As he studied the scene, Gerhard wondered why the assailants had not waited for Herr Schloss to appear. It was certain that was the target of the operation. He supposed they could have mistaken Rainer for Schloss, although Schloss was tall and Rainer relatively short. Considering the things Rainer had shared with him over the past weeks, Gerhard had no doubt Himmler was behind this.

  Wicklein took over the management of the scene while Schlempke worked the details. Forty-five minutes later, Schlempke sent a guard upstairs to tell Schloss it was safe for him to come down. Gerhard walked into the lobby and found a phone. He called the motor pool and told them to bring another car around for the Parteileiter.

  Shortly after that, Heinrich Schloss walked out to the sidewalk. Wicklein walked over to meet him.

  “It could have been far worse, Herr Parteileiter,” Wicklein said.

  “What’s the butcher’s bill?” Schloss asked.

  “Herr Rainer is in the hospital. He took a bullet in the shoulder. He was the only one of our people injured.”

  “And the attackers?”

  “They are all dead. It seems we are getting better faster than they are.”

  “And who are they, mein Herr?” Schloss asked.

  “No identification, Herr Parteileiter. But they looked like SS.”

  At that moment, a sullen-looking man displayed an aluminum disk identifying him as a Gestapo agent.

  “Once more, it seems trouble is following you around, Herr Parteileiter.”

  “So, it seems,” Schloss replied. “Why have you people been unable to identify who keeps trying to kill me?”

  “I cannot answer that, Herr Parteileiter. I can assure you we are doing our best.”

  “Thank you for your attention.” Schloss turned back to Wicklein. “Is it safe to bring my sister down so we can go home?”

  “If you could wait a few minutes, Herr Parteileiter, we will have another car for you. This one is all shot up. I am also arranging a heavier escort for you. I thought that would be wise.”

  “Thank you for your initiative,” Schloss said. “As soon as is practical, please inform me of Herr Rainer’s condition.”

  “Of course, Herr Parteileiter.”

  When Schloss left in another car to go home, Wicklein asked Schlempke to accompany the guards to the Schloss residence. He then lingered in the lobby to ensure the cleanup was adequate and returned to his office. He picked up the phone and called Katlin.

  “You are going to be late?” she asked.

  “I think I will be here all night,” he replied. “There was a shooting outside the building, and Karl was wounded.”

  “Oh, no! Not Karl,” she moaned.

  “He was still alive when they took him to the hospital. Besides being in a lot of pain, I expect he will survive. But we’re awaiting word from the hospital. And I think I need to stay here tonight.”

  “I understand. Could you send somebody over here? I want to fix a plate for your supper, and they can bring it to you.”

  “I would be delighted to do so, Schatzi. I will plan to come home in the morning to clean up. And I will probably have to drive to Potsdam to see Karl.”

  “I would like to go with you,” she said.

  “I think I could arrange that. Do you think Frau Fenstermacher will hate us?”

  “No, she loves the boys.”

  “Okay, I need to go.”

  After he hung up, he walked into the main office. Ludwig Pankow was still at his desk.

  “Working late, Ludwig?”

  “No, Herr Wicklein. I stayed in case you needed some help tonight.”

  “That was gracious of you, and I do have a task. Could you take a car over to my apartment? My wife has prepared a plate for my dinner.”

  “I would be happy to do so,” Pankow responded.

  Gerhard returned to his office and sorted through the papers on his desk. If the office stayed quiet, he should be able to clear much of the stack away. He then walked into Rainer’s office. Once again, he was struck by the room's stark orderliness. Karl was not sloppy in anything he did.

  Rainer had left his desk calendar open, and a listing of tasks lay next to it. Gerhard picked it up to read it and also glanced at the calendar. He sat down and pulled a sheet of paper from Karl’s supply, and began working on a list of things he would need to take care of first thing in the morning. Much of it involved shuffling the appointments. Most of the items on the task list were things that Gerhard could cover.

  A while later, Pankow tapped on the door frame. “I have your dinner here, Gerhard.”

