A Walk Among the Dead

by Fanning, Fred

  “Günter, I think Freda is going to have our hides when we get back. We ended up killing the old Manntoell, now we ended up killing his wife and sister in law.”

  “We killed those people while questioning them about the missing money.”

  “But we didn’t even get any information.”

  “I told you I don’t care about Freda; she isn’t in charge. Reinhardt is. We have been with him for years. He won’t get rid of us.”

  “Well I hope you are right; I don’t think he is too happy with us either.”

  Back at Käthe Woolwine’s home, the police were actively gathering evidence and questioning neighbors. They had a forensic team going over the house who determined that there was a break-in followed by a robbery. They initially thought the women were beaten by the robbers who were looking for more valuables. They were not able to locate fingerprints or other evidence that could further an investigation. Their largest hope was based on the story of Käthe Woolwine. Unfortunately, Käthe was given emergency treatment, but the prognosis wasn’t good. She was put in a drug induced comma that her doctor didn’t think she would ever come out of.

  The witness interview with Käthe Woolwine’s neighbors didn’t produce any evidence either. No one recalled seeing or hearing anything or anyone out of the ordinary. No one remembered any loud noises. The investigation seemed to grind to a halt.

  When Helga von Manntoell’s data was transmitted to the police headquarters, it was combined with other documents. A police sergeant noticed the name and reported to the shift captain that he had read a note on a burglary and fire in Berlin that killed a Hans von Manntoell. He thought it a strange coincidence and wanted to report it. The shift captain relayed the information to the Chief Inspector for him to consider. He took immediate action and called his counterpart in Berlin, Chief Inspector Wagner, who was shocked by the phone call. He told the Helmstedt Chief that this Helga von Manntoell was the wife of Hans von Manntoell and this was no coincidence. There had to be a connection. Wagner assigned an inspector to interface with the inspector in Helmstedt to share all the information they had.

  Within 24 hours, both police officers had a complete case file on both murders. In Berlin, the flat of Hans von Manntoell was burglarized and he was killed. The flat was then set on fire to hide the burglary and murder. In Helmstedt, the home of Käthe Woolwine was burglarized and Helga von Manntoell was beaten to death. Käthe Woolwine was clinging to life after the beating.

  Both crime scenes were ransacked with minor items stolen; however, nothing of any significant value was reported to have been taken. Chief Inspector Wagner needed to find out why someone would kill this husband and wife in the process of looking for something. That something must be critical, worth killing for. The Chief Inspector called Deputy Inspector Hoffmann on the radio.

  “Maggie, this is Wagner.

  “Hello.”

  “Just received word that Helga von Manntoell has been beaten to death at her sister’s home in Helmstedt.”

  “What, how can that be?”

  “That is the question I need you to answer Maggie.”

  “Got it, is there a file I can get?”

  “Yes, I already had it coordinated with Helmstedt. It is waiting for you.”

  “See you soon Chief.”

  Maggie sat in her car outside of the Manntoell building. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. She hated the idea, but she knew she would have to have a police officer meet with Johann and give him the bad news. Right now, she needed to focus on closing this piece of the investigation into Hans von Manntoell’s death.

  With that, she filed her papers, labeled two bags of evidence, and noted in her log what she had done at this location. She immediately drove back to police headquarters to pick up the file on the death of Helga von Manntoell. This gave her two investigations she was working on, but she couldn’t help but believe they had a common thread. A husband and wife dying suddenly in quick succession didn’t seem like a coincidence. She radioed the forensic team at Inspector Albrecht’s home and told them she was en route to police headquarters and would be late arriving at their location.

  “Miss Levine, Chief has a file here for me to pick up.”

  “Here you go Maggie, he is behind closed doors on the phone with the Commissioner.”

  “Wow, that can’t be a good phone call.”

  “I agree, but this is fast becoming a major crime.”

  With that, Maggie took the report to her office to review.

