Dark Eagles Rising

By Carole McEntee-Taylor

The Eagle Quartet
The War is over, but peace is further away than ever. Across Europe the fear of communism leads to the rise of nationalism and the Treaty of Versailles sows the seeds for the next conflict.

Germany
As the country descends into chaos, and violence erupts on the streets, Adolf Hitler has found a new audience for his politics, the Nazi Party, but he is unable to interest Max who is still trying to find Lettie. Meanwhile, with anti-Semitism rising, Bruno and Stefi move to Nuremberg where an old friend provides a new business opportunity, but their new life comes at a terrible cost.

Italy
With her own secrets deeply buried Lucrecia embarks on her new life with Eddie but she soon realises that her husband has secrets of his own. Has she made yet another mistake? To her surprise Antonio has finally fallen in love but is Serena all she appears? Hoping to remove Eddie from Lucrecia’s life Antonio and Tadeas encourage her to renew her relationship with Mussolini, a move with consequences they could never have foreseen.

Austria
Having married Dedrich Rosa is finally happy, perhaps she can finally bury the past and start a new life, and when Count Richard von Coudenhove-Kalergi offers her a new career opportunity Samuel is delighted to have someone he can trust to spy for him. But not everyone is happy. Katherina is determined to find Ludwig and reunite him with Rosa, but her actions put everyone in danger.

The Eagle Quartet is the follow up series to Secret Lives which tells the stories of several families before and through the Great War. Dark Eagles Rising is the first book in the series and is in two parts. Part 1 covers the 1920s with Part 2 continuing the story into the 1930s.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carole McEntee-Taylor
• Release date: Feb 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223226413

Carole McEntee-Taylor

I write military history, historical fiction and memoirs and sometimes a mixture of all three. I am also a ghost writer of novels and memoirs.My non fiction, published by by Pen and Sword Books Ltd, include Herbert Columbine VC, Surviving the Nazi Onslaught, A Battle Too Far, Military Detention Colchester from 1947, The Battle of Bellewaarde June 1915, From Colonial Warrior to Western Front Flyer, The History of Coalhouse Fort and A History of Women’s Lives in Scunthorpe.I have also written a biography of John Doubleday to be included in his book: The Work and published The Weekend Trippers and My War and Peace myself. I am always on the look out for new military memoirs to publish. If you would like to know more please visit my website.My spiritual books are The Re-Enlightenment and The Holiday From Hell.My fiction includeSecrets ( a book of six short stories)Lives Apart: A WW2 Chronicle - a five book series inspired by the true story of my in-laws.Obsession - a five book series inspired by the true story of the missing POWs at the end of WW2.Betrayed - a stand alone murder mystery set in WW2 Germany and Palestine.Secret Lives - a six book series set before and during WW1.A One Way Ticket - a four book series inspired by the true story of Bill Young through WW2 and beyond.

Book preview

Dark Eagles Rising

Part 1

First published 2024 Copyright © Carole McEntee-Taylor, 2024.

Edited by Jules Davies

The right of Carole McEntee-Taylor as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988. Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the author or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.

Other books by the author

Non Fiction

Pen and Sword Books Ltd:

Herbert Columbine VC

Surviving the Nazi Onslaught

A Battle Too Far

Military Detention Colchester from 1947

The Battle of Bellewaarde June 1915

From Colonial Warrior to Western Front Flyer

The History of Coalhouse Fort

A History of Women’s Lives in Scunthorpe

The Weekend Trippers

My War and Peace

Biography of John Doubleday: The Work

The Re-Enlightenment

The Holiday From Hell

Fiction

Secrets – 6 short stories

Lives Apart: A WW2 Chronicle – 5 books

Obsession – 5 books

Betrayed

Secret Lives – 6 books

A One Way Ticket – 4 books

Love, Resistance, Betrayal

Hunting Shadows. A Family at War

Characters

Germany

Max Sommer

Stefi Hoffman (née Wegner)

Bruno Hoffman – Art Gallery Owner

Siegfried Waldemar Sommer - Max’s son

Erika - Bruno’s maid

Christa Hoffman – Bruno’s daughter

Adolf Hitler

Kristian von Scholz

Oskar von Scholz

Herta von Scholz

Austria

Rosa Horvat (née Blum)

