Berlin, Hotel Berlin
December 12, 1943, 2130 hours
Marya stood in the entrance to the dining room of the Hotel Berlin, surveying the scene before her. She was dressed in her flamboyant fur outfit and noticed that heads were turning in her direction, mostly men, as she stood there. As she scanned the room, she saw Count von Waffenschmidt sitting at a table in the corner of the room. He was puffing a cigarette in a long holder with an air of superiority that could only come from the combination of having an aristocratic title while still being a member of the so-called master race.
She continued to scan the room until she found the table she was looking for. In the center of the dining room, as she might have expected, sat SS-General Klaus Schlesinger. The General was a member of Himmler's small inner-circle in the SS. He based himself in Leipzig, partly because of the Allied bombing of the capital, but mainly because he could be the biggest fish of all in the Leipzig area. He thought that he was witty, charming and the most desirable man in Germany. Marya thought he was an arrogant pig.
However her feelings about Schlesinger, he was going to be useful to her tonight. It was too early for her to have von Waffenschmidt become too close, but she needed to have him see her out and about with the influential men she was acquainted with. Since he already suspected her, Marya knew that he would follow her around to try to identify who her connection was. She wanted to lead him on a merry chase for a little while, and then somehow, and she hadn't quite figured that out yet, lead him into a trap to discredit him, or better yet, eliminate him.
She began to move across the dining room towards General Schlesinger's table. As she walked, she was aware of the attention she was getting from the other patrons in the room, leers from the men and spiteful, jealous glances from the women. Eat your hearts out, ladies. If I wanted to, I could take any of your men away from you, she thought.
She looked at the table where the General was sitting, trying to get an idea who else was dining with him. As usual, he had an entourage that he was entertaining. There were many opened, and presumable empty, champagne bottles in the middle of the table, which made Marya happy. If General Schlesinger were extremely drunk tonight, it would help her plan tremendously.
When she reached the table, she stopped and threw her arms wide. Her fur stole flying into the face of the officer sitting next to Schlesinger. "Schlessy, darling. I am here for you," she said dramatically.
Schlesinger looked over at the source of the voice. It took him a second to focus on Marya before speaking. The pig is drunk already, she thought. This will work out just fine tonight.
"Marya, my dear!" Schlesinger exclaimed. "I knew you couldn't stay away too long."
"And why would I even want to, Schlessy darling?" she responded.
"Sit down and join the party, liebchen," he said.
"I thought you would never ask!" Marya exclaimed. She leaned forward and twirled so that she fell sitting on the General's lap. She threw her arms around him and game him a big kiss.
"Why Schlessy, you are happy to see me," she cooed as she wriggled a little on his lap.
Schlesinger laughed heartily and said, "Always, my dear." After a moment, he continued, "I believe you know everyone here already. Freitag, get Marya a chair."
"Yes, General," Major Josef Freitag answered. Freitag was General Schlesinger's aide, but Marya also knew him as Jack, a member of her network.
"Schlessy darling, you don't want me sitting on your lap?" Marya pouted. "It seems to me, you are enjoying it."
One of the officers at the table who was in the middle of taking a drink choked and started coughing. Soon everyone at the table was laughing. Marya looked at Schlesinger, batting her eyelashes innocently.
Freitag returned with another chair, placing it between the chair he was occupying and the General's chair. The rest of the officers at the table moved to accommodate the new addition. Marya, with a showing of great reluctance, got up and sat in the new chair.
Major Freitag motioned to the waiter to bring another glass for Marya, and when it arrived, he filled it with champagne. Marya took a small sip.
"Marya, my dear," Schlesinger said. "You are not in the mood for drinking tonight?"
"Schlessy, darling, I am already drunk with love in your presence," she replied. "Mere champagne cannot compare!"
The General laughed. "Plenty of time for that later, my dear," he responded. "But now, we all drink and have fun!"
Marya took another sip from her glass. Yes, drink up, you swine. If I can help it, this will be the ONLY fun you have tonight. She smiled coyly at Schlesinger as she took another sip.
There was a lot of small talk and laughter around the table. Marya did her best to make sure that the General had at least two glasses of champagne for every one that she had. It wouldn't do for her to get too drunk tonight.
After a while, Marya noticed Count von Waffenschmidt heading towards the table. She smiled inwardly, knowing that she had her fish hooked. Now it was time to play him.
Von Waffenschmidt stopped near the table and cleared his throat. General Schlesinger looked up at the interruption and said, "Ah, von Waffenschmidt! Come, join the party!"
