Newborn Nazi

by Rhoda D'Ettore

  Heidi threw herself at the feet of the leader, grabbing his ankles. “Please. Please. We did nothing. Don't hurt us.”

  Hedwig thought to herself, Stay calm, Heidi. Shut up and stop being weak.

  The distinct sound of boots stomping down the basement stairs slammed into Hedwig's ears. Dear God, please let them have gotten into the secret room.

  One guard yelled up the stairs, “Commander. We found something.”

  Hedwig's heart sank as she closed her eyes. Heidi clutched onto the commander's boots as he walked toward the kitchen. Annoyed, he kicked her hard, leaving her crying in the living room.

  Heidi crawled toward Hedwig, “Do something. They can't take us. We'll be killed.” She trembled with fear.

  The commander yelled down the stairs, “What did you find?”

  “Clothing, sir. Piles of clothing. Different sizes and for both genders.”

  The commander walked back toward Hedwig slowly with his hands behind his back. He admired the tenacity of his men who pummeled the floorboards in the living room.

  “So Frau Schultz, do you have an explanation for the piles of clothing? Or did your brother send those too?”

  Hedwig snapped her head in the commander's direction, “No he did not. The clothing is for homeless Aryans who lost everything in the bomb raids in Berlin.”

  The commander laughed. “You are the best I have seen yet. Calm, convincing and an excellent liar.”

  “It is true. My other brother worked for Colonels Reinhard and Weinhoffer in the Office of Civilian Affairs. Once I gather enough clothing, I intend to take it to the office and have the clothing distributed to the homeless.” The commander looked deep into her eyes, uncertain of the truth.

  I have him, Hedwig thought. He's thinking.

  “If you do not believe me, then call the office. I do not know if Colonel Weinhoffer still works there, but ask them about my brother, Jacob Geiger. I am sure there is a record somewhere. He died in the Hindenburg accident.”

  The commander began laughing. “Even if this story is true, you expect a colonel to remember some worker from seven years ago? You are amusing me. I may just kill you quickly as payment for this entertainment.”

  Hedwig gained her confidence as her anger increased. The more he talks, the more I can convince him, she thought. “True. However, it was my brother's hard work that got Weinhoffer the promotion from Captain to Colonel. Because of my brother, Herr Jacob Geiger, Weinhoffer gained the position of head of Office of Civilian Affairs.” Hedwig twitched her nose with arrogance, “I think he will remember that.”

  The commander walked to the table and picked up the phone, “We shall see, Frau Schultz. We shall see.”

  Hedwig and Heidi embraced as the commander spoke on the phone with his back toward them. His conversation was muffled by the hacking of the axes against the floorboards. The commander then lowered the receiver and bowed his head.

  “HALT. We have orders to leave this home at once.”

  The two men swinging the axes stopped immediately. “Sir? The floors, sir?”

  With his back still to the room, “I repeat. Halt and leave. NOW.”

  All of the guards stomped out of the house. The commander slowly turned around, feeling defeated. He approached Hedwig with his eyes cast down. “Frau Schultz, I have been ordered to apologize to you for disrespecting your house of mourning. Colonel Weinhoffer is awaiting your telephone call to report my actions here. I shall be dealt with swiftly and appropriately.” The commander huffed, “Furthermore, I am to inform you that this house will never again be violated. You and your family have proven yourselves loyal to The Third Reich.”

  Hedwig took a deep sigh of relief and blinked her eyes slowly. “Commander, you did your duty here, as anyone would have expected you to do. Not only did you inspect the house, but you investigated to get to the truth. That is what my report to the colonel will reflect.”

  The man nodded this head in appreciation. “Thank you, Frau Schultz. You truly are a good woman. Again, I apologize. I can have men replace your floors and fix the windows and doors.”

  “That will not be necessary, Commander. You and your men have better things to do.” The man then exited the home with his shoulders and head slumped down.

  Heidi grabbed Hedwig, “What just happened? I do not understand?”