  CHAPTER NINE

  A police officer appeared at Johann’s hotel door to tell him the bad news about his mother and aunt.

  “Herr von Manntoell?”

  “Yes…”

  “Herr von Manntoell, your mother and aunt were attacked in your aunt’s home.”

  “My God, no, that can’t be.”

  “Sir, I am afraid so. Your mother has died and your aunt is in the St Marienberg Clinic in Helmstedt and not doing very well.”

  Johann thanked the officer for notifying him and then grabbed a few clothes and threw them into his suitcase. He spoke to the desk clerk. She agreed to keep his room for him. She called him a taxi to the train station and got him the clinic’s phone number.

  At the train station, Johann spoke to the ticket salesperson, “One ticket round trip ticket to Helmstedt, please.”

  “Here you are Sir, the train will leave in about 45 minutes from platform C.”

  “Thank you, can you point me to a telephone?”

  “Sir, the telephones are on the back wall to your left. Would you like to purchase a phone card?”

  “Yes, give me a $20 card.”

  “Here you go, put that on your credit card too.”

  “Yes please.”

  With his train ticket in hand and some time to wait, he called the clinic in Helmstedt.

  “May I speak to the floor nurse for Käthe Woolwine, please?”

  “Are you a relative?”

  “Yes, I am her nephew.”

  “Your name please?”

  “Johann von Manntoell.”

  “Thank you, sir, I will ring the nurse.”

  “Anja here, I am caring for your aunt. She is in very grave danger.”

  “I expect to be there for a few hours. May I come and sit with her?”

  “Sir that’s not allowed, but I think we can make an exception in your case. Let me see what I can do.”

  “Thank you very much, I look forward to speaking with you soon.”

  He caught the train but was not able to rest as it sped toward Helmstedt. He had too much on his mind. Someone was killing his family and he could do nothing to stop them. He continued to run the concepts and ideas he had found over the last few days in his mind. Immediately upon arrival, he caught a taxi to the clinic. A policeman was waiting for him at the front door.

  “Sir, your aunt is under police protection. I will take you to her room.” As he walked into the room, he nearly collapsed. His aunt lay in the bed with several tubes coming out of her. Her face was swollen and bruised. Nurse Anja looked on behind him and grabbed his arm as he weakened.

  “Hold on there, let me stabilize you. Maybe you should sit down right here,” said the policeman as he pulled the chair over to him. The nurse helped him sit down.

  “Sorry, I must be tired.”

  “It is okay. Seeing her in this condition is quite a shock. I should have been here when you arrived.”

  “You must be Nurse Anja.”

  “Yes and you must be her nephew, Johann. I am glad you are here. She continues to fight to stay alive.”

  “Is she doing better?”

  “Not really. She has a long way to go and her age isn’t in her favor.”

  “Sit here and speak to her, I think she will hear you.”

  “Sir, I will leave you alone with your aunt,” said the policeman.

  “I will leave you alone too,” said Anja.

  “Aunt Käthe I am here. I will stay with you. Please
, hold on you can come through this.”

  Johann remained with his aunt for the next few hours before he fell asleep in the chair next to her.

  After a few hours’ sleep, he slowly awakened in the chair. He took a few minutes to gather himself then used the room phone to call Maggie.

  “May I speak to Deputy Inspector Hoffmann?”

  “Sorry sir, but she is out of the office. May I take a message?”

  “Yes please, ask her to call Johann in Helmstedt at 0234509504.”

  “I’ll give her the message.”

  Johann placed the phone back on the table and walked to the sink to wash his face. A nurse walking by offered him a toothbrush. He gladly took it and further cleaned up. Johann walked out to the nurses’ station. He could smell the lemon scented detergent being used to clean the halls.

  “Nurse, may I have a glass of water?”

  “Yes, I will bring it to the room for you.”

  Johann returned to his aunt’s room and sat back into the chair just as the phone rang.

  “Hello, may I help you?”