Dedrich Horvat - Johanne’s friend

Hersch Blum - Rosa’s father (deceased)

Katherina Blum - Rosa’s mother

Ludwig Hitzig - Rosa’s first husband

Ramon Samuel Hersch Ludwig Hitzig - Rosa’s son

Norberta Schmidt - Ramon’s nanny

Lena Hitzig - Ludwig’s mother (deceased)

General Samuel Hitzig - Ludwig’s father

Uri Kohne – Palestinian resident

Emil Fein

Gisella Braude – Medium

Wenzel Haekl – Private Detective

Italy

Lucrecia Tanzi (née Rossi)

Anastasia Rossi - Lucrecia’s daughter

Tamara Shaw – Lucrecia and Eddie’s daughter

Edward ‘Eddie’, The Viscount Hemsworth – now known as Eddie Shaw

Antonio Rossi - Lucrecia’s brother

Serena Fabbri

Monsignor Tadeas Conti

Benito Mussolini

Winthrop Jenkins – Manager D’Oyly Carte Opera

Veronica Jenkins – Winthrop’s wife

At the end of the book there is a brief summary of the history of what happened in the various countries after the end of the war and covers the last few weeks of 1918. It provides some background to the events that follow, but if you would prefer to get straight into the story…

1919

Chapter 1

January

Berlin, Germany

Max walked towards the window and stared down into the street below, his thoughts on Lettie. The war had been over for two months now and although he’d written a couple of letters to the address she had given him, there had not been any reply. Max had no idea whether she had escaped Lille or whether his last minute instructions to Igor Thiers to save Lettie had worked. He had to believe they had, the alternative was too awful to contemplate. Outside in the street the sound of fighting grew louder and he sighed. The country was in a total mess, there were terrible food and fuel shortages and there was a real threat that the Communists would take control. Meanwhile talks were continuing in Versailles to draw up a peace treaty. Max allowed a small smile to cross his face as he recalled Adolf’s fury that the Germans had finally agreed to a cease fire. His friend was still convinced they could have won if they’d had enough support at home, if they hadn’t been let down by the treacherous Communists and Jews. Max didn’t care who had won or lost, he was just grateful it was over and he had survived, although he would have been much happier if Lettie had answered his letters.

His thoughts returned to the streets below him. The Communists had started a revolution a few days earlier, the Ebert government had withdrawn to Weimar and left it to the Freikorps, of which he was a member, to sort it out. A wry smile crossed his face. The Freikorps were all ex-military so the Communists didn’t really stand a chance. He gave them one or two days at most and then it would all be over.

*******

Rome, Italy

Lucrecia stretched out lazily on the large bed Eddie had insisted on buying for their new apartment and watched as he stood by the window staring down at the busy streets.

Eddie turned back towards her and grinned as he stepped back to the bed. ‘I was going to get up, but I’ve changed my mind.’

Lucrecia laughed. ‘Good, I would hate to think you’d already fallen out of love with me.’

‘Never.’ Eddie gazed down at her slightly swollen stomach and smiled

as he placed his hand gently on her. The baby had been his salvation. Just when it looked like he would be arrested and charged with murder Lucrecia had come to his rescue. Not that she knew that of course. She believed that he’d given up everything for her and it was best that she continued to believe that. His thoughts drifted briefly to England and the usurper now installed in his place. The fact that Gabriel was his son meant nothing to him. Grace, the child’s mother, had been a dreadful mistake, one which had ultimately led to his having to flee his country and pretend to be dead. He was already growing bored with Lucrecia and her constant adoration, but it wouldn’t do to let her see that. He would just have to carve out a life that didn’t involve her, one she wouldn’t find out about… at least until he was sure he was completely safe.

*******

Vienna, Austria

Rosa smiled at Dedrich, hardly able to believe they were finally married. Her thoughts travelled briefly to Ludwig, and she wondered if he was still alive or whether he really was dead, his body buried somewhere in the sands of Palestine. And then there was Max, Max who had stolen her heart all those years ago and who was possibly the father of her son, Ramon. She wondered if he and his friend Adolf had survived the war or whether they’d both been killed. She shivered suddenly, unable to imagine a world that didn’t have Max somewhere, even if she never saw him again. She loved Dedrich but Max would always be there in the back of her mind, still unfinished business.

