Following Orders

Chapter 9 Decisions

Eric Anderson sat down with Fritz Dietz in Herr Dietz’s home office. It was a nice cozy little room with a small fireplace and desk. There were only two chairs. Herr Dietz had closed the door behind them. Eric had asked for the chance to talk to Herr Dietz and it had quickly evolved into an invitation to dinner. Now Anna and her mother were clearing the dishes away and the two men had time to talk.

“Now Eric, what did you want to talk to me about?” Dietz asked.

Eric was nervous. Although he liked Mr. Dietz, he was unsure of how to put what he wanted to ask. It was also something very important and he didn’t want to screw it up. His hands were sweaty and without thinking he rubbed them on his slacks. Eric felt like he was sweating like a pig. Figuring he had little to lose, he threw caution to the wind and simply asked.

“Herr Dietz, I am not sure of Austrian customs or the propriety of what I want to ask. In America sometimes the father is asked and sometimes not. Out of respect, I wanted to come and ask if I may marry your daughter,” he said with an ever more frightened and tense voice.

Fritz Dietz had already figured what Eric was going to ask but was enjoying seeing him squirm a little. Eric was a bright and very capable young man who was as decisive as his father. He could see a lot of Al Anderson in his son — not just physically, but in his thinking as well. Eric would always take care of Anna, there was not doubt. The question was whether he could handle his daughter.

Dietz smiled and placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “That was very considerate of you. Yes, our custom is to talk to the father before, even though, like in America, this sometimes does not happen. My wife and I have been anticipating this, as did your father and mother. You both have our blessings. Personally, I would be proud to have you in the family,” he said warmly.

Eric visibly calmed. He didn’t know why he was so apprehensive, but fir first part was now over.

Dietz saw the response and almost broke into a laugh, but contained it. “Have you thought where you will be living?”

“Actually the business is about half in the US and the other half in Europe. My thought was to switch between Virginia and here. I plan on keeping our new home,” Eric said.

“A smart move. Do you think you will be able to keep the business?”

Eric grinned. “Father had already been putting me in charge of a few things. I already had my first management meeting before I came back. There are a few places I want the company to go that we haven’t before. We’re already big in defense work but I want to branch into highways. I also want to move into prefabricated industrial buildings to help out small business. I also asked the team to start looking into environmental engineering. With the current pollution levels, I have a feeling this will be a good place to invest. When I get back, I should have some answers,” he said confidently.

Dietz was a little astounded. Usually a young man out of college wasn’t thinking in such a big picture. His ideas made a lot of sense and he hoped Eric could pull them off. “It sounds as if you have things well in hand. Now what else did you want to talk to me about?”

Eric knew this was the tougher question. But with Mr. Dietz so approving he plowed right ahead. “Well, Herr Dietz, as you know I am taking my family home for the funeral. I should be back within the week. But I was wondering if you would object if Anna came with me. You see, I need her really badly right now. When she is with me I don’t feel the pressure nearly as much. Having her there would be a big help. I will take care of the tickets and everything. I promise nothing bad will happen and if you would like I can ask an aunt of mine to stay with us in the house. But I wanted to get your permission for it before I asked her.”

Dietz sat back in his chair a moment then broke into a grin. “Eric, Anna is a grown woman now. She is big enough to make up her own mind whether she will go or not. As far as being together I know you and I know my daughter. You two are the least of my worries. But I thank you for asking. Now why don’t you go and ask her. I’m sure her bags are already packed.” Dietz extended his hand and took Eric’s. “You’re a good man Eric. I appreciate your courtesy and your respect. Now you two go and make a life together.”

Eric thanked Mr. Dietz and made his way to the kitchen. Within a minute Anna came out and wrapped her father in a hug.

“Thank you father. I am so happy,” she said with tears in her eyes.

“You just live a good life together,” Dietz said to his daughter, “just like your mother and me.”

“I will father,” she said kissing him again. Then she went back to the kitchen.

