Author's Note: Nimrod's identity will be revealed at the end of the story.

Switzerland April 1968

Hochstetter had finally calmed down after learning how indebted he was to Hogan and that he really was Papa Bear. Since he and Angie hadn't eaten all day, she prepared some soup while he made them sandwiches. Sitting down at the table they began to eat and then he asked her about the master spy.

"How is it you know Nimrod? He was the greatest mystery of the war," he shook his head in almost disbelief. How blind was he that he was sleeping with a woman who knew both major spies? Or was she just out of his league when it came to being a mole? "Why would he keep my location a secret?"

"Nimrod," Angie laughed and as her head turned her hair swung loosely about her shoulders. It was a laugh he hadn't heard in ages and loved. "We grew up together, living a couple of streets over from each other. He's two of years older than I am, and always been my biggest supporter and greatest co-conspirator. In school, we'd both got into trouble for our pranks. Sometimes I'd come up with the jokes and he'd carry them out, other times it was vice-versa. I actually came up with his code name in the seventh grade. We came from poor families and attended the local state schools. His mum worked two jobs most of the time and his father was a toe-rag," Angie gave an involuntary shutter remembering that man.

"My father worked at the factory and mum did house cleaning for the wealthy, so we were better off than he was. Mum was working for this new family who had so much food it was just lying around. One day I went with her and spotted the most beautiful apples I'd ever seen, so I snuck one off the table and hid it in my coat for Nimrod. The Duchess of the house caught me and told me if I wanted to eat one, I was welcomed to a piece of fruit. I told her it was for my friend, and how he'd often go without eating to allow his younger siblings to have full stomachs. She put four apples in a bag and told me to bring him by the next day because she wanted to meet him. Well, it turned out that her husband was a powerful person within MI-5 and he took a liking to Nimrod and I. Working for them we learned about the finer things in life and our natural talent for that line of work. He recruited us into the field and probably saved our lives. Otherwise, we'd most likely just been another couple of Yardies lost in the backstreets of London." Her mind wondered back to the time Nimrod agreed to keep the secret of Hochstetter's whereabouts as she continued to tell the story.

The twins were on summer break from school and Angie had finally agreed to let them get a dog, so they went to the local pound and picked out an English setter puppy about four months of age. She knew Wolfie and Lisal had enough energy to keep up with the dog and they were known for being excellent with children. When she phoned her old friend Nimrod about the new pup, he agreed to come by and build a doghouse for them. Early the next Saturday morning, he showed up with an arm full of lumber and plans for the house. Young Wolfie and Lisal were all over their favorite uncle the moment he walked in the house.

"Come see our new puppy!" Lisal pulled at his arm with great excitement.

"I will luv, just let me put down the supplies. Now Wolfie, I'm gonna need your help with this dog house. I have the wood here and in the back of the car is a bag with nails in it and the plans. Would you be a good lad and go bring it in?" Nimrod asked his favorite nephew. Wolfie ran out of the house and was back with the items in a moment's time. "Well now let me see this puppy, isn't he adorable. What name have you picked out for him?" He asked as the mostly white dog with black markings came over wagging his tail and wanting attention.

"His name is Bear cause he loves to growl and play," Lisal answered petting her new pet.

"Wolfie, why don't you, Lisal, and Bear take the supplies out back? I'll be there in a few moments; I need to speak with your mum." Their uncle requested and the twins started moving stuff out.

"What's up?" Angie asked catching the look in her friend's eyes that it was something serious. They walked into her office and closed the door so the children wouldn't overhear their conversation.

"I have some information on Hochstetter and wanted to tell you before he was arrested," Nimrod informed her as he pulled out a newspaper clipping that he'd found while on his last mission.

Taking the article she quickly read it, "You don't know this is him from the article."

"Yes, I do. I went out there to make sure and saw him. I was planning to bring him in next month on my next trip to that region. I promised you a long time ago that I'd find him and I have. Now he has to stand trial for his crimes. I'm sorry it's just taken me this long to locate him for you. I didn't want you to be caught off-guard."

"Why?"

"Why what?" he asked not sure where she was going with the question.

"Why bring him in at all, after all this time? Why not just let him stay where he is, he's not causing any trouble to anyone," the look in her eye was of protection for Hochstetter.

"Are you bleeding kidding me? You know he's on the list to be located. Wait…how long have you known that he's been there?" Nimrod finally understood she'd been hiding his whereabouts.

"Hunter, please I won't tell you what to do, but does it really matter?" Angie asked not about to back down. Angie was the only person in the world he'd let call him Hunter, which is what Nimrod meant. She had started it in school proclaiming him the greatest hunter and con-man in all of London.

"After everything he did to Hogan and his men, you even have to ask that? Angie, I don't understand. What the hell has gotten into you?" Nimrod threw his hands up in disgust. He had a personal score to settle with Hochstetter and he wasn't about to let him get away.

"He's the father of my children and I can't turn him in. I didn't know exactly where he was until Rob told me a few of years ago. You're going to have to make your own decision, but Rob has agreed to let him remain there to protect Wolfie and Lisal as long as he doesn't cause any more trouble."