‘Are you thinking of Ludwig?’ Dedrich sounded so concerned Rosa felt even more guilty.

‘Yes, sorry’ she lied, ‘but it’s only to wonder if he really is dead.’

Dedrich sighed. They had spent months discussing Ludwig and his plans to desert once he reached Palestine, the only way he could satisfy his father and his determination to escape yet more fighting. Because there was no way of knowing if he had been successful or not, their discussions just went round in circles. He wanted to be supportive, but it would be nice if she could forget her former husband for the wedding day at least. He was about to say so when he felt her squeeze his arm.

‘I’m so happy Dedrich. I love you very much. I don’t miss Ludwig, and I know I keep on about him, but it’s just the not knowing. If I could just be sure….’ She sighed, but before he could answer she changed the subject. ‘Come on let’s enjoy ourselves. We’ve waited long enough for this day.’ She kissed him passionately on the lips and all thoughts of Ludwig were

gradually forgotten as he returned her kiss with all the love he possessed.

‘You are supposed to wait until after the guests have gone home you know.’ Samuel Hitzig whispered loudly. Rosa sprang back in shock, her face flushing with embarrassment. But Samuel laughed. ‘Don’t look so horrified Rosa, I’m just pleased you are happy. You deserve to be.’ For a brief moment he allowed thoughts of his son to intrude and he felt the familiar rising anger than Ludwig had behaved so shamefully, lying to everyone, persuading his own father to use his contacts to arrange a transfer to Palestine and then pretending to be dead because he was a coward.

Samuel had been tempted to look for him once he had finally guessed that things weren’t as they seemed, but he didn’t want to draw attention to his son if he really was still alive. Although it would put an end to the uncertainty, it was best for Ludwig’s family if everyone continued to believe his son was dead. And if he wasn’t? Samuel sighed. It was unlikely he or Rosa would ever know so it was best not to keep thinking about it, better to decide Ludwig was dead, another hero who gave his life for the Empire. Samuel made an effort, pushed his son from his mind and smiled at Dedrich. Now he was a man a father could be proud of, if only… Shocked by the direction his thoughts were going Samuel cut them off and refocused his attention on Rosa. She was blooming, her eyes shining, her cheeks glowing with love. It was good to see how happy she was and he hoped she would stay that way because if Dedrich ever did anything to hurt her, he would have Samuel to deal with.

Katherina smiled at her daughter and her new husband and hoped her true feelings weren’t showing. How on earth could her beautiful talented daughter marry someone so far beneath her. At least Ludwig had been Jewish. Dedrich was a Catholic, although not much of one or he would never have married someone outside his faith. The only good thing was that he hadn’t expected Rosa to convert to his religion. This was all Samuel’s fault. She couldn’t understand why he was agreeing to his daughter-in-law marrying someone else, not when his son’s body had never been found. There was a faint possibility Ludwig was still alive, even after all this time and yet Samuel didn’t seem to care. If it had been her son… Katherina pushed away thoughts of her beautiful son, Johannes. He had been dead for so long now, killed at the beginning of the war but she had only accepted it because there were witnesses and because the medium had confirmed it. She would never forget that dreadful day when they’d received the news, the day she’d also lost her husband, Hersch. Katherina’s expression hardened and she looked away, not wanting anyone to see how she really felt.

‘Have some more wine, Katherina. It’s not every day your daughter gets married.’ Samuel was by her side making her start. Katherina somehow managed to push away the angry retort that jumped into her brain, that Rosa was beginning to make a habit of marrying. Instead she forced a smile and held out her glass.

‘Thank you that’s very kind of you.’ She sipped her drink and as she watched the guests celebrating an idea came to her. She would find out whether Ludwig was still alive and if he was… well, she still had several good contacts, friends of her late husband’s. She would use them to find her son in law, bring him home and make Rosa see sense.

