Rogers was stunned. “Do you mean the Becker that used to live on Speonk-Riverhead Road? My father was his lawyer until he died.”
“Yes,” Pierce answered and nodded his head. “Now stop interrupting me. I have much to tell. I’m starting with my return to Germany the rest is on the tape I gave you.”
“Okay,” Rogers answered in confusion.
“Mother and I arrived in Berlin in the early fall of 1930. Leaves were still on the trees, and the weather was warm. I could understand why Mother missed the city. Everything was very clean, and people were dressed in suits and dresses. The music was however, dark and classic, not the jazz that I had become accustomed to hearing. There was an undercurrent of excitement, and intrigue, buzzing about the coffee and teahouses. Political posters were tacked on every tree.
“We settled in my grandfather’s home. It was really an estate. I met Grandfather Franz for the first time. He was a gracious man, who was seventy-something years old with muttonchops on his face, a monocle in his eye, and a watch on a chain in his pocket. He walked and talked like royalty, and truly believed his will was stronger than anyone’s. He always was fully dressed in a uniform, and his left side always seemed to be closer to the ground from all the medals he wore there. I have always admired military metals since then.
“Grandfather was a true Prussian general. He had been a neighbor of the great Otto von Bismarck, the first chancellor of United Germany. Grandfather was educated in the ways of the military. He saw his first action in the siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. He was a distant relative of William II, who became emperor of United Germany in 1888. As a result, he became a leading general in the very active German military machine. After World War I, he retired; and in 1920, he bought a small company which made pistols and other guns. The guns were only marginally successful, so Grandfather decided to go into the ammunitions business. It was a good time to sell bullets.
“My grandmother had died soon after my mother was born from a disorder which could not be treated. We never knew what it was. Since Grandfather was almost always away at war, a nanny — who fanatically believed in discipline and tradition — was placed in charge of raising Mother. Grandfather had wanted Mother to eventually run his company, and now she was going to have her chance.
“My first six months in Germany were spent with my Grandfather. He was a man of honor and someone to be respected. He told me tales of war, political intrigue, and the power of good leadership. He drummed into me the reasons for sacrifice, and to protect those weaker than me. He explained the personal satisfaction he received from each medal on his chest. I was captivated. I had originally wanted to return to America, but realized the time spent with Grandfather would be short and could not be refused.
“Some days we would walk out by the pond on his estate, and he would tell me all about the good things in Germany. He told me Germany had the best scientists, the finest art and culture, and the German compulsion to organize everything. He also described the paranoiac nature of the current politics, and educated me about shortcomings of Communism and how it was affecting Germany. He feared a hysterical backlash and a move to ultraconservatism; while this was good for his business, it was not an honorable way to make money.
“Eventually we came to talk about my father. The Becker and the Franz families were friends for many years, going back to feudal days. My father, Wolfgang, had served in the military under Grandfather. He’d been a captain, but lost his nerve on a battlefield. It had happened before to other soldiers, and usually the soldiers were court-martialed and shot. But Grandfather interceded, and Wolfgang was sent home in disgrace. His family wanted nothing to do with him. They did the logical thing and sent him to America with some money and forgot about him. Grandfather was the only one who corresponded with him, as he understood his shame. When mother had grown and started to display radical behavior, Grandfather was unsure of what to do. Father, who wrote that he was in need of a wife, solved his problem. Grandfather ordered Mother to go to American to see if it truly were the land of opportunity. Such were the ways of Prussians and the reason that I was born. My parents’ marriage was an arrangement.”
***
After pausing to review his notes, Pierce continued his story. “Mother was happy in Germany. She was the life of every party, and was always off to lectures and demonstrations. She told me that it was good for business. She suggested that I should go with her to represent the family, and do deals with the men who she was not able to reach. At that time, Germany was still a man’s world. My grandfather warned me not to go, as most of what was discussed at the parties was poison. Nevertheless, I attended some of the parties to get Mother off my back.
“It was at one of these parties that I met the husband of one of my mother’s friends. His name was Wilhelm Canaris. Canaris changed my life. He became my mentor and set me on the path which has brought me here today.
“The first thing I noticed about Wilhelm was that he had as many medals as Grandfather. He noticed me looking at the medals. ‘I know your grandfather Wolfgang. He and I have traveled in the same circles,’ Canaris told me. I was surprised he knew Grandfather and also knew my name. As time went by, I came to understand that he seemed to be well-informed about everything going on in Germany. He was in his mid-forties then and already an admiral. We took up a discussion about his career, and he told me he’d been a fairly successful captain on submarines during World War I. Actually, he had been a hero of the war, but Wilhelm was always modest and never wanted to be the center of attention. He preferred the back light.
“I enjoyed talking to him, as he had many life experiences. He asked me many questions about America. He read a good deal and was interested, he told me. He did not really mix with many of the fanatics Mother clung to and preferred to stand in a corner and observe. He seemed to learn from just watching, and I was drawn to him like he was the Pied Piper.