  “I have Deputy Inspector Hoffmann on the line for you.”

  “Yes, thank you.” He heard a click. “Hello, thank you for calling me back.”

  “I’m glad to hear you’re with your aunt. How is she doing?”

  “Not good I’m afraid. The doctors don’t think she will make it.”

  “I am sorry to hear that.”

  “I am afraid I will be the next victim if we don’t find out who is doing this.”

  “I have come to the same conclusion. We have an extra officer at the clinic for you. He will stay out of sight, but trust me, he is there.”

  “Maggie, thank you.”

  “I spoke to the Chief Inspector earlier and told him I think the person responsible for your family murders is also the same person who tried to kill Inspector Albrecht.”

  “Maggie, what are you saying? Someone attempted to kill a police inspector?” Johann’s voice was shaky.

  “I am so sorry. I thought you knew. It has been on the radio and television.”

  “No, this is the first I have heard anything about this.”

  “A few days ago someone shot Inspector Albrecht shortly after he left his home for a walk. He is in the clinic recuperating from surgery. He will likely be in the clinic for several more weeks and we are praying he will be okay.”

  “So what makes you think you are looking for the same people in both cases?”

  “Right now it is just a gut feeling. We have investigators looking for the people involved with Inspector Albrecht. I then hope to match those to the people involved with your father and mother.”

  “I plan to stay with my aunt for another day then return to Berlin. We need to meet so I can give you the information that I have.”

  “That sounds like a good plan if you’re sure you shouldn’t stay with your aunt longer.”

  “I am confident that I need to return. See you in a couple of days.”

  “Remember you have an undercover police officer watching you, so relax.”

  CHAPTER TEN

  Freda drove out to the farm herself to interrogate Silke Mencken. Upon arrival, Freda looked throughout the farm house for Silke but found nothing. She then walked to the barn to see if she was there. What she found left her furious. She couldn’t believe the horrible condition she found Silke in. She was unconscious, her pulse was faint and she was wheezing.

  “That damn Günter,” Freda yelled.

  Freda went to the farmhouse and gathered blankets and drinking water. She returned to the barn and rolled Silke on to a folded blanket and covered her with a second. She then dripped water on Silke’s lips. Silke made a feeble attempt to lick the water. Freda felt her forehead and she was burning up. Freda was beside herself with anger. She stomped back to the house and called Reinhardt.

  “Reinhardt here.”

  “Reinhardt, you won’t believe what Günter and Kurt have done to this woman. She is worthless to us. I recommend we get her medical attention and hope she recovers so we can see what she knows after if she improves,” she said.

  “That sounds like a great plan, Freda. We can talk more when you return,” Reinhardt said.

  “I’ll see you later.”

  Freda moistened a small hand towel and drove her car to the door of the barn. She lifted Silke Mencken into the trunk and covered her with a blanket and placed the warm towel on her forehead. She drove into Berlin near the Oskar-Helen-Heim clinic and put Silke in an alley nearby. Freda then drove to a coffee shop on Argentineche Allee where she used the phone to report Silke’s body in the alley. Freda bought a large, hot cup of coffee and returned to her car. She sat there thinking. A few minutes later she drove to Reinhardt’s home to work out the problems they were now faced with.

  Freda’s plan worked perfectly. The police responded to the report of a body in an alley and discovered Silke. They immediately got her an ambulance to Oskar-Helen-Heim Clinic where she received emergency treatment. She was in critical condition from the beatings and was suffering from hypothermia. After initial treatment, she was placed in the ICU.

  Freda and Reinhardt met at his home to discuss the way ahead and how they could better control Kurt Howler and Günter Eckersley.

  “Reinhardt, we have got to do something about Kurt and Günter. They killed Hans von Manntoell and his wife, Helga. They beat Käthe Woolwine and Silke Mencken nearly to death. We have gotten nothing out of them to help us find the missing money. As of now, the only thing we have is that we could be implicated in the two murders, which is something I don’t like.”