Dietz sat down in an easy chair and thought about his daughter and her growing up. Now she would be leaving the nest. He gave a sigh. I can’t wait to spoil the grandkids, he thought to himself.

“His car was sabotaged,” said Betz. He was still wearing the black overalls but they were completely smudged and stained by grease, soot, oil and rust. It was obvious he had personally examined Mantz’s Mercedes and had come straight to Dresner. Betz had a look of pride and confidence in what he had done.

Dresner looked up at his friend and gave a slight grin. “So we were correct in our assessment,” he said.

“Ja, Herr Major. There is no doubt.”

“Dresner threw his pen on the desk and sat back. “Good, then tell me how it was done.”

Betz pulled out a few pieces of metal from his pocket. “Someone used a small transmitter to set off some equally small charges strategically placed in the car. The first,” he said pointing to a part of a ball joint, “is here. You see the deforming of this ball joint? Someone placed a small charge along this end so the explosion popped the joint and disabled it. It controlled the steering of the car. Whoever it was used a little too much. The other end sheared off and struck the water pump. We know what happened because the pump started gushing coolant before the car left the street. We also found the rest of the joint on the highway. The second piece,” he said holding up a piece of cast metal, “was a small charge placed against the brake master cylinder. We also found brake fluid along the road in the exact same place as the coolant. Luckily, the coolant was antifreeze, so it didn’t evaporate on the road.”

Betz then held up what looked like a melted piece of plastic with wires running from it. “This was what confirmed it all,” he said rolling the object by the wires. “This is a receiver which detonated both charges. It was hooked up to the battery and sat along one side of the firewall. When it was triggered, both the steering and the brakes were cut. I doubt Mantz even knew what happened until he was halfway over the edge. My men told me the sound would sound almost like a backfire. Nothing would be transmitted to the driver except a loud pop,” Betz said as he handed the small part to Dresner.

Dresner examined the part carefully. He could see the remains of a circuit board and some metal pieces, but not much else. “And you’re sure this is not just a part from the car. With many extras you can purchase to go on one, the question will be asked.”

Betz feigned a hurt look. “I took the piece to the local quarry. The manager said he used some of the same things on occasion when they blast out a new layer. He recognized it immediately.”

Dresner grinned. “I should know better.”

“Yes, you should Herr Major,” said Betz with a grin.

“How far away could someone be to set something like this off?”

“According to the manager, anywhere within 500 meters.”

“Then the man could have been sitting along the road watching us as we stared down at the wreck and we wouldn’t even have known,” said Dresner a little disgusted at the thought.

“Quite possible. But he did say the closer you got the better chance to set it off. He said that’s why they don’t like using them. Too much can interfere and sometimes even someone on a radio can set something off prematurely.”

“Yes, but this one they had to use a radio. A timer would be no good and there’s no way to wire it. That means we have someone who is an expert on explosives,” said Dresner. “What kind of explosive did they use?”

“Probably plastic. Dynamite would be too big and too unstable with the heat of the engine. With the fire from the crash most everything was burned beyond recognition. The wires melted and by itself we would not have been able to get any evidence. The brake fluid and coolant helped us find the one piece of the ball joint and this radio was protected when a piece of metal folded up against it. But now we can say without question it was a murder.”

Murder was becoming a common word in Dresner’s office. They were becoming too commonplace for mere coincidence. But each was leading to more information. Eventually they would find the one clew to unravel it all. “I agree. I want people out to locate everyone from Munich to Salzburg who has experience with explosives. I want them all checked out and their alibis checked. I also want to find out where someone can get plastic explosive. Let’s see if anyone is missing some. Also check the manufacturer of that remote detonator. Let’s find out who has purchased those recently. Then let’s start seeing if there are ties between the suspects and any of the recent happenings. Let’s start closing the loop. Somewhere, someone pushed a button last night. I want the person who did it,” Dresner said.