“After a few hours, he said he would like to talk to me further and gave me his business card. ‘Come by the office on Monday, Wolf,’ he said. From then on, he called me Wolf, and I called him Admiral.
“For the first time since coming to Germany, I was interested in something besides my family. Bright and early on Monday, I went to downtown Berlin, to the admiral’s office. It was in some nondescript brick building, and there were guards at the door. The admiral had left a pass for me, and I found myself walking through halls that echoed with my steps. I entered an office and was greeted by Greta. Greta was the secretary that all executives dream about. She was in her mid-twenties, slim, with a pretty face, and wore a dress which accented her figure. Her deep-throated voice was cheery. I was so captivated I missed the inside door opening, and the admiral standing there. He cleared his throat, and I was jerked from my fantasy. He waved me in. I wondered how he knew I was there, but that was the admiral.
“His office was typical German. There was nothing out of place. A huge safe was in the corner. Before sitting down at his desk, he motioned me to a chair. He was a short, somewhat frail man. I was about six foot one and 180 pounds at the time and would have appeared to be a giant next to him. We exchanged pleasantries about the party we had attended, and I noticed for the first time that he had the most intense eyes I’d ever seen. They took in everything.
“‘How would you like a job?’ he asked nonchalantly.
“I had never worked in my life and wasn’t sure how to answer. ‘Doing what?’
“‘You would be a personal assistant to me,’ he replied. ‘I have need of an English translator, and someone who could advise me of American things. Also, I need someone who is willing to travel with me throughout the Mediterranean region, and write down observations of what we see. You would travel with me. We have extensive influence in that part of the world, and you would learn much from the travel.’
“‘How much would it pay?’
“‘You will get the grade pay of a lieutenant; that’s not much pay. But then, there are few exp
enses on the job and lots of perks.’
“I knew I did not really need the money. Grandfather had arranged a generous monthly allowance for me. I asked him how soon it would be before I could start.
“‘Greta has the papers, and will be taking you to lunch to explain your duties. Please report to this building tomorrow morning.’
“After signing all of the papers, I had lunch with the intriguing Greta and was home by midafternoon. Mother stopped me in the hallway, and announced that she wanted me to take a more active role in the business. She said I was a just a playboy, and would never amount to anything. When I told her I was now working for Admiral Canaris, she became very quiet. Then a broad smile replaced her frown. I asked her why she was smiling, and she said Canaris had just joined her favorite political party, the Social Democrats.
“I knew little of German politics, but I did know Social Democrat was another name for the Nazi Party. What I did not know at the time was that Grandfather and the admiral were close friends and both wanted me away from the politics that my mother adored. They had cooked up my position to keep an eye on me.
***
Suddenly, Pierce’s cell phone rang. He had placed it on the table, and ordered Rogers to stop the tape.
“Walter Pierce,” he spoke. After a few seconds he said, “Give me the location?” Roger’s could see anger on his friends face.
“I see,” Pierce soon replied and hung up on the call.
“Trouble?” Roger’s asked.
“No more than expected,” Pierce replied evasively. “Start the tape again.”
Rogers hesitated. “Walter you said that you were a spy, is that true?”
“You need to hear the rest of my story before you judge me Trent,” the old man replied. He then started talking again.
***
“My secretary was an older woman who took no guff from anybody like me. Her name was Hilda, and she ordered me around. She told me what had to be done from the time I entered my office until I left. Most of the time, I translated English documents to German.
“After a couple of months, I got a message to go to the admiral’s office. He greeted me warmly and inquired about my work. I was sure Hilda was reporting to him regularly, but I proceeded to tell him how interesting my work was and how it helped Germany. Satisfied with my answer, he said, ‘How would you like to take a little trip to Italy?’
“‘Of course, if you require me.” My heart was racing with excitement!
“‘Good, meet me here tomorrow. Plan to be gone about a month.’
“‘Why are we going there?’
“‘The Italian trip has three objectives. First, to check out a dictator named Mussolini, who is becoming somewhat powerful in the Mediterranean. Second, we will take a warm weather holiday in Sicily, and, third, to talk.’
“Mussolini was a seemingly friendly person, who ran his country with an iron fist. He made some forays into other countries especially in Northern Africa, with mixed results. The admiral desired to know if the Italians were interested in an alliance. Germany would provide arms and expertise, and Italy would provide soldiers and transports. After a week, we were off to the south of Italy. The impressive mountains overlooked ancient coves where the water was a deep blue. The small towns along the coast were picture-perfect. The admiral had a large sailboat waiting, and in less than a day, he and I were on the water. We sailed all over the Mediterranean for three weeks; we never shaved, and we dressed only in shorts.
“During this time, the admiral and I talked extensively. He explained that Germany was moving toward a military state, and Hitler would eventually be the ruler. He said he was very concerned about the true objectives of the Nazi party. He further explained he was a patriot first, and if his country were to go to war he would fight, but he had grave reservations about the probable German leadership.
“The admiral said that bullets were the visible part of the war, but the knowledge one obtained about the enemy was the way to win a war. I never forgot that.