*******

Munich, Germany

Bruno glanced up from his newspaper and smiled. Siegfried was running around the living room pretending to be a soldier fighting imaginary battles and Stefi was sewing, mending the latest tear in her son’s clothes. Siegfried didn’t appear to take after Max at all. He had little interest in playing indoors, preferring to be outside running around the spacious garden. Bruno had hoped that he would grow out of his fascination with soldiers, especially as the war was over and Max had come home. Unfortunately, Max had joined the Freikorps, mainly at the instigation of his fanatical friend Adolf Hitler. Bruno understood now why Stefi hated him so much. She was right. Max was still completely under Adolf’s spell, seemingly unable to make any decisions without his friend’s approval. Both he and Stefi had hoped that the war would change things, that Max would want to distance himself from Adolf and concentrate on his art again, but their shared experiences seemed to have bought them closer. Not that there was much of a market for Max’s paintings at the moment. Bruno’s heart sank. If the economy didn’t pick up soon he would have to start using his savings. The gallery was breaking even, just. But with money in short supply, art was not high on people’s priorities. What money they did have was being spent on food and fuel, what little there was available. Most of his customers were only interested in selling him paintings. They didn’t want to buy pictures, their efforts were concentrated on trying to liquidise their assets, not in purchasing new artworks.

‘Is everything alright my love?’ Stefi’s voice broke into his musings. She had been watching her husband’s expressions, at first with tenderness and then growing concern as his face reflected his troubled thoughts.

‘Yes of course.’ Bruno smiled. He was still finding it difficult to accept Stefi was finally his after years of watching her with Max. He knew he didn’t need to feel guilty because he had done nothing to encourage her. Instead, he had supported their marriage, determined to look after her for Max until he came home from the war. It was only after Max let Stefi down yet again, and she finally decided the marriage was over, that he felt able to tell her how much he cared for her. To his unutterable delight he discovered his feelings were reciprocated and they had been together ever since. Max had accepted her decision with little animosity, probably because by then he had fallen in love with someone else. The three had remained friends and now Max was home from the war he saw his son regularly.

‘I was just thinking about Max and the lady he is pining for.’

Stefi gave a wry smile. ‘Lettie?’ Needing someone to whom he could unburden himself Max had eventually told them both the whole story. Bruno had been first shocked and then horrified that he was displaying pictures of a British spy in his gallery. He had hurriedly removed the paintings from the gallery and then had a furious row with Max when the latter refused to destroy them. Bruno had no idea where they were now, and he didn’t care. Fortunately, the citizens of Munich had other things to worry about and their absence was barely noted.

‘She hasn’t replied to his letters at all. I don’t understand why he keeps expecting some response. And as to those paintings… I’m sure he still has them hidden away somewhere.’

Stefi shrugged. ‘Well, no one is likely to remember now, are they? If anyone asks about them you can just say you sold them off cheap or did some kind of swap with one of your colleagues can’t you?’ When he didn’t immediately answer Stefi started to feel worried and seeing the concern on her face Bruno hastened to reassure her.

‘Yes of course I can but, as you say, no one is likely to ask now. No one is interested. The war is over, everyone wants to forget, to put the whole thing behind us and get on with our lives. They certainly won’t want to start investigating some missing portraits.’ Bruno hoped he was right. The continued insistence that the armed forces had been let down by the home front was causing so much division. The Communists were a serious threat to the stability of the country and to his future business, but the Freikorps could be just as dangerous if they started asking questions. Bruno shook his head. He was being ridiculous. The last thing Max would want would be an investigation into his activities in Lille so he would do everything he could to make sure that didn’t happen. Hopefully he’d seen sense and destroyed the paintings. Perhaps he should have another word with him. He realised Stefi was speaking…

‘She was obviously just using him. I can’t understand why he can’t see it.’

Bruno smiled, relieved to get away from his thoughts. ‘Because Max is a romantic…’ He hesitated, not wanting to upset her, but she was smiling back.

‘It’s alright Bruno, I don’t have any illusions left about Max you know

that. I will always be fond of him because he is Siegfried’s father, but he was

never really mine. His heart always belonged to Rosa and now to Lettie.’

Bruno frowned. ‘I’m sure he did love you Stefi.’

She shrugged. ‘Maybe…for a little while… but not enough.’

There was a long pause before Bruno spoke again, a pause that answered her unspoken question, that he too had realised that Max’s feeling weren’t deep enough. It was a shame he hadn’t told her, but then she wouldn’t have believed him anyway, not then. She had been too much in love. ‘Where do you think she is now?’

