Berlin, Safe House
July 21, 1944, 0945 hours

Wagner walked slowly up the walk of the house. He looked around quickly before giving the coded knock on the door. After a moment, the door opened and he was waved inside.

"We have been expecting you," a man said. "I am Gerhardt Lang."

Wagner looked around the room and saw two other men. "Is it just the three of you?" he asked. Lang nodded. "What do you know?"

"We know that you need to get out of Berlin," Lang replied. "And we also know that we are to give you any help you need."

Wagner sighed. "One of the big problems is that I don't know everything I need yet," he commented.

"Have you been out all night?" Lang asked.

Wagner nodded. "I have been making some arrangements," he replied. "And there are more to be made."

"You will stay here and rest," Lang said.

Wagner shook his head. "I will stay here for the moment," he replied. "But I have other arrangements to make and other people to meet." He thought for a moment. "One thing I need from you is to watch."

"Watch?" Lang asked.

"There is a man and a woman who need to leave with me," Wagner explained. "But right now they cannot travel. I need you to watch the flat they are staying in. If someone comes and takes them, you will need to stop them."

"Someone?" Lang asked. "I do not like the sound of that."

"There is no reason you should," Wagner replied. "I was referring to the SS. Do you have weapons?"

Lang nodded. "We have guns," he replied. "We can prevent them from being taken."

"Good," Wagner replied. "One other thing you should know … there will be another group that may come to take them away. They are working with me."

"How will we be able to identify this group?" Lang asked.

"One of them is Smersh," Wagner replied. "I will tell you the identification code that will be used. You will allow them to take the couple."

Lang nodded. "I understand," he replied.

Wagner stayed long enough to tell them the information they needed. He stressed the point that the identification code was to be given before anyone could take the couple away – and that they should not be surprised by who used the code. He gave them Heidi's address and a quick description of both her and Teppel before he left. Lang gave his assurance that they would make sure the couple stayed safe.

As Wagner left the house though, he was not so sure that these three men could stand up to a team of SS guards.