The Price of Iniquity

By Ian Neilson

Adolf Hitler is dead with his body burned beyond recocgnition so history says, but his new wife Eva Braun eludes justice. Eva's sister, Loretta Braun is murdered and burned in her place. As Loretta dies by Hitler's hand, his pregnant wife flees to Ireland then America. Eva vows revenge and retribution. In 2002 After a lifetime of preparation her evil sons finally initiate an effective attack on Capitol Hill supported by thousands of acts-of-sabotage across the States. In the post 9/11 hysteria the USA is brought to the verge of political coup d'état. The US President and other world leaders are meeting within the blast radius of a hidden nuclear bomb. Evil as she is, Eva is the spider at the center of the web; and those innocents caught up in the web are those we follow in this story. A group of unconnected individuals take on the terrorists and suffer accordingly. There is murder and terrorism, escape and evasion, pursuit and survival, nuclear hijack and detonation with human bravery all interwoven in a master conspiracy spanning fifty-six years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ian Neilson
• Release date: Sep 24, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301252961

Ian Neilson

I was born in a small village called Hayfield in the Peak District of Derbyshire England. At fifteen years old I joined the British army as a junior leader where I spent three years training to be an expert tank soldier. I served in Libya and the UN in Cyprus before returning to the UK and then BAOR. Later on I qualified as an army helicopter pilot with the rank of Sergeant. Serving in Germany and Northern Ireland. After my military service I became a professional ATPL helicopter pilot. I spent 10 years of flying all kinds of missions in many Middle East and African countries then settled down as a Welsh Police Helicopter Pilot (chief pilot) for 12 years. After retirement I am proud to hold dual British/Canadian citizenship and enjoy being a much travelled family man.

Book preview

The Price of Iniquity

by Ian Neilson

Published by Ian Neilson at Smashwords

Copyright 2012 Ian Neilson

Standard Copyright License

Smashwords Edition, License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase additional copies for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy from Smashwords.com. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Historical events, characters, and organisations are used to set a stage to carry the story. All other characters in this novel are fictitious and any resemblance to living persons is purely coincidental

Synopsis:

Supposing one event in the history record is dreadfully wrong. Instead of death at the hand of Adolf Hitler we follow the Nazi Dictator's wife, Eva Braun's escape to America where she leads a secret organisation made up of German ex-Secret Service, Gestapo Officers and SS troopers dedicated to revenge against the allied victors. The long term intent is to destroy Israel and Western Democracy. Almost every corrupt and immoral thing that has happened in the last sixty years in the USA and many other places in the world can be attributed to Eva Braun's secret organisation. Assassinations, murder, crime, and eventually regular business activities hiding the core of the organisations activities. After so many years of intrigue and integration into all sectors of American society the organisation is ready to make its move The culmination of the conspiracy occurs in the USA in the year after the New York twin-towers atrocity when Eva Braun's son is about to take over US Presidential power. The story contains multiple characters that interact with each other throughout the adventure with tendrils of connections from Europe to America. Clues, events and artefacts from 1945 up to 2002 precipitate an Englishman to investigate beneath the innocent face of the organisation to find a conspiracy of world staggering consequences.

Table of Contents

PROLOGUE

CHAPTER 1 - World War Two ends in Europe and a sacred promise is made.

CHAPTER 2 - Franz Webber. 28th April 1945.

CHAPTER 3 - Nothing is certain until it’s done.

CHAPTER 4 - Escape to a new life.

CHAPTER 5 - Carl Braun receives an unexpected reward.

CHAPTER 6 - Escape to the land of opportunity.

CHAPTER 7 - Connie.

CHAPTER 8 - Discovery of wartime bunker - Berlin Germany, November 24th 1993.

CHAPTER 9 - Cameron O’Neil enters the public arena.

CHAPTER 10 - Introducing Henry Oscar Gray.

CHAPTER 11 - The Best Laid Plans.

CHAPTER 12 - December 22, 2000.

CHAPTER 13 - Sergeant Benny Marcowitz: Saturday May 18th, 2002.

CHAPTER 14 - The Ambush: Wednesday May 22, 2002.

CHAPTER 15 - The Nuclear Bombs.

CHAPTER 16 - The Air Jack: Tuesday May 21, 2002.

CHAPTER 17 - Murder and an unexpected set-back.

CHAPTER 18 - Eva Braun is very pleased with progress: May 22, 2002.

CHAPTER 19 - London England: Monday May 13, 2002, 8:15 pm.

CHAPTER 20 - Escape and Evasion: Wednesday night May 22, 2002.

CHAPTER 21 - Jones becomes vindictive: Wednesday and Thursday May 23, 2002.

CHAPTER 22 - Henry Gray gets some important practice: Thursday May 23, 2002.