Stefi forced her thoughts back to the present. ‘Probably laughing at how daft he was to believe in her with a bit of luck.’ She saw his expression. ‘Yes, I know that sounds unkind, but there’s is a part of me that thinks he deserves this after everything he put me through. But then I look at Siegfried and think that Max is very much like him, he’s just a child emotionally. It makes it difficult to be angry with him for very long.’ She shrugged, put her sewing down, stood up, walked over to him and leaned forward. She kissed him gently on the lips and stroked his face tenderly. ‘I think that was how I finally knew that it was you I loved. If I had truly loved him, I would never have been able to forgive him. But in the end I didn’t really care enough to shout and scream at him, not once the first shock had worn off. When he first came to visit me after he was released from the hospital, I wasn’t really that angry anymore, I just felt I had to be, because it was what was expected of me. In truth I just felt sorry for him.’ She took the newspaper from his hand, sat on his lap and snuggled into him. ‘I do love you, Bruno. I am so lucky to have found you.’

Bruno put his arms around her and held her tight. Words couldn’t express how much he loved her and Siegfried, so he didn’t try.

*******

Milan, Italy

Monsignor Tadeas Conti opened his eyes slowly, wishing he was anywhere but on his knees praying for Paulo and Fiorella. In his heart he knew neither would recover from the devastating influenza that was sweeping the country but he continued to pray, hoping he was wrong. His thoughts turned briefly to Anastasia. So far she had remained well despite her grandparents’ illness. He had no idea how long that would continue, and he didn’t know what to do. Should he keep her here until the illness ran its course with Paulo and Fiorella and risk her being infected or should he take her to Rome to her mother and stepfather.

Tadeas’ lip curled up at the thought of Eddie. How Lucrecia could possibly have fallen in love with the Englishman he had no idea, but she had and now she was pregnant. Against his better judgement he had agreed to marry them, a quiet ceremony because of her condition. He still didn’t really understand why Eddie had wanted to change his surname after the wedding, but it had something to do with leaving his former life in England behind. Tadeas had wanted to ask more but Paulo had suggested it was best to just get on with the ceremony. The threat was unspoken but Tadeas was sure it was there. If he didn’t do as Paulo asked his own dreadful secret would become public and he couldn’t afford for that to happen. Just when he hoped the past had been finally buried, his terrible indiscretion with Fiorella, all those years ago, had finally come back to haunt him.

*******

Nuremberg, Germany

Kristian von Scholz watched his younger brother pacing up and down, complaining vociferously about the Versailles Treaty until Kristian eventually snapped.

‘For Heaven’s sake Oskar, stop wearing out the rugs. That won’t help anyone.’

Oberst Oskar von Scholz stopped abruptly and spun around to face him. Kristian wondered briefly whether the duelling scar on his brother’s left cheek was more prominent when he was angry before meeting Oskar’s right eye, the left was covered in an eye patch which gave him the look of a pirate. ‘It’s alright for you. You’ve got the business. What have I got? Nothing. The reduced size of the army means there’s no room for me. I don’t have the right connections.’

‘You would if you had something to offer.’ Kristian’s voice was calm, the tone so even that Oskar almost missed the invitation.

‘What do you mean?’

‘What does the army want more than anything?’

‘To be how it was. One hundred thousand men is nothing, not enough for a proper army, even in peacetime. To develop weapons, to evolve into a fighting force and retake what was ours.’

‘Exactly. And the person who offers a way of doing that would be welcomed would they not?’

Oskar waited and Kristian smiled. ‘I have contacts who might be able to help. The business you are so contemptuous of trades with several countries. America, Russia, Spain, Italy… I could go on, but I am sure you can see what I am suggesting?’

Oskar frowned. ‘America wouldn’t help, however amenable they are being. They won’t want to upset France and Britain.’

‘But Russia is a completely different matter.’

There was silence while Oskar considered his brother’s words. ‘Do you

really think…’

Kristian shrugged. ‘Why not leave it with me. I have a meeting tomorrow. I’ll see what I can do.’

