Read Online Stealing Trinity by Ward Larsen - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ward Larsen
Tags: United States, Fiction, Suspense, Historical, Thrillers, Mystery & Detective, Suspense fiction, Espionage, Intelligence Officers, Germany, Nazis, Great Britain, spies, spy stories, Spies - Germany, Atomic Bomb - United States, Intelligence Officers - Great Britain, Spies - United States, Manhattan Project (U.S.)
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under the man's neck, pinning him helplessly and keeping the hand with the iron bar locked uselessly beneath. He then completed the constriction from behind with his left, and one vicious twist ended the affair in a crunching noise. The driver slumped toward Braun, his ear lying unnaturally against his shoulder, the eyes bulging in terminal surprise.
Braun shoved the man to the floor on the passenger side and removed his shirt, sliding it over his own shoulders. He would tidy up later, but for the moment he had to drive, before a waitress came trotting out with change, or some other complication. He assumed the driver s seat, donned the dead man s cap, and put the truck into gear.
Chapter 8.
When Thatcher entered the room, Number 68 was again sitting quietly, his manacled hands resting on the table. Today the guard was outside the door, yet another irregularity to fuel Thatchers curiosity. He took a seat opposite the prisoner and eyed him directly. Today s offer had already been set, Ainsley the architect, but with the approval of the Americans. Thatcher s job was to make it convincing. As he began in German, he wondered if Rasmussen and Jones understood the language. He suspected they did.
"Corporal Klein, this will be your last meeting with me. We are very busy, as you can imagine, and we can't waste time with someone such as yourself." He paused before his strike. "You were an aide to Colonel Hans Gruber in Abwehr Headquarters. Given this, you may have come across valuable information during the course of your work. Today you will dictate to me anything of possible value regarding matters of intelligence and war crimes. In exchange, I am authorized to make the following offer. You will stay in our custody for a period of two months. During this time we will verify the evidence you give. If it proves accurate and true, we will deliver you to your hometown of Wittenberge with the sum of one hundred British pounds in your pocket. From there you will be free to make your way in whatever existence you can find. This is a singular and immediate offer." Thatcher added a glare to make sure he was clear on the next point. "It will not be made again."
The lack of alternatives to the offer was quite intentional, and Thatcher watched the young man fidget, his fingers prying together. Yesterday's calmness and confidence were gone.
He continued, "If you wish, I will leave the room for five minutes while you decide."
More fidgeting, then Klein spoke. "What guarantees do I have that--"
"None" Thatcher interrupted, not allowing any east-west into the conversation. "You can agree to our terms -- or not."
The corporal's eyes glazed as he no doubt considered a million things. Home. Prison. The unknown. Predictably, he relented. "Yes. All right."
"Good. We will begin with what we have. You are Corporal Fritz Klein?"
"Yes."
"You were assigned to work for Colonel Hans Gruber?"
"Yes."
"Yesterday you mentioned something called the Manhattan Project. You obviously think it is important. Why?" Thatcher poised a pen over his notepad.
The prisoner arranged his thoughts. "Colonel Gruber held a meeting on his last morning in the office --"
"When?"
"April twentieth, or maybe the twenty-first."
"Who was present at this meeting?"
"Yes. This I remember. General Freiderich Rode and a Major Becker of the SS. They discussed a mission, I think, but I did not hear the details. The meeting was short, yet re-formed later that day, with the addition of a captain from the army. Immediately after this second gathering, I was ordered to destroy all the files in the office. But my first priority was to eliminate five folders -- the Colonel was very specific on this point. I think they related to the meeting."
"And this was when you came across the words -- Manhattan Project?"
"Yes. The first three files were personnel folders. I did not see the names. Of the last two, one involved this secret project. There is an agent -- in Mexico, I think.
Braun shoved the man to the floor on the passenger side and removed his shirt, sliding it over his own shoulders. He would tidy up later, but for the moment he had to drive, before a waitress came trotting out with change, or some other complication. He assumed the driver s seat, donned the dead man s cap, and put the truck into gear.
Chapter 8.
When Thatcher entered the room, Number 68 was again sitting quietly, his manacled hands resting on the table. Today the guard was outside the door, yet another irregularity to fuel Thatchers curiosity. He took a seat opposite the prisoner and eyed him directly. Today s offer had already been set, Ainsley the architect, but with the approval of the Americans. Thatcher s job was to make it convincing. As he began in German, he wondered if Rasmussen and Jones understood the language. He suspected they did.
"Corporal Klein, this will be your last meeting with me. We are very busy, as you can imagine, and we can't waste time with someone such as yourself." He paused before his strike. "You were an aide to Colonel Hans Gruber in Abwehr Headquarters. Given this, you may have come across valuable information during the course of your work. Today you will dictate to me anything of possible value regarding matters of intelligence and war crimes. In exchange, I am authorized to make the following offer. You will stay in our custody for a period of two months. During this time we will verify the evidence you give. If it proves accurate and true, we will deliver you to your hometown of Wittenberge with the sum of one hundred British pounds in your pocket. From there you will be free to make your way in whatever existence you can find. This is a singular and immediate offer." Thatcher added a glare to make sure he was clear on the next point. "It will not be made again."
The lack of alternatives to the offer was quite intentional, and Thatcher watched the young man fidget, his fingers prying together. Yesterday's calmness and confidence were gone.
He continued, "If you wish, I will leave the room for five minutes while you decide."
More fidgeting, then Klein spoke. "What guarantees do I have that--"
"None" Thatcher interrupted, not allowing any east-west into the conversation. "You can agree to our terms -- or not."
The corporal's eyes glazed as he no doubt considered a million things. Home. Prison. The unknown. Predictably, he relented. "Yes. All right."
"Good. We will begin with what we have. You are Corporal Fritz Klein?"
"Yes."
"You were assigned to work for Colonel Hans Gruber?"
"Yes."
"Yesterday you mentioned something called the Manhattan Project. You obviously think it is important. Why?" Thatcher poised a pen over his notepad.
The prisoner arranged his thoughts. "Colonel Gruber held a meeting on his last morning in the office --"
"When?"
"April twentieth, or maybe the twenty-first."
"Who was present at this meeting?"
"Yes. This I remember. General Freiderich Rode and a Major Becker of the SS. They discussed a mission, I think, but I did not hear the details. The meeting was short, yet re-formed later that day, with the addition of a captain from the army. Immediately after this second gathering, I was ordered to destroy all the files in the office. But my first priority was to eliminate five folders -- the Colonel was very specific on this point. I think they related to the meeting."
"And this was when you came across the words -- Manhattan Project?"
"Yes. The first three files were personnel folders. I did not see the names. Of the last two, one involved this secret project. There is an agent -- in Mexico, I think.
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