by Unknown
Eric visibly calmed. He didn’t know why he was so apprehensive, but fir first part was now over.
Dietz saw the response and almost broke into a laugh, but contained it. “Have you thought where you will be living?”
“Actually the business is about half in the US and the other half in Europe. My thought was to switch between Virginia and here. I plan on keeping our new home,” Eric said.
“A smart move. Do you think you will be able to keep the business?”
Eric grinned. “Father had already been putting me in charge of a few things. I already had my first management meeting before I came back. There are a few places I want the company to go that we haven’t before. We’re already big in defense work but I want to branch into highways. I also want to move into prefabricated industrial buildings to help out small business. I also asked the team to start looking into environmental engineering. With the current pollution levels, I have a feeling this will be a good place to invest. When I get back, I should have some answers,” he said confidently.
Dietz was a little astounded. Usually a young man out of college wasn’t thinking in such a big picture. His ideas made a lot of sense and he hoped Eric could pull them off. “It sounds as if you have things well in hand. Now what else did you want to talk to me about?”
Eric knew this was the tougher question. But with Mr. Dietz so approving he plowed right ahead. “Well, Herr Dietz, as you know I am taking my family home for the funeral. I should be back within the week. But I was wondering if you would object if Anna came with me. You see, I need her really badly right now. When she is with me I don’t feel the pressure nearly as much. Having her there would be a big help. I will take care of the tickets and everything. I promise nothing bad will happen and if you would like I can ask an aunt of mine to stay with us in the house. But I wanted to get your permission for it before I asked her.”
Dietz sat back in his chair a moment then broke into a grin. “Eric, Anna is a grown woman now. She is big enough to make up her own mind whether she will go or not. As far as being together I know you and I know my daughter. You two are the least of my worries. But I thank you for asking. Now why don’t you go and ask her. I’m sure her bags are already packed.” Dietz extended his hand and took Eric’s. “You’re a good man Eric. I appreciate your courtesy and your respect. Now you two go and make a life together.”
Eric thanked Mr. Dietz and made his way to the kitchen. Within a minute Anna came out and wrapped her father in a hug.
“Thank you father. I am so happy,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“You just live a good life together,” Dietz said to his daughter, “just like your mother and me.”
“I will father,” she said kissing him again. Then she went back to the kitchen.
Dietz sat down in an easy chair and thought about his daughter and her growing up. Now she would be leaving the nest. He gave a sigh. I can’t wait to spoil the grandkids, he thought to himself.
“His car was sabotaged,” said Betz. He was still wearing the black overalls but they were completely smudged and stained by grease, soot, oil and rust. It was obvious he had personally examined Mantz’s Mercedes and had come straight to Dresner. Betz had a look of pride and confidence in what he had done.
Dresner looked up at his friend and gave a slight grin. “So we were correct in our assessment,” he said.
“Ja, Herr Major. There is no doubt.”
“Dresner threw his pen on the desk and sat back. “Good, then tell me how it was done.”
Betz pulled out a few pieces of metal from his pocket. “Someone used a small transmitter to set off some equally small charges strategically placed in the car. The first,” he said pointing to a part of a ball joint, “is here. You see the deforming of this ball joint? Someone placed a small charge along this end so the explosion popped the joint and disabled it. It controlled the steering of the car. Whoever it was used a little too much. The other end sheared off and struck the water pump. We know what happened because the pump started gushing coolant before the car left the street. We also found the rest of the joint on the highway. The second piece,” he said holding up a piece of cast metal, “was a small charge placed against the brake master cylinder. We also found brake fluid along the road in the exact same place as the coolant. Luckily, the coolant was antifreeze, so it didn’t evaporate on the road.”
Betz then held up what looked like a melted piece of plastic with wires running from it. “This was what confirmed it all,” he said rolling the object by the wires. “This is a receiver which detonated both charges. It was hooked up to the battery and sat along one side of the firewall. When it was triggered, both the steering and the brakes were cut. I doubt Mantz even knew what happened until he was halfway over the edge. My men told me the sound would sound almost like a backfire. Nothing would be transmitted to the driver except a loud pop,” Betz said as he handed the small part to Dresner.
Dresner examined the part carefully. He could see the remains of a circuit board and some metal pieces, but not much else. “And you’re sure this is not just a part from the car. With many extras you can purchase to go on one, the question will be asked.”
Betz feigned a hurt look. “I took the piece to the local quarry. The manager said he used some of the same things on occasion when they blast out a new layer. He recognized it immediately.”
Dresner grinned. “I should know better.”
“Yes, you should Herr Major,” said Betz with a grin.
“How far away could someone be to set something like this off?”
“According to the manager, anywhere within 500 meters.”
“Then the man could have been sitting along the road watching us as we stared down at the wreck and we wouldn’t even have known,” said Dresner a little disgusted at the thought.
“Quite possible. But he did say the closer you got the better chance to set it off. He said that’s why they don’t like using them. Too much can interfere and sometimes even someone on a radio can set something off prematurely.”
