She was right. And hearing his young son utter Frida’s name had been gut-wrenching in more ways than one. But Maximilian was too young to risk explaining the danger to, for it would be an even greater danger should he repeat their secret to someone he thought he could trust, then be betrayed.
For there was no one under this roof that he trusted besides his wife. Even his eldest couldn’t be trusted. Not with the secrets this family held. Not in this country in these difficult times.
He closed his eyes, his shoulders slumping.
His wife squeezed the back of his neck. “What is it?”
“It’s all unravelling on us, isn’t it? We were fools to think we could keep everything hidden. We should have left when we had the chance.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “There’s no point dwelling on past decisions. We’re here today, and we have to deal with it. If it weren’t for the boys, I would shout the truth from the rooftops just so it could all be over, but we have to do everything we can to save them. They’re completely innocent in this.”
He sighed, staring into her eyes. “Joachim will probably be the death of us all.”
Her face clouded with fear. “We should never have let them have him. We should never have let him join the Hitler Youth. He used to be such a good boy. Now he’s a tyrant in his own home.”
He grunted. “An SS senior officer with a teenage son who isn’t in the Hitler Youth? If that didn’t raise flags, nothing would.” He flopped down on the bed, his wife joining him in staring at the canopy overhead. “And you saw how excited he was about joining. There would have been no stopping him.”
“We’re his parents.”
“We’re his parents, yes, but back then, he still remembered. He still knew.”
She rolled over on her side, placing a hand on his chest. “And now that he’s seen the photo, it’s obviously all coming back to him.”
“If we could only find him. I could tell him a story, one that he just might believe enough to cast doubt, enough to stop him from telling the authorities. We just need to find him, get a chance to talk to him before anyone else.”
“I don’t see that happening unless he comes home on his own accord.”
He frowned, rolling onto his side and embracing her, his eyes burning, his chest aching as he took in the beauty that was the woman he had fallen in love with all those years ago. A woman so vulnerable, so in constant fear, a woman that hid everything so well for his sake and that of the children, that he sometimes forgot the truth that dominated their lives. “We’ll find him. He’s a good boy. He’ll come to his senses. He’s just in shock.”
She patted his cheek, a tear rolling down hers. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
He smiled. “Is it working?”
She held him tight, her shoulders heaving, her answer revealed.
A knock at the outer door of their bedchambers had them both flinching. He extricated himself and they both rolled from the bed, his wife quickly to her vanity to straighten her hair and makeup in case her presence was required, and he to his mirror to straighten his uniform. He grabbed his jacket off the back of the chair and shoved his arms inside before straightening the collar.
He checked his wife who nodded, then opened the outer door to find Hoffman standing there, fidgeting as if nervous about something. “What is it?”
An identification card was handed over. “A Kriminalinspektor Vogel is here to see you, sir. Apparently, he has information you must hear.”
Konrad frowned as he checked the ID. “What information?”
“He refused to say.”
“He refused?”
“Yes, sir.”
Konrad shook his head. “The impudence is galling. Where is he?”
“I had him and his partner shown to the drawing room.”
“Very well. I’ll be there in a moment.”
“Yes, sir.”
Konrad closed the door as the crisp footfalls of his aide faded down the hall.
“What is it?”
Konrad turned to see his wife standing in the doorway to their bedroom. “A detective is here from the Kripo.”
Her eyes widened and her hand darted to her flushed chest. “Do you think…”
He held up a finger. “I don’t know what to think. It could have nothing to do with last night. Let me go deal with this. You stay here.”
She nodded. “As you wish.”
He sighed. “You know what I mean.”
She waved her hand. “I know, that wasn’t fair. And you’re right. In my state, I’m liable to raise suspicions. You go. If they ask of me, tell them I’m exhausted from being up all night and am taking a nap.” She drew a deep breath. “It won’t be that far from the truth.”
He stepped over and gave her a quick peck on the cheek then headed for the salon. Hoffman opened the door for him and he strode inside, hands clasped behind his back, ever the model of perfect SS arrogance, despite his true feelings. “How may I be of assistance to the Kriminalpolizei today?”
The man in charge, around his age, large framed with a demeanor that suggested to him he was tired with a lot of things in his life, one of them likely the young partner he had with him, a man who appeared more Gestapo than Kripo. The man extended his hand. “I’m Kriminalinspektor Vogel, sir, and this is my partner, Kriminalassistent Stadler.”
“Colonel Konrad.” He returned the identification Hoffman had provided. “What brings you here today?” He motioned toward several seats then took his preferred one.
Vogel sat, crossing his legs, his partner preferring to slowly meander about the room. “It is our understanding that you are searching for an SS corporal that went missing last night.”
Konrad tensed. “Where did you hear that?”
“I have my sources.”
He smiled slightly. “No doubt one of my men informed you. We keep nothing from our police brothers unless it’s absolutely necessary. Yes, Corporal Griese abandoned his post last night. What has that to do with you?”
“We have a body in the morgue that I believe may be your missing man.”