Betz stood straight as in the old days. “Jawohl, Herr Major.”

“And Sergeant, you might want to alert the men. We might need them on short notice,” he said in a more subdues tone while looking Betz straight in the eye.

Betz’s eyes widened. Dresner was alerting the troops, and he didn’t mean those in the police force.

Hanz Mahler was perplexed. Upon receiving the request from Sergeant Betz, he began a search of the old records to try and find out anything he could about Joaquin Mantz. He had found his initial enlistment papers. Mantz had joined the SS when they were still the very elite. He had once even been assigned to the Führer’s detail at Berchtesgaden. Then in late 1944 he appeared to have dropped off the face of the earth. Searches through the various combat units turned up nothing. He searched hospital records, injury lists, official correspondence, anything which could lead to a unit. Mahler was just about to call it off when he found an old paymaster’s record from March, 1945. There were no markings listing the unit or command. Skimming through the pages, he found pay records for a group of about 50 men which ran from January through March listing each man and their monthly pay. Two thirds of the way through was a page for J. Mantz. Next to the name was the notation “Special Unit 4.”

Mahler hadn’t seen that unit before so he launched a search in that direction. Again, nothing was found until he ran up on a supply requisition for a supply of light machine oil, drill bits, air hammers, and high capacity pumps. Although not typed into the order, someone had written down “fill immediately, Special Unit 4.” A further search turned up a supply of hand held weapons, ammunition and medical supplies. Mahler decided to look into more mundane things. The payoff came from the commissary supplies. Food was common with all troops and often the security there would not be as tight as with other items. In this case he found over twenty orders for food supplies, including a train schedule for delivery. On one of the forms was noted, “Deliver, Innsbruck.”

Next came the train schedules, but most of those had been discarded long ago. He was about to close one folder when he found a short message from the Reich Chancellery detailing a shipment of specialized parts from Mittelwerk to Special Unit 4. There was also a “special permission” for the parts to leave Germany. Another three days of looking turned up nothing. He picked up the phone and made a call to his friend.

“Betz! You scoundrel, how is the family?” asked Mahler.

“Very well, Hans. How’s little Gretchen?”

“She is in her fifth year at the Gymnasium. She is already talking about going to the university! I’m afraid I won’t be able to keep up,” Mahler said proudly. “You and your family should visit again. She really has a crush on young Chris.”

“Ah to be young again,” Betz said in a dreamy tone. “Now what have you found for me?”

“This was more difficult than I thought,” Mahler said. “I went for a long time without finding anything, but I finally found some old pay records and some supply requisitions. That’s about all. But there were a couple of things interesting. First was a consignment of supplies and food to a special unit four. I found one request for food with a hand written note for delivery in Innsbruck. But the other was an order of supplies from a place called Mittelwerk. It was ordered by the Reich Chancellery.”

“That’s pretty high level,” said Betz.

“I agree. It doesn’t make out what kind of supplies, but it did give authorization for shipment outside Germany.”

“Hold on. That kind of order only happened for very specialized and secret equipment. So you’re saying Mantz was in this special unit?” asked Betz.

“Yes. I found his pay records and it was noted, special unit four.”

There was a slight pause on the phone. “Hans, I can’t tell you how important this is. Can you find out the names of the other men in special unit four? Mantz was murdered last night and the major and I think there is something terribly wrong here,” said Betz.

The phone suddenly got icy in Mahler’s hand. The major had almost a sixth sense on things. If he said it was a problem, it must be monumental. “Michael, I will get on it right away. Tell the major I will contact him every few days until this is all tracked down.”

“Thanks Hans. If something changes I will let you know. But you know the major. He’s usually right about things.”

“Ja, I remember. Be careful Michael. You’re too old to get careless.”

“I will Hans. Keep in touch.” The line went dead.

