“Damn straight, colonel. Got a nasty scar on my leg courtesy of Charlie’s punji sticks.”
“Trap?”
“Yessir. We were double-timing to support another unit. Back then, I was lighter and faster…leading the way. I didn’t see it—went right in.”
“You get infected? I know they used to put bacteria-laden substances on the ends.”
Anthony shook his head. “Thankfully, no. I hid it, too. Wrapped it in a t-shirt and kept on fightin’.”
Hunter nodded respectfully. “My kinda Marine. You fancy a cold beer, Anthony?”
Anthony turned to Claudia who chuckled. “You two sit here and drink all the beer you want. Colonel, if he drinks too much, we can Uber to our hotel,” she said. Claudia lifted her phone from her purse and showed it to Gage. “We used Uber in all the big cities so we didn’t have to fuss with parking. It’s a fascinating service.”
Gage couldn’t help but be slightly mesmerized by this captivating woman—yet he still had no idea why she was here.
As Claudia began making preparations to stand, Alice asked if they might stay for dinner.
“Heavens no, dear, but thank you. We’ll be gone in an hour.” She turned to Gage. “I don’t need the chair if I can lean on your big, strong shoulder.”
Gage offered his arm and supported the little German lady who possessed a steel grip. As Alice retrieved beers for Anthony and her husband, Gage slowly led Claudia through the house, down the back stairs, and out to his cottage. Sheriff followed dutifully along. A few moments later, Alice Hunter appeared with a fresh coffee for Claudia along with Gage’s untouched iced coffee. Alice asked if they wanted anything else. When Gage and Claudia declined, Alice took her leave.
After situating Claudia in his only easy chair, Gage spun one of his two kitchen chairs around to face her. Sheriff took up a position at Claudia’s feet.
And then it began…
* * *
Claudia Vogel sipped her coffee. Gage took a swig of his ice coffee. There was a period of silence. Claudia eyed Gage for a considerable time before she said, “I know all about the end of your time in Germany, Gage Hartline…Matthew Schoenfeld. I know about the diaries of Hitler’s maid and lover, about the loss of your girlfriend, and about your acts of vengeance against those who soooo deserved it,” she said, drawing out the word. “Though I apologize for being so direct about subjects that must be of great sensitivity to you, I’m heartened…”
Claudia suddenly paused.
And she certainly was correct—they were sensitive subjects. Gage could hear his pulse. “Claudia, why are you heartened?”
“I’m heartened to have potential access to such a fine young man.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Gage, I’m here because I need you to come home to Germany with me.”
“Come to Germany? Why?”
“Home, to Germany,” she corrected. “It is your home, in your heart, isn’t it?”
“You might say that. But, again, I must ask why.”
“For starters, I have no one I can fully trust.” She lifted her index finger. “No one, Gage.”
“No offense, ma’am, but I find that hard to believe.”
“You find what hard to believe?”
“That you can’t trust anyone.”
“You see me as just a kindly old lady.”
“Yes’m, you could say that.”
“Well, I’m not,” she said, her tone steely for the first time. “And, believe me, I’m on my best behavior. You’ll also believe me when I tell you that I have only acquaintances. My family, cousins, people I grew up with, politicians—they all come to me with their hands out for money or favors.” She crooked the same finger at Gage. “When I commissioned my search, the very first quality I looked for was a lack of greed. In one stroke of the pen, that whittled the list down from hundreds to a handful.”
“Search?”
“Yes, a search. My late husband always said you couldn’t trust a man who wasn’t greedy.”
Gage found that interesting but didn’t respond.
“It was one of the many things he and I disagreed on,” Claudia said, settling back into her chair.
“May I ask how you learned about me?”
She shooed the question away. “One can buy the most sensitive information if one is willing to pay enough money.”
These were weighty words on an unseasonably warm afternoon when Gage thought he’d be grilling. “Claudia, why did you commission a search, and why do you want me to come to Germany?”
“Home.”
“Sorry. Home to Germany.”
She leaned forward, matching his posture. “Because, Gage Hartline, I need you to come and live by my side and protect me. I believe someone is trying to kill me.”
CHAPTER TWO
True to her word, Claudia Vogel, along with Anthony, prepared to depart about an hour after Gage had led her to his cottage. And what an hour it had been. Gage had slowly sipped his iced coffee, having to ration it to keep his mouth moistened. Not only did she know all about him, which was stressful enough, but she also told him far more as she made her eloquent pitch for him to come to Germany.
Afterward, she informed Gage about the remainder of her U.S. tour. Upon spending the night at a nearby hotel, she and Anthony would drive to Charleston, South Carolina for the final few days of her stay abroad.
“Why Charleston?” Gage asked.
“I love good food, dear, as does Anthony. And right now, according to a number of sources, some of the best food in the world is being prepared in Charleston.” She’d given Gage’s forearm a squeeze. “Perhaps I’ll get lucky and run into Bill Murray. I’m a big fan.”
“He lives in Charleston?”
“Yes. He’s part owner of their minor league baseball team. His dramatic roles are grand,” she said. “But I prefer his comedies. He’s a treasure.”
Gage shook Claudia’s hand one last time. Anthony