Oskar nodded, his brain already racing ahead, working out exactly what the Russians could do to help them secretly rearm. Kristian smiled. He was sure they could do business with the Russians. Despite what Oskar thought, Kristian was also furious about the Treaty which effectively neutered Germany and it would give him great pleasure to do whatever he could to get around it. Making Germany a world power wasn’t just Oskar’s dream. It was his too and between them he was sure they would succeed.

Chapter 2

Berlin, Germany

‘You’ve arrested them? About time. Where were they?’ Max had been following developments against the Communists with a certain amount of interest. At least the search for Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht kept his mind off Lettie and the continued lack of any communication from her. After the leaders of the Spartacist group had been released from prison in early December the previous year a poster campaign had begun exhorting people to beat them to death before they could destroy Germany from within. It was anonymous but Max was reasonably sure it was being ordered by the SPD, Social Democratic Party, especially as he'd heard from some soldiers who were members of Guard’s regiment that they’d been offered 50,000 marks to murder the editor of Die Rote Fahne, Karl Liebknecht. Rumours also abounded that the money came from Georg Sklarz, a good friend of SPD leader, Philipp Scheidemann. The Freikorps had also been ordered to find them once they’d established control in Berlin. Max wasn’t that interested in the Spartacists, but it wouldn’t do to say so in front of his colleagues. He didn’t have much time for the Communists but, as he couldn’t see the majority of Germans supporting them, he had been sure the attempted revolution would soon be defeated. At least that was how he’d thought until he’d spoken to Bruno. Then he had changed his mind. Bruno was no fool and if he was concerned Max knew he should probably worry too. A wry smile crossed his face at the thought that for once Bruno and Adolf were in agreement over something, even if neither was aware of the other’s opinion.

For the next few weeks the offices of Rote Fahne were continually raided and Liebknecht’s phone was tapped day and night but despite this Luxemburg and Liebknecht evaded capture and Max had been aware of the growing tension in the streets as patrols were stepped up and rumours increased that the two leaders were to be killed rather than arrested.

The last he’d heard was that they were reported to be living in a worker’s flat in Neukölln, a Spartacist stronghold where despite suffering terrible headaches Luxemburg continued to write articles encouraging people to join the revolution. However, her comrade appeared to be too shocked that they were losing to do anything except spend his time reading fairy tales to the daughter of the couple who were hiding them, at least according to the information they were receiving from an informer. They prepared to raid the apartment, but it appeared someone had warned them because the next information they received was that the two Communists had disappeared. They had continued the search however, and it seemed they had finally succeeded.

‘They’d fled to Wilmersdorf, were hiding with one of his relatives, Frau Markussohn at 53 Mannheimstrasse, and writing their articles for Rote Fahne there.’ The soldier from the Horse Guards Division grinned.

Max was shocked. ‘But that’s a middle class area right in the centre of Berlin. You couldn’t get much deeper inside enemy territory. What on earth were they thinking?’ He shook his head. ‘So how did you find them?’

The soldier grinned ‘The local Inn keeper, Mehring, is a member of the Wilmersdorf Residents’ Defence Militia. He wanted to speak to them, probably couldn’t believe they were actually crazy enough to be in his area, but they refused to meet him so he came and fetched us. We got lucky, managed to arrest them, along with another one, someone called Wilhelm Pieck, another KPD leader apparently. We bought them to the Eden Hotel straight away and handed them over to Captain Pabst in the upper suite.’

‘And it’s definitely them?

The soldier shrugged. ‘He had monogrammed initials KL stitched on his shirt, she wouldn’t answer apparently, told the Kapitän to make up his own mind.’

‘What happens now?’

‘Don’t know, they’ve taken him away. The Kapitän was still questioning her. No doubt they’ll face trial for starting a revolution…’ He was about to say more when they were interrupted by another soldier who lowered his voice, muttered something Max couldn’t hear then headed back the way he’d come.

Maz frowned. ‘Everything alright?’

The soldier glanced around nervously. ‘Luxemburg and Liebknecht are dead, apparently they were shot while trying to escape.’

Max stared at him in astonishment, was about to say how convenient that was when he changed his mind. It might be better to keep his thoughts to himself. ‘Well, they still have the other one don’t they, Wilhelm Pieck didn’t you say?’