CHAPTER 23 - Out of the frying pan into the fire; Thursday May 23, 2002.

CHAPTER 24 - London: One week earlier, Wednesday May 15, 2002.

CHAPTER 25 - Johnson's troubles are unending: Saturday May 25, 2002.

CHAPTER 26 - Curtis investigates; Saturday May 25, Sunday 26, and Monday 27, 2002.

CHAPTER 27 - Bob Johnson is in a crisis: Saturday evening May 25, 2002.

CHAPTER 28 - Johnson makes an investment: The early hours, Sunday May 26, 2002.

CHAPTER 29 - Curtis continues to follow the trail: Tuesday May 28, 2002.

CHAPTER 30 - Gray’s own mission begins: Sunday May 26, and Monday May 27, 2002.

CHAPTER 31 - Fortune takes a turn for Johnson: Sunday morning May 26, 2002.

CHAPTER 32 - Gray hears an astonishing story.

CHAPTER 33 - Curtis discovers more in Eire: Thursday May 30, 2002.

CHAPTER 34 - Gray is attacked and heads for home.

CHAPTER 35 - Johnson meets Connie: Sunday June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 36 - Gray lands in Eire: Friday May 31, 2002.

CHAPTER 37 - Johnson in trouble again: Sunday June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 38 - Caroline Beck, a candidate for murder: Friday May 31, 2002.

CHAPTER 39 - A stranger calls on Connie: Sunday June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 40 - Bad luck finds Caroline Beck, but she is lucky at the same time too.

CHAPTER 41 - The cool and calm Mr Jones.

CHAPTER 42 - Gray arrives in Boston: Saturday June 1, 2002.

CHAPTER 43 - Caroline's boss joins the case: Friday May 31, 2002.

CHAPTER 44 - Out of control situation forces desperate behaviour.

CHAPTER 45 - Connie is brought back to Falcon house: Sunday June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 46 - Johnson is still in the game: Sunday June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 47 - Caroline is uncooperative: Saturday night into Sunday June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 48 - Henry Gray sniffs around: Sunday June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 49 - She's gone!

CHAPTER 50 - A look at the big picture.

CHAPTER 51 - Grey is dog meat: Sunday evening June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 52 - Into a house of horrors: Sunday evening June 2, 2002.

CHAPTER 53 - The antagonists gather: Monday June 3, 2002.

CHAPTER 54 - The President heads for Israel and Cameron waits: Monday June 3, 2002.

CHAPTER 55 - Watchers at Falcon house: Monday evening June 3, 2002.

CHAPTER 56 - Monday night comings and goings: Gray discovers much.

CHAPTER 57 - Jones is offered a job: Tuesday afternoon June 4, 2002.

CHAPTER 58 - A crisis for Eva.

CHAPTER 59 - Alice Pringle returns.

CHAPTER 60 - Bring back the prisoners: Wednesday, around 6:30 pm, June 5, 2002.

CHAPTER 61 - Jones disappears for a while: Wednesday June 5, 2002.

CHAPTER 62 - Miss Pringle helps out: Late Wednesday night June 5, 2002.

CHAPTER 63 - The Attack on Washington: Thursday 04:26 am June 6, 2002.

CHAPTER 64 - The Presidents Bomb at the Moshe Tower.

CHAPTER 65 - No going back. Armageddon day: Thursday June 6, 2002.

CHAPTER 66 - Intervention?

CHAPTER 67 - 04:53 am June 6, 2002.

CHAPTER 68 - On board Galaxy US Zero Three.

CHAPTER 69 - The captives are trussed up like turkeys.

CHAPTER 70 - Johnson and Gray are thorns in the side again.

CHAPTER 71 - What the hell do we do now?

CHAPTER 72 - The end of a beautiful bird.

EPILOGUE

Main Characters and relationships

Eva Braun - Wife of Adolf Hitler.

Carl Braun - Brother of Eva Braun.

Cameron O'Neil and Frederick O'Neil - Sons of Eva Braun and Adolf Hitler.

Connie O'Neil - Daughter of Eva Braun and Shaun O'Neil.

Jones - Illegitimate son by rape and schizophrenic terrorist with several names.

Buckteeth - Criminal brute employed by the organisation.

Henry Gray - Retired British Army Officer, helicopter pilot and antique dealer.

Bob Johnson - USAF Flight Engineer.

Caroline Beck - US Immigration Investigator Bridgeport Connecticut.

Alice Pringle - Department Head of US Immigration Office Bridgeport Connecticut.