Konrad’s heart rate picked up and he shifted in his chair. “What makes you think it’s him?”
“He was found in the area, stripped naked, with two bullet wounds, one of which contained a scrap of an SS uniform. Was he in uniform when he disappeared?”
Konrad nodded.
“Then I suggest you, or someone familiar with his appearance, accompany me to the morgue so we can make a positive identification.”
“Can’t Central Records do that?”
“They’re in the process right now, however that may take days or worse. For the sake of our investigation, it would be best if we knew now rather than later. The longer we wait, the less likely it is we will catch the murderer.”
“Murderer?”
“He was found with two bullet wounds.”
Konrad shook his head. “Yes, sorry, you mentioned that.” Vogel regarded him with what he was certain was suspicion. He needed to put the man’s mind at ease otherwise he might ask questions he wasn’t prepared to answer. “I apologize, Detective, but our eldest son is missing, and I find myself rather preoccupied.”
Vogel leaned forward, concern on his face. “Yes, that was also mentioned by my…source. When did he go missing?”
“Since around the same time, as a matter of fact. He had been chastised along with his brother earlier in the evening, and I fear he ran away from the embarrassment. I’m hoping he will return home shortly, though as a father, I’m of course fearing the worst.”
“I understand. I have two children myself. How old is your boy?”
“Sixteen.”
Vogel wrote in his notebook. “And his name?”
“Joachim.”
“What was he wearing?”
“His Hitler Youth uniform.”
The partner paused his perusal of the room, glancing at Vogel who ignored him.
“What
does he look like?”
“Tall for his age, good build, dark hair, dark eyes.”
Vogel nodded. “I’ll put the word out with our men to keep an eye out for any wayward Hitler Youth matching his description.” He regarded Konrad for a moment. “Do you think the disappearances are related in any way? Could Griese have taken him?”
Konrad hesitated. If he told this man the truth about last night’s events, it could spell trouble for them all. If he told them the perceived truth, the truth General Graf believed, then it would mean even more people would be aware of the embarrassing events.
Yet the body in the morgue had to be Griese, didn’t it? There couldn’t possibly be two missing SS members in the same area, could there?
“Detective, I assume I can count on your discretion?”
Vogel’s eyes darted toward his partner. “Yes, you can count on my discretion.”
The emphasis was subtle, and if he hadn’t noticed the sideways glance at the young partner, he might have missed it.
Yet it was perfectly understood.
He turned in his chair. “Stadler, was it?”
Stadler snapped to attention, facing Konrad. “Yes, sir.”
“Would you do me a favor? My men aren’t trained investigators like you are. Would you mind going outside and taking a look around the grounds, see if there’s anything we might have missed that might suggest where my son or my corporal might have gone?”
Stadler’s chest swelled and he turned to Vogel. “With your permission, sir?”
Vogel flicked his wrist toward the door. “Go. I’ll meet you outside.”
Stadler bowed his head at both of them, then left the room. Konrad waited for the footfalls to fade before leaning forward in his chair, Vogel doing the same.
“There was an incident here last night, but it must not become general knowledge, if you know what I mean.”
Vogel flipped his notebook closed. “You have my word I will not repeat anything you tell me unless it becomes vitally necessary to solve my case.”
Konrad pursed his lips. The answer was as honest as it could be, which was unfortunate. He would have felt better if the man had simply promised he would never repeat what he was about to hear, and leave it at that. But this Vogel was obviously a dedicated officer, and if honorable, would likely keep to himself the information about to be revealed unless it indeed became necessary.
Why else would he have indicated his partner should leave the room?
“There was a shooting here during a formal dinner party last night.”
Vogel’s eyebrows rose and he leaned back in his chair. “Was anyone injured?”
Konrad shook his head. “No. The shooter missed.”
“Who was the target?”
“I don’t know. There were many high ranking officers here. The guest list is confidential for the moment, however, suffice it to say that I was by no means the highest-ranked officer here.”
“Was Corporal Griese the shooter?”
Konrad forced his answer as quickly as he could, not risking any hesitation in his voice. “Yes.”
“You saw him take the shot?”
“No. The shot came from outside. The window shattered, I rushed over to it and spotted Griese standing there. The gen—one of the guests shouted at him and he ran. He hasn’t been seen since.”
Vogel’s head bobbed, his lips jutting out. “So, your corporal shot at your dinner party, fled, and if he is the man in our morgue, was then shot twice, by two different weapons.”
“Two?”
“A small caliber weapon inflicted a wound to the corporal’s ear, then a larger caliber weapon was used to shoot him in the back. It’s not clear if both wounds were suffered around the same time, though there is evidence to suggest they might have been.”
Konrad hid his concern. He had hoped his son had missed, and it was indeed glass that had injured Griese, but now that it was confirmed his son had shot the Corporal, questions were already being asked. These detectives might not rest until they identified both shooters. He had already revealed more than he wanted, but he had to keep his son out of this. No one could know he had fired the shot.