  “You are right. I’ve known Kurt and Günter for a long time.” She could hear the sadness in his voice.

  “They used to work for me with the East German Police. In the East, they were pretty handy to have around. Now they don’t seem so.”

  “I think that most of this violence was done by Günter. Maybe if we gave Kurt an opportunity he could work out, but I don’t believe we can keep Günter.”

  “As much as I hate to say it, you are probably right. Do you understand that we can’t get rid of Günter without killing him? Anything less than that would cause him to turn on us.”

  “Yes, I understand that. I suggest that we have them take pictures of all the documents at Johann von Manntoell’s room after which have Kurt kill Günter. I will work up the plan.”

  “Ahh, I like that. Yes, let’s do that. Now, what should we do about Johann and Deputy Inspector Hoffmann?”

  “I don’t think we should do anything yet. We should let them gather more information for us. We continue to receive excellent feedback from my police friend. Let’s give them a little more rope.”

  “I think that is sound. They are the only source we have that is actually providing information. When do we pull the trigger on their kidnapping?”

  “I say when they get the answers we need or if they get close to identifying us.”

  “That sounds a little dangerous, Freda.”

  “It is dangerous, but it’s worth a few hundred million dollars for us. One must face a little danger for that kind of money, eh.”

  “Yes indeed.”

  “Speaking of my police friend, it has been awhile since we have talked. Let me go check in with him.” Freda walked into the living room and called her contact. “Hello, Erich, Freda here.”

  “Hello, my love how are things with you?”

  “Not so good. Things are out of control at our end.”

  “How is our friend Johann?”

  “He has gone to Helmstedt to visit his dying aunt. Don’t be concerned, I have him watched. He has not left the clinic since his arrival. He has used the phone a couple of times to speak to Deputy Inspector Hoffmann. He is planning to return tomorrow.”

  “How is our deputy friend?”

  “She is in over her head. She is working three cases, the two Manntoell, and the Inspector Albrecht shooting. I saw her notes and there were no reliable con
nections.”

  “Thank you, my dear, are we still on for dinner tomorrow?”

  “Yes, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  Kurt and Günter arrived in Berlin later that day from their drive from Helmstedt. Kurt called Freda Stern to check in.

  “Freda, this is Kurt.”

  “Kurt where are you?”

  “Günter and I just arrived in Berlin.”

  “Good, we have a window of opportunity here for you to complete a quick mission.”

  “What is it you need to be done?”

  “Stop by Reinhardt’s house about 9:00 pm, we can talk then.”

  “Freda you can count on us; we’ll be there.”

  Kurt returned to the car. “Günter I spoke to Freda; she has another job for us. We are to meet her and Reinhardt at 9:00 pm.”

  “I told you they need us. We are in this for the long haul. We have earned part of this treasure.”

  “I don’t know Günter. I hope you are right. We don’t have any place to go without Reinhardt.”

  “Reinhardt is with us.”

  Günter and Kurt drove to the farmhouse for a quick meal and some rest. They pulled into the drive and up to the house. As soon as they entered the house, they noticed something was wrong. Items were moved on the counter and cabinet doors were open in the kitchen. Someone else had been there. Kurt ran to the barn. Once there, he slowly opened the door, and in the gravel on the side wall where Silke Mencken had been, there was nothing. This can’t be good. Kurt walked back to the house with a myriad of situations running through his mind.

  “Günter, the woman, is gone,” Kurt said, nearly out of breath.

  “Someone has taken some blankets and bottles of water. I’ll bet Freda was here.”

  “Do you think the woman was dead?”

  “I don’t know and don’t care. Either way, Freda appears to have cleaned it all up.”

  “I hope you are right.”

  Günter set about cooking some potatoes and onions while Kurt put some sausage on the stove. Soon the whole house smelled like onions. They sat at the kitchen table with beer while they waited for their food to cook. After a good meal, they both headed up to their rooms to rest.