Mahler hung up the phone and looked back at the pay book. He called in two assistants. “We have a special project. I want to know everything there is to know about an SS unit called special unit four. I want to know where it was, what it did and who was assigned. Call in any help you need. This has top priority until we have the answers. Here are some initial indications,” Mahler said as he handed over the files on his desk. “Report to me every day.”

The two men took the records and left the office. Within an hour, fourteen people were combing through every file from the Third Reich looking for special unit four.

Dresner sat with Eric Anderson to wish him well on his return to the United States. He was very sorry he could not go along but with the current cases there was just no way to do so. He apologized to Eric, who understood perfectly.

“Don’t worry, Herr Dresner. I know you would go if you could. What you are doing is more important. Anna and I will be gone about a week, then return. I plan on staying here through Christmas anyway.”

“Well, hopefully there will be a break in the case by that time. I feel we are getting very close. Until then just take care of yourself. I know what it is like to lose a family. It can be a very painful thing,” said Dresner softly.

Eric could see that pained expression again. It stayed a little longer this time. He took a small chance. “I heard you lost your family during the war. I’m sorry,” he said.

Dresner looked up at Eric and gave a weak smile. “Yes, my family lived in Dresden. You may have heard of the firebombing late in the war? They were all there — my father and mother, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles,” he paused a second, “and my wife and young son.” Dresner gave a sigh. “So I guess I know a little about what you are going through. I wanted to offer what support I can,” he said.

Eric smiled. “Dad used to call things like this ‘little ties.’ It’s the little things that bring people together. Now you and I have two ties. Both involved Dad. You were his friend. I hadn’t realized how good a friend until I came here. His death gave us something more in common. Thanks for helping me through this.”

Dresner tilted his head. “When my loss happened I thought I was alone. It turned out my men took care of me. They were there for me when I needed them. Just know there are people here ready to help you as well.”

“I know that. You are almost like family now. Herr Dietz and his family are there for me too. And I know Anna is here. I guess we were both lucky. We had people who cared.”

“Yes Eric. We are both lucky. When will you ask Anna?”

“While we are in Virginia. I figure she will want a big wedding here.”

“I can promise you a police escort,” Dresner said with a grin. Both started laughing at that.

The door to the room opened and Anna and Helga came in. “We’re ready,” Anna announced. She had a piece of luggage in her hand.

“Good. For a minute there I thought I would have to go without you,” Eric said as he stood and picked up his suitcase.

“Then let’s get going,” said Dresner. The four of them left the Dietz house and climbed into Dresner’s personal car, a Mercedes 190B. Within a few minutes they were at the airport.

It was a tearful departure, at least for Helga. She had grown very fond of Eric and Anna. For practical purposes she had adopted them as her own and was a little anxious about making such a long trip. As the turboprop plane taxied away from the terminal she waved until it rounded the corner of the building. Wiping the tears from her eyes, Helga turned to Dresner and gave him a smile. “Thank you for putting up with the emotions of an old woman,” she said.

Dresner laughed and offered her his arm. “It is good to be around very normal people once in a while. With what I do you don’t see that many.”

Helga laughed and patted him on the arm. “Oh Rolf, you are a good man,” she said. “People here speak so highly of you. And I know Eric thinks the world of you.”

“He’s a good boy. And Anna is a very fine young woman. You can tell they are going to be very happy together.”

Helga sighed. “Yes they will. I hate they have to start off by burying his family. It is a terrible thing. You and I have lived through such things, but our children shouldn’t have to deal with it at such a young age.”

“I know,” said Dresner. “But between us, we should be able to get them through it,” he said with a grin.

Helga smiled and leaned into him for a moment. “That, we shall do Rolf. That, we shall do.”

Dresner opened the door for Helga and she eased into the front seat of the car. After getting in and starting the engine he pulled the small Mercedes out of the airport parking lot and into the traffic leading to Innsbruck.

“It was very nice of you to let me come to the airport to see them off,” said Helga as they rode along.

“It’s my pleasure,” Dresner said.

“Yes, but it means you must take me back to the house. It’s a long way.”