PROLOGUE - Eva Braun

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Eva Braun was born in Munich during a bitterly cold day in the February of 1915. She had a sister called Loretta. Loretta was one year older than Eva and they shared the same birthday. With a likeness bordering on that of identical twins it was not surprising the girls became very close friends as they grew up. However, the physical likeness between them belied very different personalities. Although older, Loretta was a shy character and became subservient to Eva’s dominant personality by their early teens. The sisters also had an older brother called Carl who mysteriously disappeared while working in Dresden in 1940.

To Loretta’s delight, on her eighteenth birthday in 1932 she received a beautifully decorated gold locket containing a picture of her mother, father, and her sister Eva. Engraved on the locket's back in formal Germanic script was the words ‘Eine gesegnete tochter’ (A blessed daughter). In February the following year on Eva’s birthday, Herr Braun gave Eva an identical gold locket. When an excited Eva opened the locket, she found it contained the same pictures of her parents and a picture of her sister too. The girls hugged and danced with happiness, each clutching their own locket tightly. Hand-made by their father, the lockets were beautiful and unique.

Eva’s birthday was also the day that she lost her virginity to Herschel Goldblume, the youngest son of her father’s Jewish employer. Herschel was almost twenty-three and had known Eva most of his life. He was a charming, but weak and untrustworthy character. His birthday gift for Eva was an exquisite white gold ring topped with a single solitaire. Nothing was actually said but Eva thought of it as an engagement ring. Later that afternoon Herschel took his reward quickly at the back of the house in the laundry room while the family played cards in the study.

Herschel promised Eva many things but not marriage for he knew his parents would never accept a non-Jew into the family. Eva was mesmerized with love for her handsome young man and submitted to him often during the following weeks.

In that same June of 1933, Eva was taking a walk in the Goldblume garden when she came across her sister Loretta spread-eagled over a tree stump with her skirt pushed up onto her back, her silk knickers on the floor around one ankle. Grunting like a pig and thrusting deep into her from behind was her beloved Herschel.

Hurt, angry and boiling with hatred for treacherous Jews Eva was soon drawn to attend an anti-Semitic political meeting in Munich where she met her future husband, Adolf Hitler the leader of the Nazi party.

If you have committed iniquity, you must expect to suffer; for vengeance with its sacred light shines upon you. - Sophocles (B.C. 495 – 406)

CHAPTER 1 - World War Two ends in Europe and a sacred promise is made.

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Adolf Hitler, absolute leader of the third Reich stood on the shell-damaged roof of the Reich Chancellery in Berlin. He was fifty-six years old but looked older, his face pale and drawn. His once black moustache tinged with grey. The unadorned uniform creased and grubby having been slept in for several days. He was bone weary, and now extreme exposure to personal danger no longer mattered to him. His days of glory were over.

A blonde haired woman, heavily pregnant, stood by his side, her head bowed in abject despair. By any standards, she was an exceptional woman. Her support for the Nazi party and her leader had been absolute and unwavering for almost twelve years. Many officers secretly called her the power behind the throne but she was far more than that. She was Hitler's alter ego and believed in his dream of immortality more than he did himself. Her name was Eva Braun.

Standing just behind Eva Braun was a physically youthful man with an old face. His name was Lern Jaffe, a Gestapo Officer whose eyes glinted with fanaticism gained through wielding absolute power for many years. The civilian clothes and black leather coat he usually wore was now replaced by the uniform of a Luftwaffe Captain. On top, he wore a grimy raincoat.

An immaculately dressed officer stepped onto the roof deck and approached the Fuhrer. His rank insignia identified him as an Obersturmbahnfuhrer in the Sicherheitsdienst (SD), the German Secret Service. His name is Franz Webber. Franz Webber waited for his leader to acknowledge his presence then spoke in a voice just loud enough to be heard above the sound of distant shells, The woman is here my Fuhrer.

Bring her, Hitler murmured and glanced at his female companion. She made no outward response even though she had heard the whisper. Hitler turned then gently took the hand of his new wife and pressed into it one-half of a pure-gold, oval medallion which had been cut cleanly across the diagonal, intersecting a boldly embossed eagle. The cut edge had a number engraved into it and around the rim were the words, '…for a thousand years.' The medallion's reverse side had tiny swastika symbols stamped close together making a grid pattern. On the left side, the medallion had two circular indentations. The markings were a secret path to untold riches for those who had the key to unlock code.

Each half-medallion held the same information and was jointly unique. Hitler's own half of the medallion hung round his neck on a thick gold chain running through an attached loop. He said to her, Give this to my son it's very valuable and is my gift to him. Hitler paused for a moment then took hold of her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. Make him strong, it's over now, you understand what to do!

Eva Braun replied. Yes, it will be done, if it takes a lifetime, I swear it. She meant every word but turned away before Hitler could embrace her and dissolve the ice around her broken heart. Hitler nodded at the young Hauptman who stiffened to attention before offering his arm to the lady, leading her away from this place of imminent death.

