Berlin, Outside the Flat of Heidi Kaufmann
July 21, 1944, 1825 hours

Heidi rounded the corner of her building and stopped in her tracks – there was a small group of SS men standing in front of her building. She thought quickly – should she run away? Where would she run to? Had they been inside and found Hans?

One of the guards saw here standing there and motioned for the officer. He turned and saw her. "Fraulein Kaufmann," he said waving her over. "Come here."

It was too late to run. She walked slowly and nervously to where the men were standing. She recognized the officer as the one who had questioned her earlier in the Brauhaus.

"I hope you do not mind, but we would like to take a look at your flat," he said in a tone that told her that they would search even if she minded.

"Of course," she said. "Follow me." I hope Hans keeps quiet! She walked up the steps and into the building. When she unlocked the door, several of the guards pushed her aside and rushed into the room.

When Heidi entered, the officer put his hand on her shoulder and said, "I am afraid I am going to ask you to stay right here."

Heidi nodded nervously and watched as the guards proceeded to upend the rooms of her flat. They went through every drawer, dumping the contents onto the floor. From where she was standing, she could see them rifle through her wardrobe, depositing her clothes in a heap on the floor. They overturned the mattress on the bed – even slitting it open to feel through the inside.

She held her breath as they went through the bureau that sat in front of the niche where Hans was hiding. She hoped they would not move the piece of furniture and find the hiding place.

After what seemed like hours, the guards finished their search. They made a negative gesture towards the officer, who motioned for them to leave the flat.

"I am sorry, Fraulein Kaufmann," he said. "We had to be sure that you were telling us the truth."

Heidi was angry – angry at the guards for destroying her home – angry at Hans for getting her into this situation – and angry at the war for making life this terrible. She glanced around the room with a look of disgust. "And now I have one more thing to hate Hans Teppel for," she said.

The officer nodded his head. "We will find him," he said as he left the flat.

- - - - -

Heidi watched from her window as the SS men left. When she was sure they had gone, she closed and bolted her door and drew the curtains. She pushed the bureau away from the wall and yanked off the paneling covering the hiding niche. "Come out here and look what they did to my home!" she said angrily.

Teppel climbed out slowly, blinking his eyes at the brightness of the room. When his eyes had adjusted, he looked around in shock. "Heidi, I am sorry," he said.

"You are sorry?" she cried. "My life is in danger, my home is wrecked and all you say is that you are sorry?"

Teppel was quiet, not knowing what he could say.

"You are not going to say anything else?" she demanded.

"What else can I say?" he said. "I am truly sorry that this has happened. I never wanted any harm to come to you, but …"

"But what?" she asked. "But we spent all that time together telling each other about our lives and I find out that yours is a made up tale?"

"Heidi, please," Teppel said. "You must believe me. I love you and never wanted to hurt you."

"Nein!" she said angrily. "No more words – I do not know if I will be able to believe them."

Teppel looked at the angry woman. His heart felt heavy. "Would you like me to leave?" he asked.

"Leave?" she sputtered. "The damage is already done! If you leave, they will still come after me!"

Teppel knew Heidi was right. She was not safe anymore – she would have to leave with him. "Heidi, it will only be another day or two and we will be able to leave."

"And then what?" she said. "I leave the only life I have ever known … for what? A bunch of lies?"

Teppel sighed. He knew she was right to be angry, and it hurt him deeply to see her like this. "Heidi," he said.

"Hans, please do not talk to me tonight," she said and stomped into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her.