A Walk Among the Dead

by Fanning, Fred

  “Are you a newspaper reporter or will you use this information for publication?”

  “No, I am a theologian, not a journalist. My intent is to further understand my father’s role in this society.”

  “Do you expect to sell this information?”

  “No, I don’t expect to do that.”

  “I have found one file at the Berlin Society of Theosophy; however, the file is missing. We will have to do some research to find the file.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Our records show we have a file, but when I go to the filing system, the file is not there. Since it is missing, I will put in a request to have a search conducted to find the missing file.”

  “Thank you I understand. Does this often happen?”

  “This is my first experience, but I have heard others speak of missing files.”

  “Thank you for your honesty.”

  “Now, on the Ahnerbe. I have 213 file folders on that subject and all files are present. Would you like to see them today?”

  “Wow, that is a lot of files.”

  “May I show the first ten to get you started?”

  “Yes, I can do that.”

  “Please wait a few minutes and I will have them brought here.”

  Dorit made a phone call and a few minutes later an old man pushing a chrome cart appeared with drab olive hanging files. She handed them to Johann and directed him to a privacy booth stocked with paper and several sharpened pencils.

  Maggie had just sat down at her desk at the station and was sipping her first cup of coffee when she received a call from her friend Monika at the Simon Wiesenthal Center.

  “Maggie, this is Monika. After our conversation, I did some checking. I have found entries in logs that show that the Berlin Society of Theosophy received over $300 million in grants from the Ahnerbe. What I didn’t find was records of any research being done.”

  “That is a lot of money.”

  “I also have a document that shows that Dr. Uwe Grünspecht was the Society’s Director and that Colonel Hans von Manntoell was the treasurer.”

  “That is a direct connection to von Manntoell.”

  “$300 million went in and nothing came out!”

  “Thank you so much, Monika; I am committed to finding out where that money went.”

  “You and me both Maggie.”

  “I can’t wait to share this with the Chief.”

  “I’ll call you again when I have more.”

  Maggie quickly called Johann and gave him the latest news. He had gotten home minutes before she called.

  “I am pretty excited right now.” Her voice was upbeat. “I received a call from my friend Monika who is an investigator for the Simon Wiesenthal Center. She has found documents that show $300 million in grants were given to the Berlin Society of Theosophy by the Ahnerbe.”

  “That is great. We now know how much might have been given to the society.”

  “There is more. She has a document showing your father was the treasurer of the organization.”

  “That is even better news. I feel like this is a significant breakthrough.”

  “Monika is going to keep searching.”

  “I went to the East German City Hall and they had a file on the Berlin Society of Theosophy.”

  “That is great, what did it contain?”

  “I don’t know; the file is missing.”

  “Missing you say?”

  “Yes, I found that strange too.”

  “We need to find that file. Let me make a few phone calls.”

  “I was able to look at files on the Ahnerbe. I haven’t found anything so far. I have hundreds of files to go through.”

  “Good luck. I’ll call you later.”

  Within the hour, Freda Stern received a call from Kurt with the update.

  “Maggie got information from friends that show $300 million went into the Berlin Society of Theosophy,” Kurt said.

  “Well, that confirms what Reinhardt has.”

  “She also has confirmation that Johann’s father was the treasurer.”

  “One last thing, Johann has found out that the file is missing from the East Berlin City Hall.”

  “That might be an issue.”

  “Yes, I thought you would want to know.”

  “Yes, thank you for calling.”

  Kurt followed that with a transcript to Freda.

  Johann was so excited he couldn’t stand still. He went out for a walk in spite of the frosty night. As he walked, he caught himself skipping a couple of times. After a few blocks, he relaxed a little. He didn’t even notice the cold as he walked.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Freda Stern called Reinhardt Kantor to arrange a meeting.

  “Reinhardt here.”

  “Hello Reinhardt, this is Freda.”

  “Hello, Freda.”

  “Reinhardt, we have some disturbing news. Can I come over this afternoon to speak with you about this?”

  “Absolutely, Freda, I will be here all day.”

  “Thanks, Reinhardt, I can be there in an hour.”

  “Perfect, see you then.”

  Freda drove to Reinhardt’s home.

  They walked into the sunroom and took seats in the wicker chairs.

  “So what is this disturbing news?”

  “Maggie has received information connecting von Manntoell with the society and serving as treasurer. Furthermore, she has identified just how much money was granted to the organization. Johann has found the file missing from the archives of the East German Police.”

  “Well, well, they’ve made progress.”

  “You can say that again.”

  “So they know the connection, amount of money, and the file status.”

  “That sums it up.”

  “Have they made any guesses about the location of the money?”

  “No, they haven’t thought that far ahead, yet.”

  “Okay, this is getting near the end. Let’s give them a little more rope and then we bring Johann in.”

  “What about the reporter?”

  “What has she contributed?”

  “From what Kurt says she has attended all the meetings and done research in German papers from the 1940s.”