Eva and Lern Jaffe disappeared down the stairs towards the living quarters. In the basement below was a passage leading to a nearby building on the Unter-den-Linden. A car already awaited in the underground parkade to take her to freedom.

Adolf Hitler turned, and then strode towards the west-wing doorway and his private stairs to the lower roof former piazza below. As Hitler emerged into the piazza, two soldiers were forcibly dragging a woman, surprisingly similar in appearance to Eva Braun to the centre of the space from the opposite end. They threw her to the ground pushing their rifles into her chest forcing her to remain still. The woman was stringy and emancipated. She had sores around her lips and bruises down the front of her grubby legs. She smelled of urine. Beneath the ragged brown wool dress she wore, her body was bare. Her underclothing had been torn off the night before by her SS guards.

Obersturmbahnfuhrer Franz Webber waited dutifully nearby, watching carefully as the drama unfolded. He stood stiff and tense avoiding the steady rain in the space alongside the shelter of broken chimneystacks. Hitler’s mental state disturbed him. It was madness to expose them here to the bullets of Russian snipers on the nearby Unter-den-Linden roofs. They had come up to the open air from the security of the bunker on Hitler's unpredictable orders. Webber knew the Fuhrer was insane but his orders were still lawful and he had the power of the SS guards to enforce them. Nothing could change that but in any case, it did not matter now for everyone knew they were finished.

Adolf Hitler did have moments of insanity, usually related to the rage that possessed him now and then but even at those times he always retained an utter conviction of purpose. Now sane and deliberate he was prepared to do any terrible thing he must in these final hours to give his loyal wife a clear escape. On her part, Eva Braun was fully aware of her master's intentions having discussed them with him the previous night. She had no compassion in her heart and was content for an old debt to be paid.

Hitler walked up to the frightened woman whose name was Loretta Braun, the sister of his wife. Standing over her like the angel of death he methodically drew his Luger pistol and cocked the mechanism. Loretta looked up at him in supplication, struck dumb with fear.

For a flickering moment of time, inside the heart of the world's most heartless man, a ghost of pity stirred for this doppelganger of his wife with the rain falling upon her upturned face. Shaking off the peculiar emotion, he placed the muzzle gently against Loretta’s forehead and pulled the trigger. The poor, abused woman died instantly, flopping like a slaughtered pig onto the cold sandstone surface, red blood pooling quickly around the shattered head.

Standing over the body amid the running blood and warm rain, the monster began to tremble as the fire of madness began to consume him once again. Slowly Adolf Hitler drew himself up to face his own devil. Eyes blazing, but unseeing he turned the pistol to his right eye and pulled the trigger.

Obersturmbahnfuhrer Franz Webber flinched slightly at the second shot then walked over to the bodies lying contorted like lovers on the wet ground. Hitler's SS guards stood nearby unsure what to do. Webber stared down for a moment. The Braun woman had a single solitaire diamond ring on her wedding finger, which he removed and placed in his pocket. He would send that to Eva Braun as a memento of her sisters' fate. Little did Webber know that this ring would actually take a much longer and incredible path back to Eva Braun than he could imagine. Nor did he know that the same ring had actually belonged to Eva a lifetime ago, given to her by a Jew-boy and it would play a significant part in Eva’s unborn son's life long in the future.

In the near distance, the crump of falling bombs distracted Webber for a moment. Glancing to the west, he could see the blue sky advancing towards them under the black edge of the passing thunderstorm. The storm is passing, he murmured. As is the Third Reich.

The Russian shells began to pass overhead once more, as their troops began pushing forward again. Turning to the crumpled heap that had been one of the most powerful men on earth he crouched down and grabbed an arm. Rolling the body over onto its back, he was careful not to get blood on his shiny boots. Taking out a white silk handkerchief from his tunic pocket, he placed it over the ruined face then slipped his finger under the gold chain around the neck and gave a sharp tug. The heavy object on the chain glinted as it swung into his hand and then it was gone into his pocket together with the ring. It was something the Fuhrer no longer needed.

CHAPTER 2 - Franz Webber. 28th April 1945.

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In 1937 a top secret prison was established in the extensive wine cellars below the Central Gestapo Building in Berlin. Waffen SS soldiers provided the security staff and prison guards Normal access to the prison was through the Gestapo building but there was a second discrete entrance in a house on the street opposite. In 1940 the German Intelligence Service took over the Command of the establishment on the personal order of Adolf Hitler.

Sitting at his desk in his comfortable black leather chair Franz Webber rotated the gold object over and over in his fingers with frustration. He knew it contained the secret of fabulous wealth but the indentations were undecipherable without a reference point. His body was tired and his brain was tired, and the shouting of the soldiers in the corridor was getting on his nerves.