  “Oh, thank you, Ludwig. Just place it on my desk. I will be there in a few minutes.”

  “I took the liberty to stop and purchase a lager for you as well.”

  “Bless you, my son.”

  Pankow snorted. He was at least fifteen years older than Wicklein. But he had no problem at all working for the younger man. It was important work, and it was fun. Having Rainer in the hospital was grim, but Pankow planned to watch Wicklein to see how he managed things. It would be interesting.

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  November 8, 1941; 2 PM

  Beelitz-Heilstatten Hospital (Near Potsdam)

  Rainer was asleep when Gerhard and Katlin slipped into his room at the hospital. Katlin carried a vase and a spray of flowers, which she placed on the small table next to the bed. Gerhard felt a bit of unease, remembering his recent stay here. Still, this hospital had the reputation of being the best in the nation.

  “He looks rough,” Katlin whispered to Gerhard.

  “He took a bullet in the shoulder. That’s not a good place to get hit,” Gerhard whispered back.

  Karl’s eyes opened. “I wasn’t asleep.”

  Katlin moved close to the bed. “How are you doing, Karl?”

  “I feel like something that came out of the back end of a swine. But the doctor tells me I will survive. I don’t like hospitals.”

  “I remember this place well,” Gerhard said. “Do you want me to help you escape?”

  Rainer groaned. “Why not? Maybe Katlin can help me get back to health. May I borrow her?”

  “I’m sorry, Karl,” Katlin interjected, “I only play doctor with Gerhard.”

  Gerhard was unable to conceal his mirth. Karl just smiled. “It hurts to laugh.”

  “We won’t stay long,” Gerhard said. “You need to rest. Ludwig and I are staying on top of things at the office. Herr Schloss was back at his desk at his usual hour.”

  “And I won’t be there to keep him out of trouble,” Rainer whispered.

  “I remember you once told me that nobody was irreplaceable. But we miss you at the office,” Gerhard commented.

  “Thank you for coming to see me. That means a lot.”

  Katlin leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. Gerhard saw him blush beneath the pallor. With that, they left the hospital. They returned to the Opel Kapitän Gerhard had signed out for the trip to Potsdam. After Marcel Daumer’s death, things had quieted down, and Rainer had quietly removed the guards from Gerhard’s entourage. They enjoyed going out together without a protection detail hovering over them.

  “Why don’t you drive, Schatzi,” Gerhard asked. “I’m starting to feel the effects of staying up all night.”

  “Of course, Darling,” she replied. “Do you have to return to the office this afternoon?”

  “I probably should. I’m having to make decisions in Karl’s place. I don’t understand how people can be so passive.”

  “If you get some sleep on the ride back, that may help.”

  Katrin had been taught to drive by her father, and she had a precise, conservative style behind the wheel. She smoothly pulled out on the road back to Berlin. She looked over and smiled at her husband – he was already asleep.

  She pondered her life and experiences. Three years ago, she would have never dreamed that she would marry a farmer’s son or that they would move in the German government's highest circles. She deeply loved Gerhard and concluded she had made a great catch. He was kind and solicitous to her and the children. But he was also ruthless in protecting his family and friends. Everywhere he went, he seemed to attract people who followed his leadership.

  Following Hitler’s death, Katlin watched Gerhard as he was entrusted with more responsibility. And yet, he didn’t seem to take unfair advantage of his position. He had confided to her that nearly every prominent Nazi had a side hustle that involved dipping their hands into the government treasury or stealing from those unfortunates with no recourse.

  Gerhard commented on the dark intrigues swirling around the governing council. So far, Heinrich Schloss seemed to be holding his own in the gladiatorial combat. But the future looked murky. Katlin had decided that her mission was to support her husband and help guide him to serve the nation effectively. The older Nazis would move off the scene eventually, and she wanted Gerhard ready to step into leadership when that happened.

  She stopped the car in front of the house where they lived in an upstairs apartment. She leaned over and kissed Gerhard on the cheek. Usually, that awakened her husband, but he did not stir. So she gently shook him.