"You mean to tell me that Hogan knows where Hochstetter has been all this time and hasn't done a damn thing about it? I can't believe this, have you both gone off your rockers?" Nimrod threw his arms up and then walked over to the bar and poured himself a drink. "Give me one damn good reason for me not to throw his arse in prison."

"I'll give you three, primarily for Lisal and Wolfgang's protection. They'd be stigmatized if it comes out who their father really is and…because I love him. I know you don't understand and I don't expect you too. I'll respect whatever you decide to do and I won't try to stop you," Lisal reached over and took his hand into hers.

Nimrod put a hand on the side of her face looking deep into her eyes, "I always kinda thought it would be me and you, luv."

"My precious friend, I will always be here for you no matter what. I love you like a sister does a brother, but we both know I'm not the woman for you. You should marry Janet. She loves you and you love her. The better woman has won your heart and should be your primary concern," Lisal's soft blue eyes penetrated deep within his soul.

"I see no other choice than to turn Hochstetter in. How are you going to feel when he's brought before the courts? I'd do anything for you luv, but I can't do this," Nimrod's head was spinning with what he'd heard. To himself he thought, 'I can't say the better man has won your heart.'

"I won't stop you, and I'll survive," Lisal answered hoping he would change his mind.

Neither knew the third person listening in on their conversation from the vent. Wolfie knew he had to protect his mother and had gained more knowledge about his father. He'd find a way to get that article out of his uncle's pocket and read it, and then he'd have his name and location. He'd become a pretty good pick pocket in his eight years of life. Knowing how to see where the article was being kept, he jumped up and ran to the door of the den opening it without knocking. "We've got everything set up. Are you ready?" He jumped up and down excited to see his uncle put the paper in his coat pocket, the coat stayed in the den while they went outside to work on the doghouse.

Angie watched Nimrod with her kids as he showed them how to measure and cut the wood. Bear jumped around enthusiastically trying to be in the middle of the excitement. All were laughing and Nimrod was so good with the kids. She couldn't ask for a better friend. Whatever the next few weeks brought, she knew he'd stand beside her the entire time.

After a couple of hours work, Lisal came inside to help her mum bake cookies and Wolfie took the time to sneak into the den where he copied down the information he needed. Now that his sister wasn't out there, he could have a man to man talk to his uncle.

"Are you and mum ever going to get married?" Wolfie asked innocently as Nimrod took a drink of his lemonade causing him to nearly choke on it.

"What do you mean to each other or someone else?" He asked coughing out the last of the drink from his lungs.

"Either or both," Wolfie looked up at him with big eyes.

"You're mum and I are more like brother and sister, but I've been thinking of asking someone to marry me recently. However, you're gonna have to wait until she says yes before I say who it is," he winked at his nephew.

"Mum loved our dad. She says he was very brave fighting in the war and fought hard to save the country. I wish mum and dad could have gotten married, it would've made her happy. I don't want anyone to do anything to make my mum sad," Wolfie looked over the doghouse at his uncle deadpanning him in the eyes.

"Yes, your mum did love him a lot, but it's up to your mum who she marries. We just have to be there for her until she finds a man deserving of her love," he answered impressed by the cunning of the young con-artist. He wasn't sure if Wolfie wanted him to marry Angie or someone else, but it was a pleasure watching those young wheels turn.

"My dad had to be a great man for my mum to love him. She tells us stories of his heroics in the war. Only there's always a sadness when she talks about him cause she misses him so much. It makes me mad that he didn't marry mum before dying," Wolfie stated as he pounded a nail into the structure they were working on.

Nimrod swallowed hard before answering, Hochstetter a good man? Hardly. But he couldn't say that to Wolfie, sometimes love never makes sense. A life's lesson he'd learn in time. "Well I'm sure they had their reasons. Besides he gave your mum his love and you and your sister, and that's the best any man can hope to give the woman he loves," he answered.

"As the man of the house, it's my job to protect mum and Lisal. I can't let anything cause harm to either of them. I'm old enough to take care of myself, but they need someone to watch over them," Wolfie said with great seriousness.

"That you are, but even the man of the house needs friends and allies. That's why you have six uncles that would do anything to help you protect the ladies," Nimrod smiled at the determination he saw in the boy.

"So, you're saying you wouldn't ever do anything that would cause my mum to be upset or hurt?" Wolfie watched his uncle with a raised eye.

"I've been your mum's friend since we were younger than you and your sister. I've never done anything in all that time to cause her harm and I'm not about to start now," Nimrod replied and started to think about his decision to turn Hochstetter over to the authorities. If Hogan had known for years and hadn't done anything, then maybe he should also turn a blind eye. Angie's concerns were valid and he'd long ago taken an oath to always protect her and the children. As far as he could tell, Hochstetter was living out a quiet existence and without the love of his family. That was a prison sentence in itself.

They finished the doghouse with Bear's help, and the ladies were going to paint it the next day. Later that evening after the children were put to bed, Nimrod told Angie that as long as Hogan didn't see a need to bring in Hochstetter, he'd also leave him where he was.

Hochstetter stood up in utter amazement that two of the most notorious spies in German's history plotted to protect him, but more importantly they protected his family. It was a lot to take in and he needed some time to think so he went out to chop some more firewood.