  “She’s got some important information, but there is a risk to kidnapping her. She is a petite woman with police placed outside her building. However, we don’t have a back maintenance door to use. Let’s get her too.”

  “There is also a risk with kidnapping Johann because he is a strong man with police placed outside his building. The good news is we have the back maintenance door.”

  “Yes there is a risk for both, but we must take it.”

  “Yes, you are right.”

  “I would like Kurt to get us copies of any new documents Johann found.”

  “I will get him on that.”

  “I want to congratulate you on the decision to release Silke Mencken; she has turned out to be helpful.”

  “Thank you.”

  Freda Stern took a drive out to the farmhouse to see if Kurt was home. She pulled up in the driveway and saw his car there. She knocked on the door and Kurt answered.

  “Let’s sit here at the dining room table,” he said

  “First, I want to thank you for the valuable information you have been providing.”

  “You are welcome, Freda.”

  “I met with Reinhardt and he wants you to get pictures of the new documents that Johann has received.”

  “I’ll be glad to.”

  “Drop the film off at the same store as last time and I’ll pick it up.”

  “I’ll do that.”

  “Thank you, Kurt. Do you have enough money to keep operating?”

  “Yes, there’s still money in the account. It’s just me now and it’s cheaper for one.”

  “I understand. If you need anything, let me know. Also, be careful, they’re watching.”

  “Yes, I see that. I have been taking fe
wer chances.”

  “Well take care; I’ll be in touch.”

  Freda let herself out. She drove back to the city where she met Erich Hammer for dinner at a steak house on Argentinische Allee.

  “I’m starving,” Erich said.”

  “Me too.”

  “May I get you some drinks?” asked the waiter.

  “Yes we would like two draft beers,” said Erich.

  “And please bring us some escargot,” said Freda.

  “Yes ma’am,” said the waiter.

  “Erich, how are things at work?”

  “They’re about the same. As you know, I’ve been pulling the stake-out duty on Johann von Manntoell.”

  “That must be a thrill.”

  “Yes, it has been so much fun just sitting in the car or following him around. I usually have the night shift while he sleeps.”

  “Ouch, I remember those long nights.”

  “I wish you were still back on the force with me.”

  “I wish I was too.”

  “So how is your family?”

  “They’re fine; I need to go see my mother soon.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “Yes, just getting old.”

  “My parents live here in town so I can see them most any time.”

  “Yes, I wish my family lived here. Frankfurt on the Oder River is too far away.”

  “That is far away.”

  “I would like to make some money from this job to move my mother to Berlin with me.”

  “Would she come?”

  “Not without a lot of coaxing.”

  “Here are your drinks and appetizer,” said the waiter.

  “Thank you,” said Erich.

  “We would like to order two steaks, medium well, with Kraeuterbutter, and baked potatoes,” said Erich.

  “Superb, I will place your order now,” said the waiter.

  Freda and Erich enjoyed their beers with escargot while waiting for their meals to arrive. Later in the evening, Erich went to work on the stake out of Johann and Freda went home for a good night’s sleep.

  Hammer arrived at the building, sitting in the unmarked police car. He waved to Kurt Howler whom he also saw staking out Johann. Hammer would be thrown off the police force if anyone found out about his connection to criminal activity. Freda was removed from the force over a year ago for the same thing. Erich Hammer’s activity wasn’t found out when Freda was investigated.

  Kurt sat outside the building. He was planning to go in the flat and take pictures of all the new information Johann had gathered. He would have to determine when and for how long he would be gone. He still had a key to the building and Johann’s flat but didn’t know if Johann had switched the lock. He would have to check. Johann had been leaving the flat around 9:00 am each day. Kurt worked through his plan while sitting in his dark car. He was prepared to come back about 8:45 am and wait until Johann left to get the pictures.

  For now, Kurt would drive to the farmhouse to round up his gear and get a few hours of sleep.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  Silke and Johann stopped by the police station to let Maggie know the latest information Silke had found.

  Maggie looked up from her desk at the knock on her door.

  “Hello, Silke and Johann. Please come in,” said Maggie.

  “Hello Maggie,” said Johann.

  “Hello Maggie, I have some information to tell you about my research,” said Silke.

  “Great, I’d like to hear it,” said Maggie.

  “I have found that the Director of the Society Dr. Uwe Grünspecht died in an airplane crash in 1942. Here are copies of the newspaper articles. In the article, it noted that Dr. Uwe Grünspecht’s son Stephen Grünspecht took over the Society after his death. I couldn’t find a reference to the son’s education in the article. I thought that a child without credentials taking over after the father was suspicious,” said Silke.

  “You have a point there,” said Maggie.

  “I couldn’t even find evidence that the son was a member of the Society before his father’s death,” Silke said. “I continued to search through papers when I read that the building that housed the Society was destroyed in 1944 in a night-time bombing raid. The entire set of events was very strange. The Society Director died, the building for the Society was destroyed, and the Society was closed.”