  “Hey, wake up, sleepyhead.”

  He dragged himself up from his slumber. “Are we there already?”

  She chuckled deep in her throat. “I think you had a good nap. Are you alert enough to drive back to the office?”

  “I’ll walk in with you so I can see the boys. That should get me moving. At the moment, I don’t think I could drive safely.”

  She intertwined her arm with his as they walked up the sidewalk to the house.

  “I expect you home for dinner tonight,” she said. “Let Ludwig keep an eye on things tonight.”

  “I think I will do that. I sent Ludwig home at 4 AM. He was starting to sway at his desk. I told him not to come back in until the afternoon. Brucks is keeping an eye on things. He has some depth to him. Things stayed quiet at the office, so I should be able to get away. And they can telephone me if something comes up.”

  The hour-long nap seemed to help. Gerhard had been unsure whether he could make it through the day. After a brief time with the children, he returned to the office. Pankow had returned and was at his desk. Wicklein stopped there first.

  “How are you doing, Ludwig?”

  “Very well, Herr Wicklein. Thank you for sending me home. I managed six or seven hours of sleep.”

  “That is good. I won’t be staying late tonight. I’ll leave you to cover the office. But don’t expect to stay all night. If things are quiet, you can leave. If something happens, they can call me.”

  “Thank you, mein Herr. But I’ll do whatever I need.”

  “I know you will.”

  Alden Schlempke stood outside the Parteileiter’s door, and Gerhard moved over to him.

  “Did you get some sleep, Alden?” he asked.

  “I got about four hours, mein Herr. I have arranged security to ensure the Parteileiter is covered adequately.”

  “Last night reminded us to stay wary, I guess,” Wicklein said.

  “Very true. I wonder if we should resume using a detail to cover you, Herr Wicklein?”

  “Unlike those idiots from Munich, the SS doesn’t seem interested in me. I would like to continue that as long as possible.”

  Schlempke smirked. “I understand. You value your privacy.”

  “Exactly. But I have no complaints about the job you people have done.”

  “Thank you, mein Herr,” Schlempke replied.

  § § §

  November 19, 1941; 11:30 AM

  Nazi Party Headquarters

  Berlin, Germany

  Gerhard had walked over to Pankow’s desk when he heard Schloss shouting, though the closed door to the Parteileiter’s office was closed. A few moments later, a red-faced Rudolf Hess came out and walked quickly from the office.

  “I wonder what that was all about?” he asked.

  Pankow held up a newspaper for Wicklein. “Take a look at this mein Herr. I would be willing to bet on the cause of the explosion.”

  Wicklein quickly scanned the article. “Heil Hess indeed. I understand Herr Hess makes a good speech.”

  “He does. I attended one of his speeches here in Berlin. He brought me to my feet. And I don’t particularly like him.”

  “Is he angling for the Führer’s chair?”

  “I think so. I overheard a conversation between the Parteileiter and Herr Rainer. It was not complimentary of Herr Hess.”

  Wicklein rubbed his nose as he thought. “If you hear something else, could you let me know?”

  Pankow nodded. “Of course, Herr Wicklein.”

  “And I have completely forgotten what I came out to ask you.”

  “You are not old enough to have that problem.”

  Gerhard looked up as Schloss’s new secretary came out of the Parteileiter’s office. Willem Kirche had formerly worked in the communications section in the basement. So far, he looked startlingly competent.

  “Well, if I think of it again, I’ll come back,” Wicklein said.

  He returned to his desk and pondered the news about Hess. Would this provoke Himmler to action? How would the Parteileiter deal with it?

  “Ludwig!” he shouted.

  Pankow came into the office.

  “Shut the door, please.”

  Pankow looked at him expectantly. “Did your memory return?”

  “That news about Hess concerns me. How well prepared is our team here in the Party Headquarters?”

  “Everyone knows what they are supposed to do if the balloon goes up,” Pankow responded.

  “Quietly pass the word to them to stay alert. I have a feeling we may be in the end game.”

  “Then something could happen anytime.”

