Berlin, Abwehr Headquarters, Office of Major Hans Teppel
September 6, 1943, 1700 hours

Hans Teppel had made up his mind. He was sure that Major Wagner was a Russian agent, or at least had ties with Russian agents. He would approach Wagner and suggest that they form a working alliance, since their objectives were the same. It was a risk – he could be mistaken about Wagner. In which case, his own position, not to mention his life, would be in jeopardy.

Teppel glanced around his office. He knew that they would not be able to talk here – the walls had ears, literally. Most rooms in the headquarters would have at least one listening device. All the better to discover where the foxes are. I'll have to try and get Wagner alone outside of this building so we can talk more freely.

Teppel rose from his desk and walked towards his office door. He picked up his uniform jacket and hat, turned off the lights and closed the door behind him. I'll stop by on the way out and see if Wagner is still in. I doubt that Abwehr would have attempted to take a prisoner from the Gestapo, so Wagner is covering for someone. Mentioning my chat with Hochstetter might make him curious enough to want to have a talk with me. Teppel walked down the hall. He saw that the door to Wagner's office was still open. Good, he is still here. Teppel stopped and stuck his head into the doorway.

Wagner looked up when he heard someone stop at his door. Recognizing Teppel, he said, "Hello Hans."

"Hello Kurt," Teppel replied. "I received a phone call from a Gestapo major this morning – Hochstetter from Hammelburg."

Teppel paused, waiting for a reaction. He would decide how to proceed based on Wagner's actions. Wagner simply arched an eyebrow and stared back at Teppel. He did not say anything.

Teppel took this as a sign of interest. He glanced purposefully around the room and said, "I am on my way to have a beer, would you like to join me?" He held his breath. If Wagner declined, then Teppel would have to admit that Wagner might simply be the Abwehr Major that he portrayed. But if he accepted ...

Wagner stared back impassively at Teppel for several seconds, as if he were deciding how best to proceed. Finally, he rose from his desk and said, "Ja, that sounds good, Hans." Wagner grabbed his jacket and hat and followed Teppel down the hall.

The men were silent as they walked the two blocks to the Brauhaus. When they entered, Max, the bartender looked up from the tap where he was drawing a beer and acknowledged the familiar faces. Teppel held up two fingers and pointed towards an empty table in the corner. Max nodded and Wagner and Teppel sat at the out-of-the-way table. Heidi, the barmaid, greeted them and exchanged small talk while she set the beers in front of them. After Heidi departed, the men enjoyed a few sips of the beer – just two officers unwinding from a hard day at the war.

Wagner put his beer stein down on the table. "So, you received a call from Major Hochstetter this morning?" he asked.

Teppel took a sip before answering. "Ja," was his only reply. The less he said at first, the more he would be able to tell how interested Wagner was. In addition, they had to be careful what they said, lest someone overhear.

Wagner stared back at Teppel, appraising the situation. Knowing that Teppel was an Allied operative, he sensed that this was a fishing expedition by Teppel, trying to determine Wagner's true nature. This gave Wagner some confidence that Teppel might suspect him, but was not sure yet.

"Ah, Major Hochstetter," Wagner said casually. "It's so enjoyable to talk with a man that takes himself much too seriously. Did he call to be sociable or was this a business call?" he asked.

Teppel had chuckled at Wagner's description of Hochstetter. Before answering, he took another sip of beer. He is interested in what the conversation was about. This is a good sign. Now it's time to lay the cards on the table. "In his mind, business," Teppel replied. Wagner arched an eyebrow. Teppel continued, "He called to talk to someone other than Major Wagner about a prisoner of his that had been taken by a squad of Abwehr personnel."

Wagner was silent. He gazed back at Teppel with no expression on his face. He was content to let Teppel talk some more before deciding what to divulge. He saw the advantage of having an ally in Headquarters, but he also was aware of the disadvantages of anyone knowing his true colors.

Teppel smiled. "Of course, I told him that the Abwehr cannot comment about its activities," he said. "What good is an intelligence service that tells everything it knows!"

Wagner laughed. "I told him the same thing," he replied. "Tell me, did you get the growl from him?"

Now it was Teppel's turn to laugh. "No, I got the grunt," he said.

The two men were silent as they sipped their beers. Teppel looked over at Wagner, who gave a small almost imperceptible nod. Now Teppel knew he was right about Wagner, and he knew that Wagner knew about him. Teppel decided to continue.

"I have some friends in the Hammelburg area," Teppel said. "They are stationed at the Luft Stalag in the area. Maybe you know them?"

Wagner put his stein back on the table and shook his head. "No, but I also have a friend that travels in the area sometimes. She might be acquainted with them." He put a slight emphasis on the word 'she', hoping that Teppel would understand. Wagner continued, "My friend mentioned knowing some men stationed at the Luft Stalag in the Hammelburg area."

Teppel nodded and said nothing. He took another sip of his beer and waited. After a few moments, he said, "Yes, it sounds like our friends are acquainted."

The men were silent, finishing their beers. They had said enough to come to a silent understanding. Now that they knew, they would work together. Heidi came by again and they ordered sauerbraten and two more beers.

---------------

After they had eaten, Teppel and Wagner left the Brauhaus together. At that time of night, the streets were mostly empty. The men could talk safely as they walked.

"I have known about you for some time," Wagner said to Teppel as they walked slowly along the street. "And now you know about me. I think it would be good for us to work together and keep each other informed of important developments."

"I agree," replied Teppel. "What was Major Hochstetter asking about? Did it have something to do with Stalag 13?"

"Yes, it did," said Wagner. "Apparently, Hochstetter had found out that there was a Russian prisoner in Stalag 13. Hochstetter wanted the prisoner for himself, probably because he had just let two other Russians go. These other Russians were involved in a failed missile test."

"And these Russians were your friends?" Teppel asked.

"One of them," Wagner responded. "The other was a scientist that my friend was trying to get out of Germany. She enlisted the help of your friends at Stalag 13 to help with that."

"And this Russian prisoner of war?" Teppel asked.

"Not involved in that, but apparently associated with your friends," Wagner said. "But Hochstetter wanted a Russian after letting his go and found out about the one in Stalag 13. Your friends and my friend did not want Hochstetter to take him, so they took him back, making it seem as though the Abwehr were involved."

"Is that where you fit in?" Teppel asked.

"Yes, they mentioned my name in front of Hochstetter's men, knowing that Hochstetter would call," responded Wagner. "I was to confirm it, make it seem as though his headquarters were bugged, and then later tell him that the prisoner was killed trying to escape."

"Which of course, he wasn't," Teppel said.

"No," replied Wagner. "I believe he was to travel with my friend and the scientist back to Russia. I have not heard from my friend since, so I do not know for sure."

The men stopped at an intersection. "Here is where I turn," Teppel said. "So we will work together?"

Wagner nodded. "Yes, we will look out for each other's interests as well as our own," he replied.

"And I do not wish to know who your friends are," Teppel stated.

"Nor do I wish to know yours," Wagner replied. "It is safer that way."

Teppel nodded and held out his hand to Wagner. "Excellent," he said as he shook Wagner's hand. "Have a good evening, Kurt."

"And you as well, Hans," Wagner replied.

The men walked off in separate directions, each heading towards their flats.