Marya could tell he was hesitating, and added, "Schlessy darling, aren't you going to introduce me to this tall, handsome plaything?" Von Waffenschmidt eyed her curiously, and Marya laughed. She could tell that her aggressiveness was intimidating to him. He's the type that is used to doing the intimidation. Now that the tables are turned, he doesn't know how to handle it! Excellent, she thought.
"Pardon me," Schlesinger responded. "Marya, this is Count von Waffenschmidt."
Before the General could finish the introduction, Marya interrupted, "And I am all yours, Waffie darling." She watched as von Waffenschmidt turned a light shade of red, and glanced over at the General.
"You are too kind, Marya," he forced out. "But I am intruding on your evening with the General."
"Nonsense, Waffenschmidt," Schlesinger bellowed. "Sit!" He beckoned for the waiter to bring another chair for the already crowded table. "Marya has many playmates," Schlesinger continued. "She is a free spirit!" Everyone at the table laughed along with the General.
"Ah, the man knows me so well," cooed Marya. "Is it any wonder why we have so much fun?" She blew a kiss at the General.
When the waiter arrived with the chair, Marya said, "Waffie, sit!" She made a motion towards the chair and then gave him a little nudge in that direction. Von Waffenschmidt let himself sit in the chair that had been placed beside Marya.
"So where have you been all my life, you handsome thing?" Marya asked slyly. Then she laughed and continued, "Ah, what does it matter, you are here now!" She reached over and pinched von Waffenschmidt's cheek. Marya noticed that he still looked a little nervous to be the object of attention of the obvious mistress of his superior. Oh, this is going to be a fun evening, she thought, and laughed again.
The General began telling a story to the other officers, pausing occasionally to take another drink. Marya pulled a cigarette from her case and placed it into her long holder. Turning towards von Waffenschmidt, she said, "Waffie, be a good boy and give me a light." As he held the lighter, she leaned towards him, put her arm around his shoulder and lit her cigarette. She could feel him tense under her touch, and she almost choked on the smoke trying not to laugh at his uneasiness. This is almost too easy, she thought. She leaned back in her chair and winked at him as she blew the smoke into the air.
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After another hour, Marya sensed that the General had had enough to drink. She didn't want him to have too much to drink – at least not yet. I think it's time. I can get Schlesinger upstairs, and with any luck, get away relatively quickly, she thought.
Marya leaned over to the General and began nuzzling his neck. She whispered in his ear that they should go upstairs to his room. Schlesinger's eyes widened and he started nodding his head.
"Gentlemen, if you will excuse us," Schlesinger said as he struggled to stand. "Marya and I have some, uh, business to take care of." He finally managed to stand, but was very wobbly.
Marya stood and grasped his arm. "Please, you make it sound so boring," she cooed. Then she started laughing and loudly said, "Schlessy darling, bore me until I scream!"
The General laughed and tried to kiss her on her cheek, but ended up smacking air. Yes, he is definitely drunk enough, she thought.
Marya waved at the officers who had rose to their feet, and made eye contact with Major Freitag. "Major, I hope to see you again soon," she said. Her expression didn't change, but her eyes indicated the importance of the message.
"I'm sure we will meet again," he replied, taking her hand and giving it a gentlemanly kiss.
Marya then turned to von Waffenschmidt and offered her hand. He took it and said, "Marya, it's been a pleasure."
Marya laughed. "Not yet," she replied, squeezing the General's arm. The Count laughed politely, but Marya could see in his eyes that there was no feeling to it.
"Gentlemen, please, sit down," Schlesinger said. "Do not let me break up the party. Stay and enjoy yourselves."
Marya guided the General through the dining room and to the elevator. He leaned heavily on her and Marya struggled to keep them both from falling. Once they were in his suite and the door closed, he began pawing at her and fumbling with her clothes.
"Schlessy darling, the bedroom," she said softly, indicating the door on the far wall. "Why don't you go in and get comfortable while I make us a drink."
"A grand idea, my dear," Schlesinger replied. "But don't be long!"
Marya laughed. "Of course not, darling," she said and walked over to the liquor cabinet. As she poured the drinks, she heard the General lumber into the bedroom and trip over something. The General started giggling and talking to himself. Marya rolled her eyes. The things I have to do for my country, she thought.
After the drinks were poured, Marya reached into her purse and pulled out a small vial. She took two small tablets from the vial and put them into one of the drinks. After waiting for them to dissolve, she headed towards the bedroom. "Schlessy darling, I am coming. Do not start without me," she said.
The General laughed as she entered the bedroom. "Marya dear, you say the funniest things," he slurred. He had begun to remove his clothes while she was making the drinks.