“I don’t mind. It gives me a break from the casework,” he said. Dresner shrugged his shoulders as he drove. There are things about the Anderson case that keep scratching at me. It is like I am missing something that is staring me in the face. I know somehow all the cases I am working on are connected. But it keeps eluding me.” Dresner stopped when he realized he was venting his frustrations. “I’m sorry. I don’t need to be telling you such things,” he said.

Helga laughed. “And who else have you had the chance to say such things to? You don’t have to be concerned. I wouldn’t know anything about what you do. We are the same age and we have gone through some tough times ourselves. So if you need the chance to talk just talk. I don’t mind listening. Just don’t expect and real answers,” she said with a chuckle.

Dresner grinned. “I appreciate that. Sometimes the job seems a little overwhelming but I manage. This one has us all scratching our heads,” he said.

A large diesel fuel truck passed them on the highway. The wind gave the car a little shove as it went by.

Helga grimaced. “I hate those big trucks,” she said disgustedly. “One almost ran me off the road the night the Andersons were killed,” she said.

Dresner’s eyes shot up. “What happened?”

“I was on my way home and this smelly old thing came bounding down the road. I pulled over as far as I could and he just kept coming as fast as ever. He was so close the smoke he was blowing out came through my windows,” she said.

“Where were you?”

“On the road leading to the house, just after turning off the main road leading up the valley,” she said.

Something clicked in Dresner’s mind. The road leading to the house was a dead end. No traffic should have been on it. “Can you tell me what kind of truck it was?”

Helga shrugged. “One of those very big ones with a large tank on the back. In my lights I could tell it was a greenish brown.” She thought a moment. “And there was only one headlamp working. “Why. Is it important?” she asked.

Dresner’s mind began to race. Someone had used a truck to steal the acid. Those kinds of trucks had dual wheels in the back which would match the tire marks near where the Andersons had been pushed over the side of the road. And on the night of Mantz’s murder they had been passed by a truck exactly matching that description. This wasn’t the key piece of evidence but it sure was pointing in the right direction. Dresner smiled at Helga. “It may be very important. Even though you don’t know anything about my work you have just made it a little easier,” he said.

Dresner pressed down the accelerator. He wanted to get to a phone as soon as possible. Along the way he and Helga went over the facts she had given him again. By the time they arrived at the house he was fully charged and anxious to get things moving. Picking up the first phone available he dialed his office number. After only two rings it was answered.

“This is Dresner. Give me Betz,” he said quickly. It only took a moment and Betz answered.

“Sergeant, Helga just remembered something very important. On the way home the night of the murder she was passed by a large diesel tanker truck, brownish green, only one headlight and belching diesel smoke. Sound familiar?”

“Mein Gott, that’s the one that passed us the other night,” said Betz on the other end of the phone.

“Go with this Betz. I want the whereabouts of every truck meeting that description. I want to know who owns them and who drives them, then where they were on the night of both murders.”

“Jawohl, Herr Major. Thank Frau Hufham for me.”

He heard a chuckled on the other end. “I will.”

“By the way, the American Major came by and wants to see you tomorrow. He says it is very important.”

Dresner groaned. “That’s all I need,” he said as he hung up the phone.

Betz felt a chill run through him. Things were starting to happen quickly. The Major was like a bloodhound going after his prey. Betz found himself feeling the same way he often felt during the war when he and his men were about to begin a dangerous mission. The Major’s mind was beginning to race. When it did, people were carried along with him. Betz smiled at himself. Just like then, he knew he better get going, or else…. He immediately picked up the phone and called the motor vehicle department starting a search for the truck. He also contacted the Prost Fertilizer plant and a few other companies in the area which used tanker trucks. With luck, he would know some things within 24 hours. Then he called their former corporal to start calling the rest of their small band of men. After over an hour of quick calls, Betz sat back in his chair and thought a moment. Something interesting had come into his mind and he chuckled inwardly. His superior and friend was so tight and ‘by the book’ as the Americans say. Yet he just called Frau Hufham by her first name. His face broke into a grin. Wasn’t that interesting?