  “You have some great points there. It sounds like a cover to enrich NAZI loyalists,” said Maggie.

  “That is precisely what we thought,” said Johann.

  “That’s all we have for now. We will let you get back to work. We will be at Johann’s if you need us,” said Silke.

  “Thank you both for stopping by. The information was critical,” said Maggie.

  Maggie sat at her desk going over the information that Silke had just brought her when she received more timely information from a phone call.

  “Hello, this is Maggie.”

  “Deputy Inspector this is Joseph from forensics.”

  “Joseph, what can I do for you?”

  “We have confirmed the name of the man in the photo as Kurt Howler. We have his current address as Marienfelder Allee Number 70, flat number 214.”

  “Great news, I’ll have uniformed officers go get him.”

  “We also confirmed that he was a member of the East German Police.”

  “Thanks very much Joseph, this has been very helpful,” Maggie said as she hung up the phone and quickly called the desk sergeant.

  “Sergeant Otto Brunner this is Maggie and I need uniforms to go to Marienfelder Allee Number 70 flat 214 and pick up a Kurt Howler on suspicion of murder.”

  “Could he be dangerous?”

  “Yes.”

  “I will send back-up with the unit.”

  “Thanks, Sergeant.”

  Maggie hung up the phone and then dialed Johann to give him the good news.

  “We have identified a second man that we think is involved in your father’s murder.”

  “That’s great.”

  “Not great yet, we haven’t got our hands on him.”

  “You’ll get him, I know it.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

  “So you think two men were involved and you have both their names.”

  “Yes, that is where we are. I’ve got to go now.”

  Sergeant Brunner sent four officers to arrest Kurt Howler. Kurt had been listening to the phone call from Maggie to Johann. He called Freda to tell her they know who he was. The good news was they could only have an old address for him. They did not know he was at the farm.

  Freda was outraged by this news. She immediately called Reinhardt and told him the story.

  Kurt drove into the city to get the photographs from Johann’s flat. He parked on the opposite side of the building, away from the unmarked police cars. He planned to enter the building from a maintenance door in the back just as he did before.

  He parked his car and walked to the far end so he had a good view of the front door, where he anticipated Johann’s departure. He saw the unmarked police car and could easily see the building door. Now he needed to wait.

  Two police cars pulled up to the residence they thought belonged to Kurt Howler. One car pulled around to the back of the building, the other went to the front.

  The officers at the front proceeded to room 214. The backup car radioed they were in place behind the building. One officer knocked on the door. No one answered. A second police officer knocked the door in and both officers pushed into the flat.

  No one was in sight. They looked in drawers, cabinets, and closets and found nothing. The first officer used his radio to call the desk sergeant.

  “Need to speak to desk sergeant,” said Officer Brendt.

  “Roger.”

  “Sergeant Brunner here.”

  “Sergeant Brunner, we are in the flat and there is no Kurt Howler,” said Officer Brendt.

  “Stay put until I can get a forensic team out there,�
� said Sergeant Brunner.

  “Got it Sergeant.”

  “Release your backup to return to duty.”

  “Roger.”

  Officer Brendt sent the second officer to release the backup team and bring crime scene tape back with him. Officer Brendt and his partner would stay put until they were relieved by the forensic team. Brunner was at his desk in the squad room when he called Maggie to give her an update.

  “Maggie, this is Sergeant Brunner.”

  “Yes, Sergeant how did the pick-up go?”

  “Not well, it appears that Kurt Howler no longer lives at the address.”

  “That is bad news.”

  “I have a forensic team en route to the flat.”

  “Good call, thank you.”

  “The team here is also doing additional research on a more recent address we were given for him.”

  “Thanks for that, too. I’m going to the old address.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Maggie left her office and drove her police car to the address to see what was there. She was greeted by green, uniformed colleagues and crime scene tape at the entrance to the flat. The forensic technician told her the landlord was inside the flat. He came in response to the noise and was being asked if he knew where Kurt Howler was.

  “Hello sir, you are the owner of this building?” Maggie asked the middle-aged man with a large mustache and olive colored skin who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent.

  “No, I am the manager of the building. It is owned by a company.”

  “Has anyone told you what is happening?”

  “They said they were looking for the former tenant of this flat.”

  “That is correct. I apologize for the damaged door, but he was considered armed and dangerous so the officers went in to get him.”

  “I understand; it can be fixed.”

  “Thank you for your consideration. Do you have a forwarding address for Herr Howler?”

  “Yes, I have a card here.”

  “May I take that?”

  “Yes of course, but can I get it back?”

  “Probably not, but I can have a copy sent back to you.”

  “That would work for my records.”

  “Did you know he was a former convict?”

  “Yes, he was placed here by social services. They paid his rent for a couple of months. Then he got a job and was paying it after that.”