“In the fall, I was once again summoned to the admiral’s office and told we would be leaving immediately for Morocco. I’d never been to North Africa, and was unprepared for the desert. It was so hot and dry I felt the indigenous people living there must have had no other alternative to survive, so they stayed there.
“We met with a Spanish general named Franco. He had headed an insurrection, and now was the dictator of the small colony of Spain. He had bigger plans — the control of Spain. Our job was to learn of his abilities and to offer him aid. Both Italy and Germany aimed to dispose of the current Spanish Republic. The meeting went well. The admiral told me that when the day of the revolution came, we would be there to see how the new German weapons performed during battle. It was, so to speak, a test of our military superiority.
“From 1931 through 1934, we traveled all over the European continent, visiting with leaders and opposition forces, depending on whether they were an ally or an enemy. By then, Hitler had taken complete control of the German government, and declared himself the Fuehrer of Germany. The German war machine was in full swing. Grandfather’s company had plenty of business, and Mother was very active in the Nazi party. The pace in Germany was electric. People went back to work, and many government projects were being implemented. The admiral and I had time to go sailing during all of our visits, and he continued to tell me that there were big concerns on his mind. As always, I listened.
“On New Year’s Day in the year 1935, Canaris was named head of the Abwehr. He was now head of the entire military intelligence network for Germany. He was the head ‘spy.’ In his new duties, the admiral was also in charge of counterespionage and inherited agents in many places. The work was so interesting that I asked him to admit me to the spy school he had just opened. He agreed, and off I went for almost a year. It truly hardened me and made me see up close the horrors of things a spy could do.
“While I was in spy school, Hitler got a new law passed. It was called the Nuremberg law, and it deprived Jews of citizenship. It did not take much imagination to understand what was really going on in Germany.
“The Olympics were held in Berlin in 1936, and the admiral sent me a ticket for several of the competitions. He said he needed to talk to me. I noticed at once that he had changed. He seemed to be listening to someone over his shoulder, but I dismissed it as paranoia. During the events there was much noise, but he whispered into my ear. He said he was very upset by the new policies of the Fuehrer, and wondered if I might be interested in learning more. The admiral was my mentor, and had always given me good advice and counsel. I of course said yes.
“A month later I graduated from the Abwehr spy school and was reassigned to the admiral. We left almost immediately for Spain and the civil war. Franco was happy to see the admiral, and it was clear they were friends. We spent our time following the front, and watching the German equipment chew up the Republican forces. During this time, I learned that many Americans were fighting on the side of the Republicans. One group was called the Lincoln Brigade and had many notable American members. The admiral asked me if I could infiltrate the group and gather some of their plans. He gave me a new passport in the name of Walter Pierce, and told me it was a perfect cover.
“I had learned that a simple plan was the best plan, and walked into the camp as if I had just come off the lines. What I heard was very upsetting. The Americans hated Fascists, and Germany was a Fascist country. To a man, they thought there would be war in Europe, and the United States would be drawn into the conflict. They would come with guns blazing. I learned one more thing. The Republicans were backed by the Communists.
“Back from my first great spy adventure, I reported what I had learned to the admiral. He was already aware of the information. The admiral said it was just a test; he already knew everything I had gathered, but wanted me to hear it with my own ears.
“On the next sail trip, he wanted to talk seriously.
“‘Wolf, you need to understan
d that Hitler and his cronies will destroy Germany. The main objective for Germany should be to gain territories that have resources, like oil, so we can strengthen ourselves. But I have to tell you the Fuehrer is consumed with developing a master race and building an empire. If things do not change, I feel some of us will have to take steps to eliminate him. I know what I say is treason, but I will fight for my country, and try to counterbalance the Nazi programs. I need to know you are on the side of an honorable Germany.’
“‘I have many mixed emotions, Admiral,’ I said. “I’m both German and American and do believe in honor. Germany is strong and mighty, so we will win the concessions that we seek I said politically.’
“‘Wolf, that is only a subplot; Hitler wants to exterminate all Jews. Next it will be Blacks, Catholics, and any group he decides is not fit to live in the new Germany. It can never stop; can’t you see that? Wolf, I have set up an organization to fight the Nazi regime. Will you be part of it with me?’ I did not have an answer.
“We returned to Germany to find that Grandfather was gravely ill. Mother had no time for him, as she was collecting orders and going to meetings and parties. She had taken up with a Gestapo major, and he goose-stepped around the house as if it was his own.
“Grandfather died in January 1937, and my life was very empty. Then his lawyer contacted me and informed me that I had inherited all of his money. He said in the will that he had earned it honorably and it should be mine. The sum was almost eight hundred thousand dollars, and was on deposit in a Swiss bank. Mother didn’t really care, as she got the company and the house. Her new friend immediately told me I had to move out, as there were many party meetings to be held at the estate, and I was not a party member.
“Two days later, after I found a new apartment, I walked into the admiral’s office and told his secretary, Greta, that I wanted to see him.
“‘He’s been waiting for you,’ she said airily. She showed me in.
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