Betz reached over to the radio set he kept on his desk and turned it on. Instead of the usual music at his favorite station he heard the voice of the American President.

“Acting, therefore, in the defense of our own security and of the entire Western Hemisphere, and under the authority entrusted to me by the Constitution as endorsed by the Resolution of the Congress, I have directed that the following initial steps be taken immediately: First: To halt this offensive buildup a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba from whatever nation or port will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back. This quarantine will be extended, if needed, to other types of cargo and carriers. We are not at this time, however, denying the necessities of life as the Soviets attempted to do in their Berlin blockade of 1948.

Second: I have directed the continued and increased close surveillance of Cuba and its military buildup. The foreign ministers of the OAS [Organization of American States], in their communiqué of October 6, rejected secrecy on such matters in this hemisphere. Should these offensive military preparations continue, thus increasing the threat to the hemisphere, further action will be justified. I have directed the Armed Forces to prepare for any eventualities; and I trust that in the interest of both the Cuban people and the Soviet technicians at the sites, the hazards to all concerned of continuing this threat will be recognized.

Third: It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union,” Kennedy said in his speech.

Betz stared at the radio. My God has it come to this, he wondered. Betz remembered the Berlin blockade. For many in Germany, it was the first time the Americans had been seen as true friends. Despite the blockade by the Soviets people did not starve and people were able to hold on. The Americans had helped them do that. Now the Soviets had stationed atomic missiles just 90 miles from their shore. No one would stand for that.

Betz wondered where it would lead. No one in Europe wanted another war — especially the Germans. They were all tired of war. Germany was becoming a strong nation again. To have that threatened made him angry.

Despite the fact Betz was now an Austrian citizen he was still a very loyal German. Despite everything else he was proud of his birthplace and its people. The Soviet Union was a problem — to Germany and everyone else. He prayed for cooler heads to prevail. But when it hit the fan, as the Americans say, he knew which side he would be on.

The President’s speech was winding up. “Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right; not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved. Thank you and good night.”

“Ja, I know which side,” Betz said to himself.

The trip to Eric’s home was a whirlwind of activity and excitement — especially for Anna. It had been her first time on a long flight and the ride on the Boeing 707 had almost been too much. Sitting in a window seat, she had stared out the window almost the whole flight. When they finally landed in Richmond she welcomed the ride to Eric’s house, only to get back to something more ‘normal.’ One of the first things Anna had noticed were all the automobiles in the American roads. They were in every shape, size and color, and seemed to fill the roads everywhere they went.

Eric had escorted her to his own car in the parking lot of the airport. He had described how lucky he was to get one as they had just come out on American roads. The new Buick Riviera was the most modern automobile she had ever seen. It looked like it would take off and fly. It was a dark blue with a white leather interior and it sparkled in the evening light. The Buick was much larger than most cars she had seen and as they rode down the roads, it seemed to float.

Eric’s home was a large ranch style home nestled in the woods near Charlottesville, Virginia. It was made of white brick with stone accents and had a three car garage. Inside, the house looked like something out of one of her magazines. It was modern and spacious. There were polished hardwood floors with new modern furniture and brass accent pieces surrounding a large stone fireplace. To one side was a dining room which led to a large kitchen. Her room was larger than anything she had seen at home, including some of then rooms in the palace in Salzburg. From the kitchen and dining room, sliding doors led to a deck with a pool. Anna couldn’t help but stare at everything. Innsbruck had nothing like this.

Despite all the excitement, both Anna and Eric were exhausted. Both turned in early. The next day would be a busy one. The funeral arrangements had to be finalized, documents signed on the estate, meetings held at the company and family visited.