‘Yes, you’re right.’ The soldier was already backing away and Max decided to take the opportunity to leave.

‘I’d better report back to my commander then.’ He saluted and turned away, his thoughts racing as he tried to work out what he should say if anyone questioned him. It was obvious the two Spartacists had been executed and he wished it had happened after he’d left the command post, but unfortunately it hadn’t.

*******

Vienna, Austria

‘You’re absolutely sure?’ Katherina stared into the eyes of the medium

and waited.

Gisella Braude hesitated briefly and then nodded. The spirits never lied and there was no trace of this woman’s son in law in the spirit world. ‘Yes. He is still on the earth plane.’ She was about to end the consultation when she suddenly frowned.

‘What is it?’ Katherina had seen the change of expression.

Gisella didn’t answer immediately. She was beginning to regret agreeing to take this woman’s money. If she hadn’t needed to pay the rent she would have followed her instincts and turned her away. But times were hard and a woman on her own… she switched her earthly thoughts off and concentrated on the lady in front of her.

‘You should not get involved. The spirits say it’s dangerous.’

Katherina frowned. ‘Dangerous? In what way? I don’t understand…’

Gisella shrugged. ‘I don’t know any more…’

‘Then ask them.’ Katherina snapped impatiently.

Gisella was about to say that she couldn’t force the spirits to give her information when she was suddenly bombarded with visions of fighting, shooting, explosions. She gasped, opened her eyes abruptly and tried to stop her heart pounding against her ribs.

Katherina started to push her for more information when she changed her mind. The medium was sweating, her face pale, eyes darting anxiously around the small room. She fixed Katherina with a steely glare and pleaded. ‘You must leave it alone. It’s too dangerous.’

‘I don’t see how…’ Katherina frowned. ‘If my son in law is still alive then surely my daughter has a right to know. I can’t just leave it.’

Gisella shook her head but before she could speak Katherina hurried on. ‘You don’t understand… she’s married someone else. She might even be pregnant.’ She fell silent and looked away so she didn’t see the horror on Gisella’s face. By the time she looked back Gisella had composed her expression.

‘For your own safety and for that of your daughter you must not continue to look for him. He will come back when he is ready.’ Gisella looked almost as surprised as Katherina as she said the last few words.

‘Then he will come back?’ Katherina leant forward, her eyes alight.

Gisella nodded. ‘Yes… yes that is what they are saying… but it must be in his own time.’ She crossed her fingers and hoped she had done the right thing by adding in the last part, but Katherina was no longer paying attention, her thoughts were elsewhere. ‘Is there anything else?’ She was suddenly in a rush to leave.

Gisella closed her eyes and waited for several moments before shaking her head. ‘No, there’s nothing more.’ She opened her eyes and watched Katherina count out the money. ‘You won’t do anything to find him will you?’ Gisella had no idea why it was suddenly so important to her that this woman did as the spirits asked, but it was. She watched Katherina leave and shivered. Something had changed, something cold and dark was hovering around her and she wished she hadn’t given the reading. But it was too late. The evil had been unleashed and once that happened it had to run its course.

*******

Munich, Germany

The wind was biting as they walked alongside the River Isar. Max had arrived from Berlin several days earlier, but this was the first time they had been on their own. He was still reeling from the deaths of the two Spartacists leaders but even more so from Adolf’s reaction. His friend hadn’t seemed in the slightest bit bothered when Max suggested that they might have been murdered. Bruno, however, had been just as shocked and had questioned Max carefully about the circumstances that had led up to their deaths. He had also seemed surprised when Max said that a third person had been released and had apparently gone back to his Communist activities.

‘Perhaps they didn’t have enough evidence against him.’ Max suggested.

Bruno was about to argue when he changed his mind. Max was sometimes much too naïve. If they had released this Wilhelm Pieck there had to be a good reason. Either he was working for them or had delivered the other two into their hands, or maybe both. But it was probably best not to speculate to much with Max. His friend was quite capable of talking them both into trouble without thinking. Best to tackle the other problem that had been bothering him.

Bruno pulled his hat down and his collar up and finally found the courage to broach the subject of the paintings. ‘Have you disposed of the pictures Max?’

Max