“Yes, but this one they had to use a radio. A timer would be no good and there’s no way to wire it. That means we have someone who is an expert on explosives,” said Dresner. “What kind of explosive did they use?”
“Probably plastic. Dynamite would be too big and too unstable with the heat of the engine. With the fire from the crash most everything was burned beyond recognition. The wires melted and by itself we would not have been able to get any evidence. The brake fluid and coolant helped us find the one piece of the ball joint and this radio was protected when a piece of metal folded up against it. But now we can say without question it was a murder.”
Murder was becoming a common word in Dresner’s office. They were becoming too commonplace for mere coincidence. But each was leading to more information. Eventually they would find the one clew to unravel it all. “I agree. I want people out to locate everyone from Munich to Salzburg who has experience with explosives. I want them all checked out and their alibis checked. I also want to find out where someone can get plastic explosive. Let’s see if anyone is missing some. Also check the manufacturer of that remote detonator. Let’s find out who has purchased those recently. Then let’s start seeing if there are ties between the suspects and any of the recent happenings. Let’s start closing the loop. Somewhere, someone pushed a button last night. I want the person who did it,” Dresner said.
Betz stood straight as in the old days. “Jawohl, Herr Major.”
“And Sergeant, you might want to alert the men. We might need them on short notice,” he said in a more subdues tone while looking Betz straight in the eye.
Betz’s eyes widened. Dresner was alerting the troops, and he didn’t mean those in the police force.
Hanz Mahler was perplexed. Upon receiving the request from Sergeant Betz, he began a search of the old records to try and find out anything he could about Joaquin Mantz. He had found his initial enlistment papers. Mantz had joined the
SS when they were still the very elite. He had once even been assigned to the Führer’s detail at Berchtesgaden. Then in late 1944 he appeared to have dropped off the face of the earth. Searches through the various combat units turned up nothing. He searched hospital records, injury lists, official correspondence, anything which could lead to a unit. Mahler was just about to call it off when he found an old paymaster’s record from March, 1945. There were no markings listing the unit or command. Skimming through the pages, he found pay records for a group of about 50 men which ran from January through March listing each man and their monthly pay. Two thirds of the way through was a page for J. Mantz. Next to the name was the notation “Special Unit 4.”
Mahler hadn’t seen that unit before so he launched a search in that direction. Again, nothing was found until he ran up on a supply requisition for a supply of light machine oil, drill bits, air hammers, and high capacity pumps. Although not typed into the order, someone had written down “fill immediately, Special Unit 4.” A further search turned up a supply of hand held weapons, ammunition and medical supplies. Mahler decided to look into more mundane things. The payoff came from the commissary supplies. Food was common with all troops and often the security there would not be as tight as with other items. In this case he found over twenty orders for food supplies, including a train schedule for delivery. On one of the forms was noted, “Deliver, Innsbruck.”
Next came the train schedules, but most of those had been discarded long ago. He was about to close one folder when he found a short message from the Reich Chancellery detailing a shipment of specialized parts from Mittelwerk to Special Unit 4. There was also a “special permission” for the parts to leave Germany. Another three days of looking turned up nothing. He picked up the phone and made a call to his friend.
“Betz! You scoundrel, how is the family?” asked Mahler.
“Very well, Hans. How’s little Gretchen?”
“She is in her fifth year at the Gymnasium. She is already talking about going to the university! I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up,” Mahler said proudly. “You and your family should visit again. She really has a crush on young Chris.”
“Ah to be young again,” Betz said in a dreamy tone. “Now what have you found for me?”
“This was more difficult than I thought,” Mahler said. “I went for a long time without finding anything, but I finally found some old pay records and some supply requisitions. That’s about all. But there were a couple of things interesting. First was a consignment of supplies and food to a special unit four. I found one request for food with a hand written note for delivery in Innsbruck. But the other was an order of supplies from a place called Mittelwerk. It was ordered by the Reich Chancellery.”
“That’s pretty high level,” said Betz.
“I agree. It doesn’t make out what kind of supplies, but it did give authorization for shipment outside Germany.”
“Hold on. That kind of order only happened for very specialized and secret equipment. So you’re saying Mantz was in this special unit?” asked Betz.
“Yes. I found his pay records and it was noted, special unit four.”
There was a slight pause on the phone. “Hans, I can’t tell you how important this is. Can you find out the names of the other men in special unit four? Mantz was murdered last night and the major and I think there is something terribly wrong here,” said Betz.
The phone suddenly got icy in Mahler’s hand. The major had almost a sixth sense on things. If he said it was a problem, it must be monumental. “Michael, I will get on it right away. Tell the major I will contact him every few days until this is all tracked down.”
“Thanks Hans. If something changes I will let you know. But you know the major. He’s usually right about things.”
“Ja, I remember. Be careful Michael. You’re too old to get careless.”
“I will Hans. Keep in touch.” The line went dead.