Again, an enormous shockwave shook the painted stone walls. Moments later, there was an all-pervasive smell of dust in the air. Fortunately, the roof seemed intact and the lights still shone brightly. One electric light bulb popped as a soldier appeared at the door.

A direct hit on the main entrance passage Sir, the Gestapo Building has collapsed above us. The second entrance door is also blocked with debris. I think we are trapped.

Webber acknowledged the information with a casual wave of the hand. It meant nothing to him for he had another way out of this hellhole and he intended to leave alone in any case. His bolt-hole was nearby and quite unknown to the rank and file soldiers.. The soldier clicked his heels and disappeared to help his comrades move rubble from around the blocked doorway.

Webber let his mind wonder for a moment. A dirty grey linen bag swam into his thoughts. It had been close to his conscious mind for twenty-four hours, a horror of necessity that kept springing to mind. The burnt remains of his once loved leader had been unceremoniously shovelled into the bag on his orders. His blonde haired victim also bagged. Now the bags lay in a deep grave just five hundred meters to the east of where he now sat. His minds eye once again watched the two soldiers dig the grave with methodical labour in the shadow of the glorious Reichstag.

Webber was contemplating an atrocity of his own he would soon commit, here in this place. His men still obeyed his orders, and would do so as long as they remained in ignorance of the plight he would bring upon them but time getting very short for him to carry out his intentions. The walls shook again, another large detonation. He could feel the old centre of Berlin wrapped around them like a blanket. The Russians were already fighting in the narrow streets above.

With Hitler dead, Webber knew his own days were numbered whatever the outcome of the war. Taking command of this special facility had already damned him completely. There were now only six detainees left but he could not allow any of them to live to tell their story. These men had, for various reasons been arrested on Hitler’s personal orders. Their lost future contribution to history was incalculable. Webber knew his own part in these crimes against humanity meant he would be executed by the Allies if ever caught. He did not intend to be caught.

Webber considered his future for a moment. His loving wife was now safe in Paris but it was unlikely he could ever join her again, at least not for many years. Not being a person to give up he could not help a small moment of hope. If he could reach South America safely then perhaps… he mused. Webber put the thought aside, it did not help. He had already sent her a final letter. The golden object in his pocket would be sent to her by other means later on. Webber had no idea how prophetic that thought would turn out to be.

Webber's confidence in his own survival was bolstered by his membership of a network of highly placed Secret Service Officers who had made plans to escape from Europe since the days when the war had begun to turn against Germany.

Webber's immediate problem was his Deputy, Hauptman Boller. Hauptman Boller was Waffen SS and hated Webber with a passion. Boller hated the Secret Service too. He considered them all soft aristocrats and not real soldiers. He considered Webber to be too slimy and did not deserve the Command. Webber had put up with him for so long that he had forgotten how nasty the man could be. Webber was a realist and so long as the German military ethos existed then rank would prevail. Now that things were breaking apart, and despite his lofty rank there would soon be a reckoning. Boller was a total pain in the neck. and would have to be dealt with very soon. Unfortunately, the guards were loyal to the Waffen SS and Webber knew whom they would follow at the end. Boller was so extreme and, Fatherland for Ever! That he would have them all die to the last man rather than cooperate in saving themselves. So be-it, then die he must, he said aloud.

Webber brought his mind back to practicalities. Rising from his desk, he pocketed the half golden eagle and strode purposelessly through the doorway. At the end of the Command Office wing he could see through the open security door down the corridor towards the kitchen and soldiers recreation room. Smoke or dust haze filled the air and there were black-clad soldiers working at clearing debris from where a sidewall had collapsed.

Ignoring the shouting and frantic activity by the soldiers he made his way past the main security control to the radio room in the administration wing. A Secret Service specialist radio operator dressed in civilian clothes was sitting with eyes closed and listening carefully to something coming through the headphones over his ears. Tapping the man on the shoulder to gain his attention Webber handed him a strip of paper. Leaning over and placing his mouth close to the operator's ear he said. Send this and keep sending it until you receive an acknowledgement. When you do get an answer come immediately to my office and inform me.

On the piece of paper was written, (7.255 megacycles) Kingpin. Collect the merchandise 2100 hours. Acknowledge. It was in fact Webbers instructions to another agent to collect him by car from the previously arranged rendezvous point. The radio operator was not curious about the message because most of the messages he dealt with in the shadowy world of German intelligence were usually meaningless to the operator.

Webber then set off to show himself to the troops to boost his authority and restore their confidence with a word of encouragement here and there. Ten minutes later he returned to his office, and found the radio operator already there with a positive answer to his radio message. That done, Webber could now proceed with his escape plan.