  “Right,” Gerhard agreed. “If you hear something, please let me know as soon as possible.”

  “I will do so.”

  “Thank you, Ludwig.”

  Gerhard kept an ear tuned to the Parteileiter’s office as he worked. With Rainer incapacitated, Gerhard had stepped in to accomplish some of the tasks that the Special Assistant usually did for Schloss. This led to closer contact with the Parteileiter. And if Schloss was not exactly friendly, he seemed to thaw slightly towards Gerhard.

  Wicklein was still puzzled by Schloss’s behavior but was willing to put that aside to help the man succeed. Gerhard was more convinced that Schloss would ultimately save Germany. And he would do whatever was necessary to help him.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  December 3, 1941, 4 PM

  Nazi Party Headquarters, Berlin

  “It looks like a family reunion this afternoon,” Ludwig Pankow said.

  “I’ve had my door closed,” Wicklein replied. “I thought I saw Schloss’s brother-in-law arrive earlier.”

  “And his sister is here now.”

  The two men sat in Wicklein’s office, sipping their afternoon coffee and reviewing the day’s work. Wicklein’s 7 AM meetings with Rainer occurred so often as to be routine, and the same seemed to be true of his late afternoon meetings with Pankow.

  “Despite his position,” Wicklein commented, “Peter Schreiber has become one of the key members of the government. He is essentially running the foreign office now. So don’t be surprised if Ribbentrop gets shifted to a different position.”

  “Would the others on the governing Council agree to that?”

  “Probably not. At least the way things are structured now.”

  “Is something getting ready to happen, Herr Wicklein?” Pankow asked.

  “I think so. Things cannot continue as they have been lately. There have been multiple attempts on the Parteileiter’s life. I’m certain Herr Schloss recognizes that one of those attacks will succeed sooner or later.”

  “I am surprised there Schloss has put up with it for so long. He didn’t hesitate to kill Bormann.”

  “The difference,” Wicklein suggested, “is that both Herr Schloss and Bormann were inside the building’s defensive perimeter.”

  “So he has to identify a time when he can get close to Himmler without the guards getting in the way.”

  “Himmler?” Wicklein raised an eyebrow.

  Pankow looked briefly flustered. “Well, if it’s not Himmler, who is it?”

  “I believe we have covered everything we can on this topic, Ludwig. Now, tell me about your current audit.”

  “I am working through the reports from Leipzig,” Pankow replied. “As usual, the payroll seems inflated. I think we will have to go there to look at the original files.”

  “Herr Rainer suggested we not leave town for the time being. So just document the suspicious areas so we will know where to pick up again when the opportunity presents itself.”

  There was a tap on the door, and Strang stuck his head in.

  “Excuse me please, meine Herren,” he said, “has Katlin prepared dinner for you tonight, Gerhard?”

  “I expect to work late tonight, so I told her I would have some bread and cheese when I got home.”

  “I will probably be here late, myself,” Strang said. “Come, let’s get a bite to eat together.”

  “Of course, Erich,” Gerhard said. “Ludwig, if you will excuse us?”

  Pankow jumped to his feet. “Of course, Gerhard.”

  “Be sure to wear your overcoat,” Strang said. “The weather has been growing worse all day.”

  Wicklein grinned. “As told by someone who spends half his day wandering around and looking out the windows..”

  Strang rolled his tongue around in his cheek. “If you do not like your office, I can suggest to Herr Rainer that we move your desk out next to Ludwig’s.”

  “Let’s just forget I said anything,” Wicklein laughed.

  The shopkeepers were fighting a losing battle with the weather as they attempted to keep the sidewalks in front of their establishments clear. Not only was the snow heavy but there was also a strong wind. The drifts were building up in front of the storefronts where the proprietors had closed early.

  “We should have brought our skis,” Wicklein said as they trudged along the sidewalk.

  “I didn’t know you skied,” Strang replied.

  “I used to ski quite a bit while still living on the farm. I haven’t tried it for a few years, though. It is a lot of fun.”

 

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