That did not ease Jacob's mind. “Sir, please.”
“What will be expected will be communications that tell us what is happening in America. What the American people are saying about things in Europe. Things of that nature. Nothing sinister, if that is what you mean.”
Jacob sighed with relief, “Sir, please understand, I was never a member of the military. I do not possess the necessary skills to perform those types of tasks.”
The colonel burst into a full belly laugh. “My dear boy, you sound like I am asking you to go into combat. I ask for no such thing.” He wiped the tears from his eyes as his cheeks reddened from laughter. “Besides, I know everything about you. How do you suppose you were secured transportation so quickly and easily? Who do you speculate arranged for your workplace to grant you time off? Yes, Herr Geiger, our organization on both sides of the ocean is especially thorough.”
Jacob reiterated, “Just communications? Nothing more?”
“Nothing more. And whether you want the money placed into an account in the US or into your sister's trust, that decision is yours.”
Jacob signed the forms quickly.
“Hotzie Totzie, Newborn Nazi.”
“Excuse me, sir?” Jacob looked with curiosity.
“Oh, pardon me. It is an expression I like to use whenever we sign a new member into the party. It is a joke of sorts.”
The colonel rose from his seat, looming over Jacob as he signed the papers. He patted Jacob on the back. “Welcome to Nazi Intelligence, American Division.”
Chapter 14
Edmund came crashing through the front door “Hedwig. I'm home.”
Hedwig ran to greet him, hugging him tightly. Edmund pulled back when he noticed a man standing over her shoulder.
“Who is this? Why is he here?”
Jacob's heart sank, “Edmund, you do not recognize your own brother? It is Jacob.”
Edmund shook his head for a moment until all his recollections came back to him. “Jacob. What are you doing here? I had almost forgotten what you looked like.”
Jacob replied, “I came all this way to take you fishing. Remember when Papa and I used to take you fishing? I thought we could go together.”
Hedwig interrupted the brothers' reunion, “Are you hungry? Do you want me to make you a sandwich?”
Edmund pounced up the stairs and hollered, “I'm starved. Let me get out of this uniform, and I will be right down.”
Jacob looked at Hedwig, “My, you are right, he has grown. Pretty soon he will be taller than me.”
She laughed, “Let's hope not. I am already letting his pants out and cutting them into short pants. I can't afford a whole new wardrobe for him.”
Jacob was now proud that he joined Nazi Intelligence. He thought it an excellent way to watch over his family he had not seen in so long.
“I want to take him fishing tomorrow. Is that a problem? I understand I may be cutting into your time with him, but you enjoyed years with him that I missed.”
Hedwig spread out the meat, bread and cheese on the table and built the sandwich for Edmund. “It is a great idea. He needs a good and decent man in his life--now that my good and decent man is gone.”
Trying to change the subject, “Tonight is the night for your big date, is it not?”
She corrected him, “It's not a date. It is an outing of four people.”
“Still, there will be dancing and food. Laughter. I hope you revel in the atmosphere. You deserve it.”
“Exhilaration will come when I kill that bastard,” she mumbled, but Jacob did not hear.
Two hours later, Heidi came through the front door dressed in a bright floral frock. Her face glowed with the excitement of young love, and she rushed upstairs to Hedwig's room. Their two escorts remained in the living room when Jacob entered the room.
Jacob extended a hand to the men, “Welcome to our home. I am Jacob Geiger, the brother of Hedwig.”
Johann grabbed Jacob's hand first and gave a strong shake. “It is nice to meet you. I am Johann Reinhard and this is my friend, Gustav Gottlieb. Edmund is one of my students in the Hitler Youth camp. He is precocious and a natural born leader. You must swell with pride at his development.”
“That I do, sir. That I do.” Jacob thought for a moment, “Reinhard, any relation to Colonel Reinhard?”
“Yes, sir. He is my father. You have met him?”
“Please, take a seat while you wait. Women often take quite a long time to pretty themselves.” The three men sat. “I recently made your father's acquaintance. He is a delightful man, indeed. Your presence in our home is a great honor.”
Edmund came pranced down the stairs and froze when he saw the men. “Heil Hitler.” he shouted, dutifully.
Both Gustav and Johann rose to attention, “Heil Hitler.”
The men sat back down, but Edmund did not move. Johann looked at him, proud of his creation. “At ease, Geiger. This is not an official visit. It is a social one.”
Jacob watched the exchange between his brother and the officer. He saw none of the evil that Hedwig described, only a commanding desire for discipline. He saw a true soldier.
Edmund blinked his eyes, “A social one, sir? I do not understand.”
Jacob answered, “Your sister and Heidi are going out dancing with these two young men.”
Panic raced through Edmund as he remembered the last time Hedwig saw his instructor. “Permission to return upstairs, sir?”
“Granted,” Johann replied.
Edmund pounced up the stairs toward his sister's room.
Jacob smiled, “You instilled discipline and values within my little brother. I commend you. Too many of today's youths are becoming lazy and disrespectful. In the last decade, gangsters and bullets riddled the streets in major cities. But I blame prohibition for that. Americans cannot appreciate a good drink.”
All three men laughed.