Both went almost straight to bed. Yet despite falling into a deep sleep, Anna woke while it was still dark outside. Glancing at the clock on her nightstand she saw it was 2 am. Looking around the darkened room she noticed light coming out from under the bathroom door. The bathroom was shared with Eric’s bedroom next to hers. Curious, she got out of bed and pulled on a light robe she had brought along. She crossed through the bathroom and gently knocked on the door to Eric’s room before she went in. Eric was sitting up in his bed reading a book. He smiled meekly at her.

“Can you not sleep?” she asked.

Eric sighed. “Sometimes when I get really tired I can’t sleep that well. So, I read a while until I get sleepy again.”

Anna walked to the side of the bed and sat beside him. “Is there anything I can do?”

Eric almost blushed. “No, you are as tired as I am. Go ahead and get some rest. I’ll be okay.”

Anna gave him a bit of a look. She reached over and took his book, closed it, and placed it on his nightstand. She then stood and removed her robe, draping it on a chair. Eric hadn’t known that she didn’t wear a nightgown. She turned around only wearing a thin pair of shorts. Anna turned off the light and crawled into the bed. She snuggled up next to Eric and eased him back down from the sitting position. She pulled his head to her shoulder. “Now try and sleep,” she said.

In the dark Eric smiled, “I don’t know if I can now.”

Anna kissed him on the forehead and wrapped her arms around him. “Then let’s do something about that.”

Major Brewster stood in front of Dresner’s desk more subdued this time. Dresner wondered what had happened, but had a sneaking feeling it was not good.

“Herr Dresner I have come to ask your help again.”

Dresner got a skeptical look on his face. “What has happened Herr Major?” he asked.

“May I sit down?”

Dresner motioned for the chair and Brewster sat down tiredly. “Just late yesterday we discovered someone has stolen some of our fuel out of the local yards. We had received permission to store it there temporarily and when we went to remove it, we found over 80,000 gallons missing,” the major said.

Dresner got an alarmed look on his face. For a minute he sat and said nothing. His mind was running at top speed. It all fit. What was missing was the scale. The acid and all that fuel required very large and sophisticated storage. Nothing like that was around here that he knew of. The theft of the truck required a place to put the cargo. They had already searched all the local storage facilities and the truck itself wouldn’t fit into a garage. Someone had used an older German anti-tank round on the Andersons. Where would they store something like that? Someone had used plastic explosives on the Mantz murder. Someone very specialized. Mantz was probably an old Nazi. Something clicked again. It was too impossible to believe.

Dresner looked at Brewster. “Herr Major we need to work together on this. He quickly went over what he had been investigating over the past few months. Brewster seemed to come alive with each revelation. At the end he had a very determined look.

“Herr Dresner, what can we help you with?” Brewster asked.

“Before we act, I need to try and verify something. If I am wrong, then no harm is done. But if I am right I need your help in keeping this under the covers,” said Dresner.

“What do you mean?”

Dresner took a deep breath. “Major, Germany is still rebuilding from the ravages of a war we started. The German people don’t need anything else from that era stabbing them in the heart. What’s more, we don’t need the repercussions from around the world. My young friend Eric Anderson told me a while back people still think of Germans as the bad guys. We have to earn our way out of that. If this is an old Nazi plot, I want to shut it down without a lot of attention. That saves embarrassment for us and for you. After all, if this is a plot, they stole a top secret truck and fuel from right under your noses,” Dresner said dramatically.

The American saw the look on Dresner’s face. The man was genuinely concerned and for the right reasons. Dresner was right. Even he did not have a high regard for the German people. But he was also right that Germany was just now getting back on its feet. Most he had met were hard working and tired of conflict. They didn’t like what they had been through and wanted to make things better. He was also right that he personally was embarrassed that these things had been stolen while on his watch. It was reasonable and his respect for Dresner had just grown a bit. He looked Dresner in the eye.

“I agree. I’ll keep things under wraps on my end as best I can. Now what do you need?”

Dresner didn’t bat an eye. “It is only something the American Army can do. I need to speak to one man.”