Mahler hung up the phone and looked back at the pay book. He called in two assistants. “We have a special project. I want to know everything there is to know about an SS unit called special unit four. I want to know where it was, what it did and who was assigned. Call in any help you need. This has top priority until we have the answers. Here are some initial indications,” Mahler said as he handed over the files on his desk. “Report to me every day.”
The two men took the records and left the office. Within an hour, fourteen people were combing through every file from the Third Reich looking for special unit four.
Dresner sat with Eric Anderson to wish him well on his return to the United States. He was very sorry he could not go along but with the current cases there was just no way to do so. He apologized to Eric, who understood perfectly.
“Don’t worry, Herr Dresner. I know you would go if you could. What you are doing is more important. Anna and I will be gone about a week, then return. I plan on staying here through Christmas anyway.”
“Well, hopefully there will be a break in the case by that time. I feel we are getting very close. Until then just take care of yourself. I know what it is like to lose a family. It can be a very painful thing,” said Dresner softly.
Eric could see that pained expression again. It stayed a little longer this time. He took a small chance. “I heard you lost your family during the war. I’m sorry,” he said.
Dresner looked up at Eric and gave a weak smile. “Yes, my family lived in Dresden. You may have heard of the firebombing late in the war? They were all there – my father and mother, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles,” he paused a second, “and my wife and young son.” Dresner gave a sigh. “So I guess I know a little about what you are going through. I wanted to offer what support I can,” he said.
Eric smiled. “Dad used to call things like this ‘little ties.’ It’s the little things that bring people together. Now you and I have two ties. Both involved Dad. You were his friend. I hadn’t realized how good a friend until I came here. His death gave us something more in common. Thanks for helping me through this.”
Dresner tilted his head. “When my loss happened I thought I was alone. It turned out my men took care of me. They were there for me when I needed them. Just know there are people here ready to help you as well.”
“I know that. You are almost like family now. Herr Dietz and his family are there for me too. And I know Anna is here. I guess we were both lucky. We had people who cared.”
“Yes Eric. We are both lucky. When will you ask Anna?”
“While we are in Virginia. I figure she will want a big wedding here.”
“I can promise you a police escort,” Dresner said with a grin. Both started laughing at that.
The door to the room opened and Anna and Helga came in. “We’re ready,” Anna announced. She had a piece of luggage in her hand.
“Good. For a minute there I thought I would have to go without you,” Eric said as he stood and picked up his suitcase.
“Then let’s get going,” said Dresner. The four of them left the Dietz house and climbed into Dresner’s personal car, a Mercedes 190B. Within a few minutes they were at the airport.
It was a tearful departure, at least for Helga. She had grown very fond of Eric and Anna. For practical purposes she had adopted them as her own and was a little anxious about making such a long trip. As the turboprop plane taxied away from the terminal she waved until it rounded the corner of the building. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Helga turned to Dresner and gave him a smile. “Thank you for putting up with the emotions of an old woman,” she said.
Dresner laughed and offered her his arm. “It is good to be around very normal people once in a while. With what I do you don’t see that many.”
Helga laughed and patted him on the arm. “Oh Rolf, you are a good man,” she said. “People here speak so highly of you. And I know Eric thinks the world of you.”
“He’s a good boy. And Anna is a very fine young woman. You can tell they are going to be very happy together.”
Helga sighed. “Yes they will. I hate they have to start off by burying his family. It is a terrible thing. You and I have lived through such things, but our children shouldn’t have to deal with it at such a young age.”
“I know,” said Dresner. “But between us, we should be able to get them through it,” he said with a grin.
Helga smiled and leaned into him for a moment. “That, we shall do Rolf. That, we shall do.”
Dresner opened the door for Helga and she eased into the front seat of the car. After getting in and starting the engine he pulled the small Mercedes out of the airport parking lot and into the traffic leading to Innsbruck.
“It was very nice of you to let me come to the airport to see them off,” said Helga as they rode along.
“It’s my pleasure,” Dresner said.
“Yes, but it means you must take me back to the house. It’s a long way.”
“I don’t mind. It gives me a break from the casework,” he said. Dresner shrugged his shoulders as he drove. There are things about the Anderson case that keep scratching at me. It is like I am missing something that is staring me in the face. I know somehow all the cases I am working on are connected. But it keeps eluding me.” Dresner stopped when he realized he was venting his frustrations. “I’m sorry. I don’t need to be telling you such things,” he said.
Helga laughed. “And who else have you had the chance to say such things to? You don’t have to be concerned. I wouldn’t know anything about what you do. We are the same age and we have gone through some tough times ourselves. So if you need the chance to talk just talk. I don’t mind listening. Just don’t expect and real answers,” she said with a chuckle.
Dresner grinned. “I appreciate that. Sometimes the job seems a little overwhelming but I manage. This one has us all scratching our heads,” he said.
A large diesel fuel truck passed them on the highway. The wind gave the car a little shove as it went by.