Dismissing the radio operator Webber set off down the corridor again to find the soldier he had sent earlier to burn sensitive documents in the kitchen under the ventilator. Meeting the big man on his way back to the office for more files Webber ordered him to collect a flamethrower from the armoury and wait outside his office. At least thanks to Hitler German soldiers do not question orders, he thought as he hurried on to his next port of call.

The corridor leading to the detention cells had yet another security door to negotiate guarded by an alert Waffen SS trooper. The trooper snapped to attention, and then opened the steel barred door as Webber indicated his requirements with a curt wave of the hand. A plump Warrant Officer sitting at a table on the other side of the door similarly snapped to attention as he entered, his smoothly shaved face drawn with a pallor from three long years of responsibility as the Ranking Soldier here. His employment had been safe from combat until now but his fitness had suffered. Soon he would pay the ultimate price with the other rats in this trap irrespective of all their previous powers.

Webber opened his mouth to lie without a flicker of emotion. Sergeant Major, I am sure you realize the Russians are almost upon us. They may not know we are down here yet but whether they do or not, I intend to lead the Company back to our lines further west when it goes dark in the streets above. Webber permitted himself a nod and confident smile towards the Sergeant. Believe me Sergeant Major; we are getting out of here very soon.

A relieved Yes Sir! escaped from the W.O.'s tight lips. Webber looked the man up and down, noticing the soldiers dusty boots and wrinkled pants. Smarten yourself up soldier. I am going to speak to the prisoners now and return them to their cells. In fifteen minutes I want this section locked down tighter than... an officer's arse. Webber smiled again. The Sergeant Major shifted uncomfortably at the uncommonly self-derogatory quip from his Commanding Officer.

Webber’s voice sharpened. Assemble all the men immediately in the mess hall leaving just one soldier to guard the prisoner's gate. I shall join you shortly afterwards to brief the Company. Leaving the Sergeant Major shouting abuse at the nearby guard to regain his own self respect he left him to carry out his orders. Webber walked purposefully towards the main confinement area and approached another trooper standing sentry duty next to a closed door which he entered without ceremony. For some time now, he had permitted this particular room to be used as a common room for the prisoners to mix. It helped to keep them quiet. The inmates were gathered there discussing the obvious war raging above them.

Gentlemen I regret to inform you that the enemy will soon overrun us, probably tomorrow and you will be free. Raising a hand to quell the excited reaction he went on with, Under the circumstances I ask you to return to your rooms (he avoided saying cells) and wait patiently. He added, Please do not cause any fuss as it's not in your best interests.

Webber looked at the five emaciated faces. All of them had been valuable property to the Reich, either as bargaining counters or future puppet leaders. They were now a personal liability. He ticked them off in his mind. Politician Professor Stephan Milanovitc who tried to prove Germans have a common ancestor with the rest of Europe, King Yorgo of Bulgaria, Ex-King Carlos of Romania, The fledgling King James of Yugoslavia and Bertrand Vogel-Lander ex Chancellor of Austria. These prisoners were political dynamite and Webber wanted them quiet and controlled for the next hour or so. No women were in the prison now since Loretta Braun was taken to see the Fuhrer yesterday. There was also one other prisoner in an isolation cell who was in an entirely different category.

Webber returned to his office where he picked up a telephone and called the guardroom. Bring me the prisoner called Carl Braun. A few minutes later, a tall thin man was escorted into the room. His face bore the marks of mistreatment and he was barefoot. He was dressed in the striped pyjamas denoting a hated Jew detainee, but he was not a Jew.

The guard waited for orders. Leave us, ordered Webber.

CHAPTER 3 - Nothing is certain until it’s done.

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Carl Braun was a very special prisoner. He was the brother of Loretta and Eva Braun. His transgressions against the Nazi State were numerous but his relationship to Eva Braun had saved his life. Following the infamous 'Kristallnacht' in 1938 on November 8, he joined an organization helping Jews to leave Dresden to safety. By the time he was arrested in 1940, he had secretly helped to save hundreds of lives and had gained the popular nickname of the 'Dresden Pimpernel'.

The two men faced each other without speaking. Webber sat behind his desk smiling, comfortable and dominant. The other, slouched insolently with a nonchalant and slightly defiant expression on his face, belied by the searching eyes glancing back and forth around the room. Looking for a weapon? thought Webber.

Without preamble Webber opened the conversation with, Carl, I want you to dress in these clothes then escape with me. Webber indicated a neat pile of clothes on a nearby chair. The clothes on the chair were Webber’s own, and identical to the ones he was wearing. From the desk drawer he took out a pistol and carefully screwed a silencer tube on the barrel before laying it on the desk well within the reach of the prisoner. I also want you to shoot my second in command with this. He said carefully.