  Hedwig turned to the pictures of Edmund and Gustav on her mantle. As she stroked the two dimensional face of her brother she said flatly, “Edmund and Gustav protected us. It's over Heidi. We have no more reason to fear.”

  Epilogue

  Hedwig continued to assist victims of all ethnicities as well as American soldiers throughout the rest of the war. After the war, Hedwig and Heidi freely helped those who needed lodging, food and clothing. Many families were displaced due to the physical and economic desolation of Germany.

  Hedwig never concerned herself with money in the past due to the trust Jacob established. However, foreseeing the fall of The Third Reich Gustav transferred her trust into an American bank. The Bank of Manhattan firmly supported the Nazi cause and had strong ties with Germany. For this reason it was easy for the funds to be transferred without suspicion.

  By the end of May, 1945, the Allied Forces declared victory in Europe and most fighting ceased. About a month later, Hedwig received a package with a letter:

  To My Darling,

  The documents included in this envelope will provide you with information needed to access your funds in America. Until now, the funds have been routed from the account in New York to the Office of Civilian Affairs, then dispersed to you. Now that Germany has fallen, you will be in need of the funds. Enclosed is one thousand American dollars. Use what you need to bribe American soldiers to get the necessities you need. It may be best for you to leave Germany with these funds. But I know you are stubborn. I have sent my wife a similar package. Please contact Katherine and help her and my children get to America—to safety. She is not as strong as you. This is my dying wish. With All My Love,

  Gustav

  Hedwig did as requested. She utilized Father Becker's connections to gain Katherine Gottlieb and her children passage to America. The American soldiers eagerly accepted Hedwig's funds to provide food and other supplies for those who needed it.

  It was during this time that Heidi and Hedwig both met American soldiers whom they eventually married. Heidi's husband had a southern twang in his voice, and they moved to America's South. Her husband took her to motion picture shows as often as possible.

  Hedwig convinced her husband to return to Germany after he concluded his business in America. At 31 years old, Hedwig gave birth to a set of twins. She named them Jacob and Edmund. Over the next 8 years, she gave birth to three more boys: Fritz, Alois, and Gustav.

  The Fatherland embarked upon a bright future despite the horrors of the past. The children of Hedwig grew in a world of freedom given to them by their father's people and the conviction and determination of their mother's.

  Washington D.C., 1993

  On the day the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum opened, thousands of visitors flooded the building to pay homage to the victims. One part of the exhibit allows visitors to walk through a Jewish ghetto replica was well as the boxcars that were used to transport millions of people to torture and death.

  One family eagerly entered the museum, excited the world would finally understand the true nature of the Jewish people's struggles during that time.

  “Papa. Papa. There is something here about Landstuhl.” Aaron called to his father. The son physically supported his elderly father as they walked toward a display. “Look at this picture. Isn't that the Catholic Church that helped us escape?”

  The older man nodded his head. He had remained quiet throughout the day as traumatic memories flooded over him. As they read the history of the Underground that assisted in their escape, they approached a display case which read:

  The Third Reich stole belongings from their victims, using those valuables to
fund the Nazi economy. Decades later, items such as artwork and jewelry are still being returned to their rightful owners. Some of those families will never be found, but this monument is a testament to all the victims and those who assisting in saving the survivors.

  Inside the glass case lay hundreds of pieces of jewelry. As the older man stared through the display case, his eyes began to tear. His gaze landed on a gold pocket watch. “Aaron. Aaron. I don't believe it.”

  “What is it Papa?”

  Trying to find the words, the old man shouted, “The woman. The one in Landstuhl. I gave her my grandfather's watch.” He poked his finger at the glass and laughed for the first time in decades.

  “Papa, there are many watches that look like that.”

  With a huge smile, the old man replied, “That one has a door on the back with our family crest inside. That is our watch.”

  The son discounted his father's claim, but asked a museum worker about the watch. They were instructed to return later in the day. If the descriptions matched, the watch would be returned upon signing some paperwork.

