Mantz entered the main highway heading southeast of the city. It was a four lane highway that turned back and forth up and down the mountain passes. Dresner and Betz were beginning to wonder where he might be going. There wasn’t much else except a pass to Italy on the other side of the mountains. The road was now etched along the side of a mountain making its way to the next valley. The men were 200 meters behind the tail car but could still see Mantz’s car farther ahead. Suddenly a large tanker truck, with only one working headlight and belching diesel smoke surged past their car as it flew down the highway. Dresner suppressed the urge of putting out his blue light and stopping the driver for reckless driving. Then the truck passed the leading police vehicle and came up close behind Mantz’s car before it swerved around passing Mantz and skimmed around the side of the mountain.
“Idiot,” Betz said as he watched the truck disappear around the curve. Then without warning Mantz’s car drove across the center line, through the guardrail and straight over the side of the mountain. The men watched in horror as a gout of flame reflected off the trees and roadside as the car struck the rocks below.
Both cars quickly pulled over to the siding and turned on their police lights. Dresner and Betz rushed over to the side. The car lay fifty feet from the side of the mountain. Flames had engulfed the car which had accordioned into a mass of twisted, burning metal. Dresner got on the radio to call in the emergency team, but knew there would be no rescues that evening.
“This just proves what I said Sergeant. Something else is behind all this. Get our team on it. I want to know what caused that crash. I don’t care if we have to reassemble the car to do it. I want to know what made Mantz crash, and I want it within 48 hours,” he ordered. Betz remembered the decisiveness of his commander from the war. Now he was seeing it again.
“Jawohl, Herr Major.”
Chapter 9
Decisions
Eric Anderson sat down with Fritz Dietz in Herr Dietz’s home office. It was a nice cozy little room with a small fireplace and desk. There were only two chairs. Herr Dietz had closed the door behind them. Eric had asked for the chance to talk to Herr Dietz and it had quickly evolved into an invitation to dinner. Now Anna and her mother were clearing the dishes away and the two men had time to talk.
“Now Eric, what did you want to talk to me about?” Dietz asked.
Eric was nervous. Although he liked Mr. Dietz, he was unsure of how to put what he wanted to ask. It was also something very important and he didn’t want to screw it up. His hands were sweaty and without thinking he rubbed them on his slacks. Eric felt like he was sweating like a pig. Figuring he had little to lose, he threw caution to the wind and simply asked.
“Herr Dietz, I am not sure of Austrian customs or the propriety of what I want to ask. In America sometimes the father is asked and sometimes not. Out of respect, I wanted to come and ask if I may marry your daughter,” he said with an ever more frightened and tense voice.
Fritz Dietz had already figured what Eric was going to ask but was enjoying seeing him squirm a little. Eric was a bright and very capable young man who was as decisive as his father. He could see a lot of Al Anderson in his son — not just physically, but in his thinking as well. Eric would always take care of Anna, there was not doubt. The question was whether he could handle his daughter.
Dietz smiled and placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder. “That was very considerate of you. Yes, our custom is to talk to the father before, even though, like in America, this sometimes does not happen. My wife and I have been anticipating this, as did your father and mother. You both have our blessings. Personally, I would be proud to have you in the family,” he said warmly.
Eric visibly calmed. He didn’t know why he was so apprehensive, but fir first part was now over.
Dietz saw the response and almost broke into a laugh, but contained it. “Have you thought where you will be living?”
“Actually the business is about half in the US and the other half in Europe. My thought was to switch between Virginia and here. I plan on keeping our new home,” Eric said.
“A smart move. Do you think you will be able to keep the business?”
Eric grinned. “Father had already been putting me in charge of a few things. I already had my first management meeting before I came back. There are a few places I want the company to go that we haven’t before. We’re already big in defense work but I want to branch into highways. I also want to move into prefabricated industrial buildings to help out small business. I also asked the team to start looking into environmental engineering. With the current pollution levels, I have a feeling this will be a good place to invest. When I get back, I should have some answers,” he said confidently.
Dietz was a little astounded. Usually a young man out of college wasn’t thinking in such a big picture. His ideas made a lot of sense and he hoped Eric could pull them off. “It sounds as if you have things well in hand. Now what else did you want to talk to me about?”
Eric knew this was the tougher question. But with Mr. Dietz so approving he plowed right ahead. “Well, Herr Dietz, as you know I am taking my family home for the funeral. I should be back within the week. But I was wondering if you would object if Anna came with me. You see, I need her really badly right now. When she is with me I don’t feel the pressure nearly as much. Having her there would be a big help. I will take care of the tickets and everything. I promise nothing bad will happen and if you would like I can ask an aunt of mine to stay with us in the house. But I wanted to get your permission for it before I asked her.”
Dietz sat back in his chair a moment then broke into a grin. “Eric, Anna is a grown woman now. She is big enough to make up her own mind whether she will go or not. As far as being together I know you and I know my daughter. You two are the least of my worries. But I thank you for asking. Now why don’t you go and ask her. I’m sure her bags are already packed.” Dietz extended his hand and took Eric’s. “You’re a good man Eric. I appreciate your courtesy and your respect. Now you two go and make a life together.”
Eric thanked Mr. Dietz and made his way to the kitchen. Within a minute Anna came out and wrapped her father in a hug.
“Thank you father. I am so happy,” she said with tears in her eyes.
“You just live a good life together,” Dietz said to his daughter, “just like your mother and me.”
“I will father,” she said kissing him again. Then she went back to the kitchen.
Dietz sat down in an easy chair and thought about his daughter and her growing up. Now she would be leaving the nest. He gave a sigh. I can’t wait to spoil the grandkids, he thought to himself.
“His car was sabotaged,” said Betz. He was still wearing the black overalls but they were completely smudged and stained by grease, soot, oil and rust. It was obvious he had personally examined Mantz’s Mercedes and had come straight to Dresner. Betz had a look of pride and confidence in what he had done.
Dresner looked up at his friend and gave a slight grin. “So we were correct in our assessment,” he said.
“Ja, Herr Major. There is no doubt.”
“Dresner threw his pen on the desk and sat back. “Good, then tell me how it was done.”
Betz pulled out a few pieces of metal from his pocket. “Someone used a small transmitter to set off some equally small charges strategically placed in the car. The first,” he said pointing to a part of a ball joint, “is here. You see the deforming of this ball joint? Someone placed a small charge along this end so the explosion popped the joint and disabled it. It controlled the steering of the car. Whoever it was used a little too much. The other end sheared off and struck the water pump. We know what happened because the pump started gushing coolant before the car left the street. We also found the rest of the joint on the highway. The second piece,” he said holding up a piece of cast metal, “was a small charge placed against the brake master cylinder. We also found brake fluid along the road in the exact same place as the coolant. Luckily, the coolant was antifreeze, so it didn’t evaporate on the road.”