Marya handed him the spiked drink and said, "A toast to us," she said, holding out her glass. Schlesinger touched his glass to hers a little too hard, and some of the liquid spilled out. The General seemed not to notice, and he downed his drink in one gulp.
Marya smiled broadly. There, you pig. That will keep you for several hours. All I have to do now is to stall until it takes effect. The last thing I want to do tonight is to sleep with you.
She stepped towards him and began to finish undressing him. It was a struggle at first, because all he wanted to do was to paw at her. But in a few moments, he sat down hard on the bed and then fell backwards asleep.
Marya finished undressing him and then struggled to pull him completely onto the bed. Then she rumpled the covers to make it look like there had been a lot of activity. There, you will wake up and think that we had a good time, she thought.
She went to the desk, found a piece of paper and a pen and wrote him a note. She told him how wonderful it was, but had to be going and didn't want to disturb him. Then she added a few things that would inflate his ego, and left the note on the pillow beside him.
On the way out of the bedroom, she stopped and looked back at his naked body lying on the bed. She felt a shiver when she thought of being intimate with the man. A big ego, a big belly, a small mind and a small ... She snorted. Hardly worth mentioning, she thought. She closed the bedroom door and returned to the outer room.
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After about a half hour, Major Freitag entered the room. He looked around quickly and then motioned towards the bedroom door. "Is he in there?" he asked Marya.
Marya nodded. "Da," she replied. "He will be out until the morning."
"Good," he said. "What are your plans now?" Since both of them were Russian, they were speaking in their native language.
"Now that I have von Waffenschmidt's attention, I plan to lead him around for a while," she replied. "Any news from Rastenburg?"
Freitag nodded. "Sam has made contact and has already passed on some information," he responded.
"Very good," she replied. "So if I can keep von Waffenschmidt occupied, our leak will be safe."
"How long do you plan to lead him around?" Freitag asked.
"As long as it takes," she replied. "My hope is that eventually he will want me to stay with him because he will be following me but the information will still be getting to Moscow. When I get to that point, I have another plan in mind to take care of him."
"Kill him?" Freitag asked.
"Not myself," she said. "There's someone I am wanting to see again, and I can play that meeting so that he will help me figure out what to do with the Count."
Marya poured herself a drink from the bottle on the liquor table. "I just need to make sure the time is right," she said, taking a drink. "Sam needs to have time to pass more information. Is von Waffenschmidt still downstairs?"
Freitag nodded as he poured himself a drink. "Da. He is in the bar. You are aware that he is not attracted to your type?" he asked.
Marya laughed. "Da, I am a bit on the feminine side for him," she said. "So there is no Countess?"
"Actually, there is," Freitag responded. "But the marriage is for show."
"Da, it's not good to be open about the Count's preferences in Nazi Germany," Marya replied, finishing the last of her drink. "But he will feign interest so that he can keep an eye on me." She laughed. "And it will be fun to watch him suffer!"
Freitag laughed. "You seemed like you were having fun this evening," he replied. "Just be careful."
"I always am," she replied. "I must be getting downstairs." She motioned towards the bedroom. "Good luck with the great lover!"
Freitag laughed as Marya left.
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As Marya walked towards the bar, she took out a cigarette and put it in her cigarette holder. She saw von Waffenschmidt sitting near the end of the bar, watching her walk towards him. She smiled as she neared and said, "Waffie darling, you are waiting for me, no?"
A genuine look of shock crossed his face and he stammered trying to reply.
Marya laughed heartily. She knew that he was trying to keep an eye on her, but not be obvious about it. "I am flattered," she said. "But I must be leaving now."
She put the cigarette holder in her mouth and leaned forward expectantly. Von Waffenschmidt fumbled to retrieve his lighter and lit her cigarette. She blew the smoke towards von Waffenschmidt and smiled. "Danke darling," she said.
There was silence between them as Marya waited for von Waffenschmidt to speak. She suspected that he was trying to determine the best way to inquire where she was going.
After a few moments, he spoke, "I too must be leaving. It was very nice to meet you, Marya. Perhaps our paths will meet again."
Marya threw her head back and laughed. "And when they do meet, I hope we are in a position to enjoy it!" she exclaimed.
Von Waffenschmidt was silent. Marya stepped closer to him. She reached out her gloved hand and stroked his cheek. He tensed as if he wanted to pull away.
"We will meet again, Waffie darling," she said softly. She ran her fingers under his chin and blew him a kiss. She almost laughed in his face when she saw him wince.
She turned and sauntered out of the bar.