The Cave Affair Raid Chapter 7

Hauptmann Dietrich was stunned. The last person he thought he'd see was Sergeant Troy. He picked up his three cards and placed them in his pocket. Checking his watch, time to meet the Sergeant on the roof.

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Troy was shocked, Dietrich? Rommel's golden boy, his contact? This mission just gets better and better. He turned as he heard heavy booted foot steps behind him.

"Captain,why?" Troy looked at him, thinking he could read the why in he face.

"Nazi's, I don't like the way they are ruining my country. I had to have a way to stop them." Han's looked down, kicking his foot among the rocks.

"I'll keep your secret. " Troy said, holding out his hand for Dietrich to shake. Dietrich took it smiling.

"So, Sergeant what is this about?"

"I have orders to contact you about this mission. Protecting Miss Mercer while she is looking for that Isis Knot."

" I do not see a problem, as I have orders to get her to find it. How do I contact you?"

"You can't, I will contact you in two days. Same as we did today, downstairs, same time." Troy looked at his watch, "I better get downstairs, Moffitt will be looking for me." With that Troy walked to the stairs and disappeared.

Hauptmann Dietrich sat on the bench, placing his head in his hands and began to pray. Pray that he was doing the right thing.

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Michaela came through the curtain seeing Captain Dietrich speaking with an Arab.

The man looked familiar, but she could not place him. Glancing back at the Captain, she noted him slipping a card into his pocket. A playing card? What is going on here?

The Arab nodded at Dietrich stood up and walked out the door without looking back. Michaela stood there, just watching, noting that the Captain looked nervous. Seeing him stand, she stepped back behind the curtain. Once she heard the door close, she went into the bar.

"Well young lady what have you been up to?" Michaela jumped at the sound of Jack's voice.

"I was going to check on Marie to see if she had anything that needed done."

"Ah, Marie is doing well, I just talked to her. Do you have any more clues as to where El Guettan is?"

"No, even the old chart I found does not have it. I'd like to go to Sardi's and look around, maybe he has a chart or notes where it might be. But I don't want to go alone."

The bell above the door jingled as Troy came in. "Moffitt, we need to get back."

"Michaela was just telling me, she needs to go to Sardi's shack. She does not want to go alone. " Moffitt looked at her with a grin.

Troy looked at them both, "We need to get back to the cave. How about another day?"

Michaela looked surprised, "I guess it will be alright."

Troy started out the back, "Come on Moffitt."

"We'll be back. Stay safe", Moffitt touched her face and followed Troy out the back door.

She did not like it one bit. "It can't wait. I have to find those charts." Making her way out the front door. Michaela walked to her truck, just as her hand touched the latch, a hand grabbed her arm.

"Fraulein, were are you going?"

Holding back a scream, Michaela turned to face Hauptmann Dietrich. "I... I... I was going to Sardi's shack. He was a old man who told me many stories of ancient Egypt. He was killed a few days ago. I was hoping to find among his stash of papers some old charts."

''I see. Before you go, I need to talk to you. Shall we go to my office?"

Michaela was still shaking after the scare, thoughts of Gruber filled her head. Nodding her head she followed the Captain.

Once at his office, he gave Bauer orders to bring some refreshments and not to be disturbed. The korporal nodded and rushed off to follow the orders given him.

"Please sit, Fraulein Mercer." Dietrich indicated towards a chair near his desk. "I need to ask you a few questions if you do not mind."

"Certainly Herr Hauptmann. What would you like to know?" to stop her hands from shaking Michaela clutched at the folds of her skirt.

"I understand you have knowledge of ancient Egypt and especially of the Isis Knot." Dietrich walked behind and sat at his desk and began to search though his papers.

Michaela was surprised, she didn't think this was what he was going to talk to her about. "Yes, I do. Actually my mother was the expert. She died trying to find the last temple of Isis." Her shaking subsided, this was it. She knew what was going to happen next. It was all falling into place.

"Fraulein, I have orders to enlist your help in finding that knot." Finding the paper he was looking for, handed it to Michaela. "Do you know were to find it Fraulein?"

Looking at the orders Michaela looked back at Dietrich, "No, I don't. I have been doing research on it and have narrowed down the area it could be in. Frankly Captain, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack." Standing and handing the orders back, "That is why I was going to Sardi's.

"I see. Are you willing to work with me in finding this Isis Knot?" Noting that she nodded her head yes, he continued. "Good, after some refreshments, I'll escort you to Sardi's shack and help you find what you need."

"Danke, Herr Hauptmann. I appreciate it." Michaela sat back down just as the Corporal brought in the tray.

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