for my own protection, the evidence is out of the country. I can have it mailed to you, but I wanted to be sure I was giving it to the correct person. I could not risk the officer retrieving it from me.”

  The older man nodded his head. “Understood.”

  The captain pushed Jacob's shoulder, “Tell him about the operative and the assassination.”

  “First, I want to be clear that I was under orders. My family's life was threatened if I did not complete those orders. At the time, I was unaware of this officer's dealings in treason.”

  The general sat back in the chair, “Go on.”

  “As a member of Nazi Intelligence, I was forced to kill the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. My superior officer is Colonel Reinhard.”

  The captain and the general looked at each other briefly, then again at Jacob.

  Jacob continued with his story, “I then arrived in Germany from the United States, and met Captain Weinhoffer. After he and I spoke, I came into evidence that Colonel Reinhard sold classified information to the United Kingdom. To Prime Minister Ramsey MacDonald, personally. They had a relationship since the Great War. I believe the colonel had me kill the Prime Minister to cover up the relationship.”