Johann replied, “Thank you, Herr Geiger. I try hard to be both strict and yet compassionate.”
Gustav rolled his eyes. His friend rarely expressed compassion, but Gustav hoped the love of a good woman would change that someday.
Edmund reached Hedwig's door and knocked, “Hedwig, it's Edmund. Can I come in, please?”
He entered at her invitation.
“Can I speak to you alone, please?” He motioned to Heidi to leave.
Heidi understood and complied, “Sure, Edmund. I'll wait downstairs.”
Edmund approached his sister slowly as she sat at her vanity. They looked at each other through her mirror. “Jacob says you are going out dancing. Are you aware with whom?”
Hedwig looked at him in the mirror, “Yes, Edmund.”
Edmund got closer, “The last time he visited, you fainted and got really sick. Will you be all right?”
Hedwig, still seated, turned her position around to face her brother. She stroked his face and loved him for his concern.
“You need not worry. I was sick before, but I am fine now.”
“But Hedwig, I do not want you becoming friends with him. He tells us to do things that are bad. He wants us to tell him things that our families say against Hitler and the Nazi Party.”
Hedwig faced her mirror and brushed her hair.
Edmund continued, “I am worried my classmates told him things that will lead to punishments of innocent people. He is not a good man, and I do not want you involved with him.”
“I grasp what you are saying, Edmund.” She turned back around in her seat again to face him. “What of the other one? Is he a good man?”
Edmund responded immediately, “Yes. Lieutenant Gottlieb is a great man. I trust him.”
Hedwig raised an eyebrow, “Good. Then I only need to kill one of them.”
Chapter 15
The two couples soon arrived at the dance hall. All the while, Hedwig feigned pleasantries. Her mission repeated over and over in her head. She planned on learning as much about him as possible to use it against him.
Gu
stav pointed, “There's a table with some empty seats. Why don't you ladies go sit down, and we will go get us some drinks. Is that okay?”
Heidi, mesmerized by her love, responded, “Thank you. You are so thoughtful.” Hedwig rolled her eyes.
Hedwig pulled her friend's arm and headed for the table. “Can you act normal for at least one minute. Those love sick puppy dog eyes of yours are nauseating.” They both laughed.
“So tell me, what do you think of Johann? He is quite handsome, isn't he?” Heidi was trying to spark some interest between her friend and the young officer.
“He is handsome.”
Heidi continued, “His father is a colonel and they are rather wealthy.”
“Wealth does not make a man good. Wealth makes a man selfish.”
Heidi was losing patience with her friend. “Come on, be nice. At least pretend to like it here. Gustav's family is wealthy, and he is not selfish. He is an honorable man. And Johann might surprise you if you give him a chance.”
Hedwig looked at her friend, “Gustav is a good man according to Edmund. You hold onto him Heidi.”
The men arrived at the table carrying drinks for the group as a waltz began to play. Johann extended his hand, “My lady, would you care to dance?”
Hedwig took his hand and felt her skin shrink from hate. They began twirling and swaying to the music. He looked adoringly into her eyes.
“You dance beautifully. Where did you learn?”
She cleared her throat, “My father taught me when I was a little girl. He passed away a few years ago.”
“Edmund told me, and I am sorry to hear it. So much tragedy in your life. I would give anything to make things better for you.”
You could kill yourself, she thought. That would make things better.
“I thank you. What of your family? Heidi says your father is a colonel?”
Johann smiled, never interrupting his gaze. “Yes, does that impress you?”
“No.”
He began laughing, “At least you are honest. Many women are fascinated by dating a colonel's son yet they are not as enamored of me.”
“Gee, I wonder why.”
“Now you sound like Gustav. You are still grieving, but please give me a chance. You might be surprised at how generous and good-hearted I can be.”
I'd be surprised if you had a heart, she thought.
Hedwig smiled, trying to seem interested. “What of your mother? Are you two close?”
“My mother is an angel. Very much like you. She is strong and intelligent yet beautiful.”
Heidi asked, “What about siblings?”
“No siblings. Gustav is the closest thing I have to a brother. Our fathers were close friends, so we have known each other all our lives.” He glanced toward Heidi and Gustav. “He has fallen hopelessly for your friend.”
Hedwig glanced at the couple, Heidi giggling and holding Gustav's hand. “She is a caring person. She has a heart of gold.”
“So does he. But don't tell anyone. We in the SS are supposed to separate our hearts and minds. Yet when it comes to charming beautiful women, that is sometimes hard to do.”
Hedwig looked deeply into his eyes. She searched them to see if she could have been wrong. Is this the same man who killed my Fritz? Is Heidi right? Did I become so blinded by the uniform that every SS officer I encounter looks like the man who shot Fritz?
“Do you read?” he asked.
“Yes, I do. I am partial to Jane Austen.”
He chuckled, “How appropriate. The female author of love stories. How do you supposed Fraulein Austen would write our story?”
Hedwig immediately responded, “She'd kill you on the front lines and make me pine for you for all eternity.”
“That is a death I would surely accept. If that is the only way to get you to pine for me, let me be dead.”
Don't worry, it's coming, she thought.