  The old man spent the rest of the day in a joyous mood, although his son feared his father's eventual disappointment. A few hours later, they returned to the museum office. The manager shook the man's hand, “Welcome to our museum. It brings me great pleasure to reunite you with your family's heirloom. Would you please sign here?”

  The older man took the papers, “Gladly. And God bless you for your work.” The man then signed his name: Abner Goldstein. He clutched his watch and never again let it go.

  THE END

  Coming Soon

  The McClusky Series Book 2:

  Richard's Regrets

  Follow the families of Tower of Tears as they face changes at the Sparks Shot Tower, suffer various tragedies, and celebrate some new arrivals. Secrets of the past come to light and the family must band together to get through a murder trial.

  Zodiac Lives

  A young child's nightmares lead to the re-opening of the San Francisco Zodiac Killer case. Thirty years after the death of his last known victim, the Zodiac emerges when new evidence is found against him. Zodiac hunts down the family of the toddler whose family led police to the evidence.

  No One is Safe, Because … Zodiac Lives

  Zodiac Lives Chapter 1

  Coming August 25th 2015 to Kindle, Paperback

  Audiobook in Production

  Video Trailer

  Philadelphia, 2000

  He lay dying amidst the sirens, the screams of horror, and the chaotic sounds. Excruciating pain radiated through every limb, then nothing—not even numbness. It made him wonder if he even had limbs anymore.

  What the hell happened?

  Jake carried his three-year-old daughter Jennifer from the playground to the car. Her tired legs hung from his arms as her head nestled his chest. As Jake opened the car door and clipped the child into the car seat, his eyes drank in her innocence. He marveled that God had blessed him with such a perfect wife who had given him this remarkable child.

  He smiled as the girl tugged on her stuffed animal and rubbed her eyes, which demonstrated her need to sleep. “Daddy, juice,” she said as she kicked her feet.

  “We'll be home in a few minutes, Jennifer,” he said, but had no intention of taking her home. His wife, Monica was suffering from the flu, and he wanted to give her as much relaxation time as possible. He planned to drive for an hour before heading home, not realizing the drastic events that would soon occur.

  The car lurched out of the parking lot and turned onto the main road while music played on the radio. He whispered the words and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel and dash. He drove the streets aimlessly as Jennifer quieted and fell asleep, her breathing deepening to prove it.

  After twenty minutes, Jennifer woke. “Daddy, I want Rainy.”

  Before making the next turn, he looked both ways, turned the steering wheel, and replied, “Rainy's on video at home. We can watch her when we get there.”

  “No! Now! I want Rainy now!”

  He gripped the steering wheel tighter as he glanced in the rear view mirror to look at his daughter. Jennifer yanked on her car seat strap, trying to get out as she kicked. “Now! Rainy now!”

  Jake's hand searched behind him in the back seat to confirm the belt was secure around the child. It was a huge mistake to take his eyes off the road, and he wouldn't live to regret it.

  Brakes screeched, but it was too late. Pain shot through his body as shards of glass buried themselves into his skin. The coppery taste of blood filled his mouth, and daggers of crunching metals pierced his ears. A curtain of darkness loomed over him as sirens wailed in the distance.

  “Jennifer ... Baby ...” he struggled.

  “Buddy, stay still. I'm here to help. We need to cut you out of the vehicle.” The voice chiseled through the chaotic soundtrack of the accident, giving Jake hope.

  “Get my girl ... get my girl ...”

  “We're losing him! Get those cutters over here!”

  Shouts from afar alerted Jake to further danger, “The engine's on fire, get the kid! Hurry!” More sirens erupted around him as voices overlapped.

  “Daddy. Daddy.”

  “Jennifer ...”

  The fireman assured him, “We got her, she's safe. It's your turn to get rescued and become a local celebrity.”

  The pain subsided into numbness before dissipating completely. In his last moment, he opened one eye to see the fireman tugging on him as a huge ball of flames blanketed them both.

  Burnt flesh filled his nostrils and booming cannons burst in his ears before all went black and silent. It was over.