Carl Braun was stunned, he had been prepared to expect anything but not this! Suspecting a trick, he said nothing and did nothing. The gun’s not loaded, thought Braun. The gun’s fully loaded, offered Webber. Braun remained silent and waited for further explanation. Your younger sister married Adolf Hitler two days ago and Loretta was taken to see them. She is still under arrest in Berlin but I understand there was some kind of reconciliation. If you do-as-I-ask, (he said with emphasis) then I will ensure that as soon as we are out of here she will be released and come to no more harm, Webber lied.

Getting no reaction from Braun, he continued. You must know that you are dead already. The Russians are almost upon us and we cannot let you live, so you have nothing to lose. If you do this task for me at least you and your sister have a chance, and so have I. Webber added with as much sincerity as he could find.

Braun shook his head in disbelief. Silence descended. Webber squirmed inside as he waited. Finally, Braun said quietly I do not believe what you say; there is no escape I heard one guard say the entrances are blocked. Why do you not just shoot me and be done with it, he asked. Because there is no one else here who can, or would have any reason to help me to escape. He explained. There is another way out, Webber added to convince the prisoner.

Braun considered the offer and saw a slim chance. He suspected rightly that Loretta was already dead and Webber had no intention of keeping any promise he made to him but dressed in a German Officers uniform and a pistol, even with the Russians getting closer he stood a better chance of living than doing nothing and staying here.

What do I have to do? Braun finally asked. After extracting more false assurances from Webber, Carl Braun agreed to commit the murder. Webber was satisfied. He needed a willing assistant and did not care what his motives were, and afterwards he needed a victim. As they say, one volunteer is better than ten pressed men. There was much to do, and having decided to disappear the only way he could do that convincingly would be if everyone thought he was dead. He had his new identity prepared and a secure way out of the country but needed a substitute body for the enemy or authorities to find.

Carl Braun now dressed in Webber’s clothes and looking remarkably similar in build except for his emaciated face now sat behind the desk and pondered at how fickle fate can be. Webber explained once more, what he had to do. Braun nodded impatiently that he understood. Webber left the room locking the door from the outside. Braun immediately checked that the pistol was really loaded. He held the weapon tightly to his chest and tried to settle his nerves.

Fear kept Braun still for several minutes before he dared to move from behind the desk. Webber kept a bare office. A large German flag adorned one wall but there was not a single photograph or memento to indicate the man had any other life outside this room. His books were neatly stacked on shelves and everything seemed exactly in its allotted place.

Carl Braun was an extremely intelligent man and his incarceration had dulled his spirit but not his brain. Webber had not told him how he intended to escape but disclosing the fact there was a way of escape was a significant piece of information. Braun considered impersonating Webber and attempting to leave right now but did not know where the other exit might be. He immediately dismissed the idea. Time was running out and he still did not know how to save himself. Webber's instructions were clear, all he had to do was wait until Hauptman Boller entered his own office next door, then go through the connecting washroom, and shoot him at close range, in the throat if possible. He was then to drop the pistol by the body lock the washroom door and return to Webbers office.

Braun was perfectly willing to execute Boller. The man was a monster and deserved it, but Braun was perplexed? Why would Webber want anyone to think Boller had committed suicide? Boller was a fanatic and would fight to the death unless… Braun came to the only conclusion he could think of, Webber wanted Boller dead because Boller would stop him from leaving. Braun believed the official entrances were blocked then that could only mean Webber's secret way out involved Boller and he could not take a chance on Boller stopping him. Another way out. Ha! That did not surprise him, rats always had a bolt hole, but where was it? Braun began to quietly search Webber’s office.

Outside his office Webber waited until the key turned in the lock then turned to the stiff faced Waffen SS Solder standing alongside the door holding the flame gun with practiced ease. At ease soldier. Put the flamethrower on the floor. Listen carefully to my instructions. You are to remain here and refuse admission to this office to anyone other than myself, he stared at the big soldier. Is that understood? Webber demanded. The last thing he wanted was anyone casually discovering Braun in his office armed and dressed in his clothes. The soldier stiffened to attention. Yes sir, he answered.

You will prevent anyone, without exception from entering my office. There are still Reich secrets inside that will hang every one of us. You will guard this door with your life and you will not explain your duty to anyone is that clear soldier, Webber commanded and then marched away flicking the air with his whip of authority.

Fifty metres away Hauptman Boller was in the thick of it. Part of the roof by the second entrance had collapsed on top of a passing two-man guard detail partially blocking the corridor. His rescue crew had just about cleared the debris covering the two soldiers but the men were dead. Boller walked up and down in frustration, cracking his own stick against his boot top. He wanted to take his men up and fight the enemy not skulk down here like rabbits. A thought suddenly crossed his mind. He pushed it away, not now his duty was clear and that was to obey orders. The thought returned and niggled at him and he could not quiet it. He could take his men out and fight, through the Fuhrers bunker.