And this all but confirmed the body Vogel was referring to was indeed Griese.
Which posed even bigger problems.
Konrad rose. “I think the best way to move this investigation along is to confirm who you have in your morgue. If it isn’t Griese, then we can both move on with our respective tasks. If it is, then my job is finished, but yours has just begun.”
Vogel rose. “Agreed.”
Konrad led them out of the house and Stadler flagged them down. “Sir, I think I found something.”
Konrad tensed, but allowed Vogel to deal with his underling.
“What is it?”
“Blood.”
29 |
Konrad Residence Berlin, Nazi Germany
“Blood?” Vogel noticed Konrad bristle at the word before quickly recovering his composure. “Does that surprise you, Colonel?”
Konrad shook his head, though said nothing. His nostrils flared and he finally nodded. “Was it near the window at the side of the house, looking into the dining room?”
Stadler shrugged. “It’s over on this side, yes. There’s a boarded-up window there. I don’t know what’s on the other side.”
Konrad held out his arm, indicating the way. “That’s the window I told you about, Detective. Shattered in the incident. When I saw the…individual in question, he had a head wound. I assume the glass fell on him when it shattered.”
Vogel listened, but said nothing, the words delivered with relieved glee. They rounded the corner and Stadler pointed at the ground, what could be dried blood evident, along with a severely disturbed crime scene, the workers dealing with the window thoroughly destroying any hope of performing a proper investigation.
Vogel knelt and ran his fingers over the dark patch, the dew still present in the shaded area coming away red. “Definitely could be blood.” He glanced up at the boarded window then rose, reaching up to touch the sill. “And the dining room is on the other side of that?”
“Yes.”
Vogel wiped his fingers on his handkerchief. “Interesting.”
Konrad stared at him. “What?”
Vogel kept his suspicions to himself.
“Our body at the morgue didn’t have any wounds on him that would be caused by glass.”
Vogel suppressed the glare he wanted to deliver to Stadler.
The boy needs to know when to shut up.
Konrad regarded him. “Is this true?”
Vogel nodded. “Yes. There were two gunshot wounds, then minor wounds caused by vermin.”
Konrad clasped his hands behind his back, a curt nod delivered. “Then that settles it. The man in the morgue can’t be Corporal Griese. Griese absolutely had a head wound when I saw him, and it could only have been caused by the glass when it shattered from the shot he fired.” Konrad turned on his heel, heading for the front of the house. “I hope you’ll forgive me, Detective, however I must concern myself with the search for my son, and for Corporal Griese. I don’t have time to waste going to the morgue to identify a body I know not to be my missing corporal.”
Vogel frowned, but decided protesting the decision would be fruitless, and perhaps dangerous. “I understand, Colonel. May I call upon you again should something of importance come up?”
Konrad waved a hand over his shoulder before disappearing around the corner. “Of course, of course.”
Vogel turned toward Stadler. “You need to button that lip when you’re around witnesses or potential suspects.”
Stadler’s eyes narrowed. “Suspects?”
Vogel jabbed a finger after the colonel. “I wanted him to come in and confirm who we have. Now, because you gave him a way out of that, we have to wait for Central Records. We could have saved days.”
“But it isn’t Corporal Griese. We just confirmed that.”
Vogel sighed.
“Have we?”
Stadler stared at him. “Haven’t we? He was cut by falling glass. Our guy doesn’t have any wounds from glass.”
“What if he was shot here?”
Stadler’s eyes widened. “Huh?”
“The body was stripped naked. That means he wasn’t just shot and left there. Time was taken to disguise who he was.” Vogel pointed at the patch of blood. “What if he was shot right there, stripped naked, then his body dumped elsewhere?”
Stadler’s mouth was agape. “Do you think that’s what happened?”
“Of course not. If he did take a shot at a senior officer, shooting him would be completely justified, and nobody would question it nor try to hide that fact.”
“Then why—”
“I was merely giving you an example of why the colonel could be a suspect. You need to learn to keep things to yourself, otherwise you let your suspect pool know what you know, and that gives them a chance to cover up other evidence we might not have found yet.”
“So, the colonel is just a witness.”
“Yes, and one who is under extreme stress with the disappearance of his son, though I fear he has more to be worried about concerning someone under his command trying to kill one of his houseguests.” He headed for the front of the house and their car. “Let’s get the description of his son out to everyone, then check our messages. Maybe the guys have some more details on the gunshots.”
30 |
Berlin-Mitte Morgue Hannoversche Straße, Berlin, Nazi Germany
Naumann stared at the paperwork brought in minutes ago, confirming what Central Records had reported. The man on his table was indeed Corporal Griese. The photos matched.
And the records also indicated the man was reported deceased before he had made his request for identification. And this wasn’t the left hand not knowing what the right was doing. This wasn’t one of Vogel’s men making the request before he did.
This was something entirely different.
The incident report showed the man identified as Griese had been badly burned during the air raid, and that his identity papers were used to ID the body.
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