  Zodiac Lives Chapter 2

  Six Months Later

  “Mama! Mama!” Jennifer cried.

  Monica rushed into her three-year-old daughter's bedroom, fumbling at the wall for the light switch. “It's okay, sweetie, I'm here.” As she flipped the switch, her eyes squinted with pain as they adjusted to the glare of the lamp.

  “Mama! The bad man!” Jennifer repeated, while tears streamed down her cheeks.

  Monica raced to her child's side and rocked her, stroking her head. The sweet smell of baby shampoo filled Monica with maternal desire to protect her child. “There's no bad man here, honey. It was a dream,” she tried to reassure Jennifer. Monica reached for the stuffed Dalmatian that fell from the bed. She fluffed out its soft fur. “Here, look, Rainy fell off the bed. I told you that Rainy will always protect you. Do you want me to turn on her video?”

  Jennifer swatted the dog from her mother's hand. “But Mama, he shot me, he shot me.”

  Monica's throat tightened as her fingers squeezed her daughter tighter. Her eyes roamed the small bedroom as if searching for an answer. A three-year-old talking about shootings? The pink ruffles around the white canopy bed betrayed her, because they held no answers.

  As the child calmed, Monica whispered, “Are you all right now? Do you want to come sleep in my bed?”

  Jennifer rolled over to grab her Dalmatian. “No Mama. He gone now.” She snuggled with the dog, almost as if she had forgotten what had happened. A sleepy smile spread across Jennifer's face as her eyes closed and she relaxed.

  Monica let out a deep sigh then pressed her lips against her child's smooth forehead. A cold sweat broke out over her. Why is this happening to her? It's been six months. Shouldn't it stop soon?

  Monica left the light on as she exited the room, feeling defeated.

  As she walked to the kitchen in her bare feet, the cold hardwood floor jolted her awake. She poured herself a glass of water as she yawned. While sipping from her glass, she heard Jennifer scream again. “Mama!”

  Startled, Monica jumped and dropped the glass, which shattered on the floor. I can't take anymore of this. Something has to be done, she thought.

  “I'm here, Jennifer ,” Monica called out from the hall.

  Jennifer sat on the edge of the bed, clinging to her stuffed dog. Her watery, red eyes clo
sed tight as mucus ran from her nose and down her face.

  “He killed me, Mama. And you weren't there. Where were you?”

  Monica pulled her daughter to her chest again and whispered, “I'm here, Baby, right here.”

  “Not in San Francisco, you weren't.”

  Monica pulled back from the child as her eyes widened and wandered over her daughter's face. Jennifer's puffy angelic cheeks and golden curls emitted innocence. But something tormented this angel. Something that gave her knowledge she should not possess.

  After an hour of Jennifer crying and shaking, mother and daughter fell asleep in the child's bed together.

  The next morning, Monica's sister, Gail, knocked on the front door. As she entered the house, she started questioning Monica, “What had you so freaked out on the phone?”

  Monica led the way to the kitchen adorned with new appliances and marble counter tops. She poured them both coffee in silence as she collected her thoughts. Monica's hand shook as she passed a steaming cup of java to her sister. “Something strange is going on with Jennifer. I'm confused what to do about it, and I'm not even sure if I believe it.”

  Gail took a sip from the mug. “What do you mean? What's going on?”

  Monica sipped from her cup, hoping the warm liquid would calm her. “She screams from nightmares and talks about strange things no three-year-old should know about. She says a man killed her, shot her.”

  Gail laughed, “Is that all? She's afraid of the boogeyman, and you're freaking out like this?”

  Monica's stomach tightened as she gulped hard, “This is no boogeyman. Her dreams are so vivid. Last night she told me she lived in San Francisco, and she pronounced it the correct way. Tell me how a three-year-old does that.”

  “She's almost four,” Gail shrugged as she placed the mug on the counter. “She probably learned it from the news. You always have CNN on, and it makes her smarter than other kids.”