Webber found Boller just as the Sergeant Major completed mustering the rest of the uncommitted men into the mess hall. The bombardment and noise above seemed to have abated now and the immediate emergency seemed to have eased somewhat. In fact, the Russian infantry had pulled back two streets to await another planned aerial bombardment on the Gestapo Headquarters due in thirty minutes.

With most of the SS now gathered in the mess room Webber turned and directed his voice towards the Sergeant Major and Hauptman Boller but speaking loud enough for all the assembled men to hear. Men, we are getting out of here to fight those Russian bastards up there. Boller looked surprised but pleased. There was a subdued applause from the soldiers. Webber held up a gloved hand. Sergeant Major I want you to divide the men into four Sections. All to be lightly armed, we will be moving quick and silent. Hauptman Boller will lead section one and be first out; I will follow with section two, you, (Webber indicated a young sergeant) with section four and Sergeant Major you with section three. All troops will take refreshments now and rest here until we move out. I expect we shall leave in forty-five minutes.

The Sergeant Major saluted and began bellowing at the men. Suddenly everything became normal once more. The men’s fear subsided; at last there was guidance and intention. They were Waffen SS again, not rats in a trap. Webber turned to his deputy, I must send a signal as to our intentions and requesting support. I want you to return to your office quickly and get the special files on the prisoners then meet me at the radio room.

Boller was keen to be compliant and left immediately. His Commander was doing exactly what he himself had wanted to do. Webber was satisfied, any excuse to get Boller back to his office would do.

Leaving the mess hall, Webber locked the now unmanned security gate at the corridor entrance behind him. He wanted to hold back any possible unwanted interruptions. Reaching over the counter he pocketed the spare key from the guardroom key press. Webber knew the Sergeant Major had another key but all he wanted was a few minutes undisturbed. There were too many men around to expect much more. He quickly walked to the radio room office, opened a steel panel with a key from around his neck, and casually tripped the switch that would fill the whole prison with poison gas in less than twenty minutes. This device was another little secret known only to the Commander and his deputy. A deputy, that hopefully, was dead by now.

Hauptman Boller arrived at his office and saw the big soldier outside Webbers door further down the corridor. Curiously he approached the man and asked his reason for being there. The guard was in a deep quandary. Hauptman Boller was his real boss but the Base Commander ranked him and had made it clear where his duty lay. In the end, the poor man admitted to Boller what instruction Webbers had given. Boller walked back to his own door highly intrigued as to what could be so important in Webbers office.

A few moments later Webber arrived back to the corner in the passageway near to his office. He stood impatiently just out of sight around the corner waiting to see the outcome of his machinations. Any police officer would have described him as a highly suspicious character at that moment. Webber was highly emotionally charged for no plan was perfect but he'd tried to arrange several scenarios all with the same outcome. Carl Braun would shoot Boller as instructed or Boller would shoot Braun thinking he was trying to escape. Webber could then shoot Boller and also the SS guard who he knew was not armed. Braun would get the blame if the situation turned unexpectedly but everyone would be shot in any case. Webber could then torch the office with the flamethrower to disguise the corpse's identity before disappearing into the Fuhrer's bunker.

Nothing yet ... wait ... Webber could not wait any longer; the deadly gas would be rolling down the corridor soon. Approaching the guard Webber could see that the man was worried about something. Hauptman Boller came.., He muttered, torn between duty and loyalty. It's OK soldier, you are dismissed. Leave the flame weapon and join your comrades in the mess hall. We are all getting ready to leave this place. Even as he said it, Webber realized that he had already locked the corridor door to the mess hall and the man would come back. Webber could not reasonably explain why the spare key was missing.

The soldier turned to leave and Webber hit him hard on the neck with his pistol barrel. It had little effect. The big man reacted instinctively; Reaching up he threw his arms around the slimmer Officer and opened his mouth to shout for help. Webber kneed the soldier in the groin who snapped his mouth shut and then butted the officer twice in the face. Webbers nose and eyebrow split open, copious runnels of blood running down his face.

The big soldier released Webber in horror at striking an officer. Webber collapsed to the cold corridor floor, his head spinning. As he fell, Webber's hand released the Luger, which clattered beside him. The big soldier instinctively bent over and reached for the weapon but received the officer's dagger in his throat instead.

Gasping with a horrible splutter the soldier collapsed on top of Webber, his throat spurting huge amounts of blood everywhere, mostly over Webber. Webber was momentarily flattened and pinned down under the big man. The fight had taken just seconds and almost in silence. With a frantic heave, Webber wriggled from under the soldier's dead weight and stood up. He felt terrible; his face hurt