The music changed to a polka, and the whole crowd started clapping and shouting, “Hoi. Hoi.”
The two couples watched on as a group of dancers pranced about in choreographed precision and traditional dress.
“Come on, Johann. Let's show the ladies how good we are.” Gustav dragged his friend onto the dance floor. They circled each other and slapped each other's backs. In a synchronized display, they clapped and danced. Huge smiles spread across their faces. They looked nothing like the scary officers Hedwig remembered.
The dance continued for another minute before the men returned to the table. Johann laughed, “I have now humiliated myself for your attention. Can I please get a smile from you? Please?”
For the first time that night, she saw him as a person, not a walking bulls-eye.
Johann noticed the kitchen. “Are you ladies hungry? It appears as though they are serving food now.”
They all agreed to get something to eat and headed toward the window that served the meals. The two ladies walked ahead of the men.
“Gustav, she is gorgeous. When she speaks, I melt. Even when she insults me. I only wish she would give me a chance.”
Gustav looked at his friend with shock, “I have never heard you so interested in a woman before. She is attractive, yes. But what has you so enraptured? You never even conversed with her before tonight.”
“I don't know. Perhaps it is the fact she is still grieving. I might see her lack of interest as a challenge. You of all people know how I love a challenge.”
Gustav stopped walking. “Women are not to be treated as sport. They are not to be hunted or fought over. When will you learn?”
“I'm helpless in this situation, all right? I like her. I'm not sure why, but I want to spend some more time with her.”
“Well, I do see she is having a positive affect on your personality already,” Gustav laughed at his friend.
The ladies walked slightly ahead of them but out of hearing range. Heidi pleaded with Hedwig, “Could you try to enjoy yourself, please. There are many people here--important people. Remember these men are trying to further their careers. It would not look good for them if it appeared their dates were not social.”
Hedwig looked around. There were many influential people around. People whose faces she had seen in newspapers. Men who were dressed in high ranking uniforms, although Hedwig could not identify the different levels of ranks.
After the four selected their meals, they headed back toward an empty table. An older man approached them.
“Hello, Johann. I did not know you were coming this evening.” Gustav and Johann stood at attention. The women looked at each other, unsure what to do.
“Good evening, sir,” Johann responded.
“At ease men. Tell me, who are these enchanting ladies you are entertaining tonight?”
The men relaxed their composure. “Father, this is Gustav's friend, Fraulein Hapsburg. And my new friend, Frau Schultz.”
The colonel gave a slight bow to the ladies. “Frau Schultz? Do you have a brother, Herr Geiger?”
Her eyes got wide. How does this man know me and my family, she thought. Hedwig approached Johann, linking arms with him. “Yes. I have three brothers.”
The colonel persisted, “Yes. I recently did some business with your brother regarding the sale of your shop.”
“Thank you, sir, for expediting the sale. It is quite a burden off my mind. Now I can concentrate on more pleasant things.” She batted her eyes at Johann. She blushed and looked down at the floor, trying to be coy.
The colonel laughed, “Very well. I wish the four of you a delightful evening.” He walked away.
Johann looked at Hedwig while he caressed her arm. “Are you impressed by my father after all?”
“No. But I wanted to make a good impression. I might later decide I like you and would not want any difficulties with your family.”
Gustav laughed and nudged his friend, “This might be the perfect woman for you after all. Witty, smart, and beautiful. She is not impressed easily either.”
Johann tur
ned to his date, “Is it permissible of me to ask how long it will take you to decide whether you like me?”
“You can ask, but that does not mean I will tell you.”
The man smiled. He enjoyed this cat and mouse game. It was rare that he was not in control of every aspect of a situation. He rather enjoyed this.
The end of the evening came, and the couples split up. Johann walked Hedwig home, and Gustav escorted Heidi to her place.
As Johann and Hedwig approached her front door, he asked her, “Was it really so awful going out with me tonight?”
She smiled slightly, “Not terribly awful. Just a normal awful.”
“Will you give me another chance to take you out next week? Perhaps we can go from normal awful to neutral. The week after that we may be able to achieve satisfactory.”
Hedwig giggled slightly, “I'll consider it.”
“I must see you again.”
She shook her head, “Why? I was not even nice to you.”
He laughed, “I know. That is what I find so enticing about you. I'm not accustomed to people having such a disinterest in me. Perhaps I enjoy the punishment.”
He reached for her hand, and pulled her gently toward him. “May I kiss you good night, please?”
“I would rather not---” He interrupted her with a kiss.
At first her body tensed. She tried to push him away, but she got swept up in this warm embrace. His mouth seemed so gentle. She wondered if she was wrong. Perhaps this was not the man who killed Fritz. The man before her was totally different from the evil she witnessed that day.
He released her and asked, “Come to my house for dinner next week? Meet my mother. She'll love you.”
“How about we have dinner alone next week. We can dine with your parents another time.”
A smile stretched across his face.
“What?” she asked.
Johann's radiant smile glistened in the moonlight, “You agreed to two more dates. Not just one.”
“I suppose I did.” They both laughed.
He gave her another quick kiss on the lips and agreed to call her later in the week. He bounced happily down the path like a school boy.
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