Dresner pressed down the accelerator. He wanted to get to a phone as soon as possible. Along the way he and Helga went over the facts she had given him again. By the time they arrived at the house he was fully charged and anxious to get things moving. Picking up the first phone available he dialed his office number. After only two rings it was answered.
“This is Dresner. Give me Betz,” he said quickly. It only took a moment and Betz answered.
“Sergeant, Helga just remembered something very important. On the way home the night of the murder she was passed by a large diesel tanker truck, brownish green, only one headlight and belching diesel smoke. Sound familiar?”
“Mein Gott, that’s the one that passed us the other night,” said Betz on the other end of the phone.
“Go with this Betz. I want the whereabouts of every truck meeting that description. I want to know who owns them and who drives them, then where they were on the night of both murders.”
“Jawohl, Herr Major. Thank Frau Hufham for me.”
He heard a chuckled on the other end. “I will.”
“By the way, the American Major came by and wants to see you tomorrow. He says it is very important.”
Dresner groaned. “That’s all I need,” he said as he hung up the phone.
Betz felt a chill run through him. Things were starting to happen quickly. The Major was like a bloodhound going after his prey. Betz found himself feeling the same way he often felt during the war when he and his men were about to begin a dangerous mission. The Major’s mind was beginning to race. When it did, people were carried along with him. Betz smiled at himself. Just like then, he knew he better get going, or else…. He immediately picked up the phone and called the motor vehicle department starting a search for the truck. He also contacted the Prost Fertilizer plant and a few other companies in the area which used tanker trucks. With luck, he would know some things within 24 hours. Then he called their former corporal to start calling the rest of their small band of men. After over an hour of quick calls, Betz sat back in his chair and thought a moment. Something interesting had come into his mind and he chuckled inwardly. His superior and friend was so tight and ‘by the book’ as the Americans say. Yet he just called Frau Hufham by her first name. His face broke into a grin. Wasn’t that interesting?
Betz reached over to the radio set he kept on his desk and turned it on. Instead of the usual music at his favorite station he heard the voice of the American President.
“Acting, therefore, in the defense of our own security and of the entire Western Hemisphere, and under the authority entrusted to me by the Constitution as endorsed by the Resolution of the Congress, I have directed that the following initial steps be taken immediately: First: To halt this offensive buildup a strict quarantine on all offensive military equipment under shipment to Cuba is being initiated. All ships of any kind bound for Cuba from whatever nation or port will, if found to contain cargoes of offensive weapons, be turned back. This quarantine will be extended, if needed, to other types of cargo and carriers. We are not at this time, however, denying the necessities of life as the Soviets attempted to do in their Berlin blockade of 1948.
Second: I have directed the continued and increased close surveillance of Cuba and its military buildup. The foreign ministers of the OAS [Organization of American States], in their communiqué of October 6, rejected secrecy on such matters in this hemisphere. Should these offensive military preparations continue, thus increasing the threat to the hemisphere, further action will be justified. I have directed the Armed Forces to prepare for any eventualities; and I trust that in the interest of both the Cuban people and the Soviet technicians at the sites, the hazards to all concerned of continuing this threat will be recognized.
Third: It shall be the policy of this nation to regard any nuclear missile launched from Cuba against any nation in the Western Hemisphere as an attack by the Soviet Union on the United States, requiring a full retaliatory response upon the Soviet Union,” Kennedy said in his speech.
Betz stared at the radio. My God has it come to this, he wondered. Betz remembered the Berlin blockade. For many in Germany, it was the first time the Americans had been seen as true friends. Despite the blockade by the Soviets people did not starve and people were able to hold on. The Americans had helped them do that. Now the Soviets had stationed atomic missiles just 90 miles from their shore. No one would stand for that.
Betz wondered where it would lead. No one in Europe wanted another war — especially the Germans. They were all tired of war. Germany was becoming a strong nation again. To have that threatened made him angry.
Despite the fact Betz was now an Austrian citizen he was still a very loyal German. Despite everything else he was proud of his birthplace and its people. The Soviet Union was a problem — to Germany and everyone else. He prayed for cooler heads to prevail. But when it hit the fan, as the Americans say, he knew which side he would be on.
The President’s speech was winding up. “Our goal is not the victory of might, but the vindication of right; not peace at the expense of freedom, but both peace and freedom, here in this hemisphere, and, we hope, around the world. God willing, that goal will be achieved. Thank you and good night.”
“Ja, I know which side,” Betz said to himself.
The trip to Eric’s home was a whirlwind of activity and excitement — especially for Anna. It had been her first time on a long flight and the ride on the Boeing 707 had almost been too much. Sitting in a window seat, she had stared out the window almost the whole flight. When they finally landed in Richmond she welcomed the ride to Eric’s house, only to get back to something more ‘normal.’ One of the first things Anna had noticed were all the automobiles in the American roads. They were in every shape, size and color, and seemed to fill the roads everywhere they went.
Eric had escorted her to his own car in the parking lot of the airport. He had described how lucky he was to get one as they had just come out on American roads. The new Buick Riviera was the most modern automobile she had ever seen. It looked like it would take off and fly. It was a dark blue with a white leather interior and it sparkled in the evening light. The Buick was much larger than most cars she had seen and as they rode down the roads, it seemed to float.
Eric’s home was a large ranch style home nestled in the woods near Charlottesville, Virginia. It was made of white brick with stone accents and had a three car garage. Inside, the house looked like something out of one of her magazines. It was modern and spacious. There were polished hardwood floors with new modern furniture and brass accent pieces surrounding a large stone fireplace. To one side was a dining room which led to a large kitchen. Her room was larger than anything she had seen at home, including some of then rooms in the palace in Salzburg. From the kitchen and dining room, sliding doors led to a deck with a pool. Anna couldn’t help but stare at everything. Innsbruck had nothing like this.
Despite all the excitement, both Anna and Eric were exhausted. Both turned in early. The next day would be a busy one. The funeral arrangements had to be finalized, documents signed on the estate, meetings held at the company and family visited.
Both went almost straight to bed. Yet despite falling into a deep sleep, Anna woke while it was still dark outside. Glancing at the clock on her nightstand she saw it was 2 am. Looking around the darkened room she noticed light coming out from under the bathroom door. The bathroom was shared with Eric’s bedroom next to hers. Curious, she got out of bed and pulled on a light robe she had brought along. She crossed through the bathroom and gently knocked on the door to Eric’s room before she went in. Eric was sitting up in his bed reading a book. He smiled meekly at her.