1' Chapter
Sept. 15, '89
It was just after 5 a.m. when the phone rang in the Stetson house.
Lee opened one eye and reached out a hand trying to grab the receiver, unsuccessfully...he leaned a little further , the bed was
finished..he found himself in an instant, belly down on the floor, with a big bang.
Amanda opened her eyes suddenly, looked to her right and saw a hand trying to hoist herself to the sheets to lift herself up.
"Are you all right my dear?"
" Yes more or less, I didn't realize the bed was over..that's all..Ouch."
"Well, if you are still in one piece could you answer the phone before everyone wakes up?"
He got down on all fours and, stretching out his arm lifted the handset while with his other hand he went to feel the bump that was
coming out on his forehead.
"Hellooooo"
"Lee, are you okay?"
" Yes..well more or less. Tell me.
"I know it's very early but I need you right away!"
" Give me time to get dressed and I'll come, are you at the office?"
" We you don't have to come here. Take two things, comfortable... At 7:00 you have a flight to Dresden.
As soon as you arrive you will find TP. he will explain everything to you.
I don't have time to explain. At the Lufthansa counter you will find Brigitte, she has a packet for you in addition to your already made reservation."
"But what happened? - Billy hung up -
"Billy, Billy!!! Dammit." He turned somber.
" But what happened Lee?"
" I have no idea, but from Billy's tone I don't like it...he hung up on me!!!
I have to go a few days, I don't know how many to Dresden...there I will find Tp..that's all he told me.Quickly pack me a duffle bag, few
things he told me comfortable things, I'll take a shower on the fly" He turned to Amanda.
" Oh mamma mia what the hell have you done!!! Let me look at you!!!"
"I don't have time now Amanda..it will pass..it doesn't hurt! - She grazed him, to check the bump -Aw!!!"
"You were saying?"
"Yes ok it hurts, but I don't have time now!" Leaving her, he fled to the shower from where he came out after 5 minutes, dressed in record time, and, descending to the
downstairs, after kicking down a coffee in a nano-second, hugged Amanda, kissed her, and, taking the keys, headed for the Car.
" Be careful honey, and call me, please!"
"Yes Amanda...be safe!"
Turning on the Vette, he set off with a big splash, even taking insults from a lady passing by on the sidewalk with her
little dog.
"Damn...he tells me to take it easy!! he's leaving on a very urgent mission that even he doesn't know about and I shouldn't
worry!!!!"
"Amanda would you be so kind as to explain to me what is going on?"
Amanda, who had not heard her coming behind her jerked.
"Geez Mom, you scared the hell out of me!!! Nothing is going on that Billy called Lee and had to leave
urgently..but I don't know any other details. As soon as he calls me I'll let you know."
" Of course he broke all records this time..calling at 5 a.m. on a Saturday, then!!!"
"I didn't think you heard!"
" And why not, you literally kicked me out of bed!"
"Oh my gosh you too, are you okay?"
"I'm fine honey, I was speaking metaphorically.
Between the phone that wouldn't stop ringing and some kind of thud that I didn't understand what it was, I thought a
revolution!"
" Oh come on, what an exaggeration!!! It was just Lee who missed the handset and ended up long pulled on the floor..you should see that bump, poor thing!"
"I hope you put some ointment on him!"
"but you think so, he's going to the airport, he certainly can't arrive with ointment on his forehead and then you know how much he smells!"
"Airport? why should he go so fast?"
"(There I've talked too much again) Emh...to Germany but I don't know where, but later I'll call Billy and let him tell me, if it will make you feel
quiet ok?"
" Ok, mah! getting worse and worse, in a while he'll call him on Christmas night too!!!"
"Mom!"
Lee reached the airport and arrived at the Lufthansa counter and looked around for the young lady named Brigitte among the stewardesses; she was not
was among the baggage handlers...he began to look around, when a hand brushed his shoulder.-he gasped.
"Lee Stetson, I presume!" he turned to her.
He looked at the name tag and smiled at her.
"Sure. And I imagine you have something for me."
"Not here, come, follow me."
led inside the Lufthansa office and from there into a long hallway.
"Well, enter the men's room, under the third sink, in the cabinet, there is a bag, change. Inside you will find an envelope, take it
take it, hide it in your shirt, keep out only your plane ticket and your new documents,
then go out and catch your flight.
I will be one of the stewardesses... then I will give you new arrival directions. go now."
She didn't hold back and did as Brigitte told her.
She came out with a new look, new connotations and presented herself for boarding.
"Here you go Mr.Schumann, I wish you a safe journey."
He took a seat by the window, single seat, first class. last row; no onlookers would spy on him from behind, that was a
good thing, he thought though, so distinguished he would not go unnoticed.
"The loudspeaker signaled the imminent departure."
He fastened his seatbelt, heard the roll of the engines, and then away, the plane lifted off the ground.
Shortly after the signal indicating that he could unbuckle his seatbelt, he relaxed and waited for events to unfold. He had a slight headache, the
bump on his forehead was now being felt;
he felt a slight sense of nausea, tried to close his eyes but it seemed to increase, so he opened his eyes again and found her at
his side.
"Are you all right Mr. Schumann? You have a great big bump, if you would like to come to the infirmary I could arrange to medicate you and maybe I could
give you something to be able to get some rest."
- she winked at him
"I think you're right miss. I would have liked to do this at home but I would have risked missing my flight -he stood up -please I will follow you"
"Come."
He left the station; the file was still tucked under his shirt.
They reached the infirmary.
" Go ahead Clarice, I'll take care here; there are the courses to be prepared for lunch, 10 minutes and I'll join you"
" All right Brigitte, see you later," said the attractive young hostess as she left and closed the door behind her, whereupon Brigitte closed
with a jerk the door that soundproofed the venue.
"She is one of us, don't worry, she will help us in Dresden!"
" Will you explain to me what this is all about and .
something about you, maybe! Billy told me I can trust you but ..."
" Let me talk ..I am German, on father's side, his name is Otto Von Klauster, he is a chief agent of the mfs and I had years ago
joined the militia then my father fell in love with one of his "colleagues" and had my mother killed. ah she was American. I never
forgiven her; I found out about the plot by accident and I've been playing a double game ever since. My father thinks I don't know anything and I pretend to be
still on his side even though, with the work I do, I only asked him for surveillance duties, fake of course.
You needn't fear, I won't betray you; for years I have been an important pawn for Billy."
" Yes okay but the mission...what is it about?"
" I was getting to that."
" Through, Steven, a good friend of mine, also on our side, who lives in Berlin, and works at Stasi, I learned that tomorrow in Dresden
will arrive two agents , one in his mid-40s, high-ranking, the other a little younger but already an influential Russian scion whose job is to
deliver to some Russian emissaries, the list of prisoners held at the Stasi and other centers with all the maps and treatments in order to
arrange exchanges and also the list of American agents who are in the sights of the mfs (Ah I'm afraid you are in that one too) plus a
list of new German and Russian agents and operatives on DDR territory."
Lee winced - " Well if you think I'm on that list don't you think it's dangerous to show up in the area?"
"That's why I gave you new documents and disguise.so you can move around without arousing suspicion."
"So the mission is to retrieve those documents..but how?"
"We know the place where they are to meet and Clarice and I will act as a diversion.
When we arrive in Dresden there will be TP waiting for you, I will join you as soon as I can and we will plan everything precisely. Now go
go back that way. There, the dressing is done, a nice patch so there will be no doubt about your departure.Ah post 46 be
be careful..he's one of the mfs.When I saw him come up, my blood froze."
"Why?"
"You see your identity, you are Micháel Schumann.
and that's Klaus Bremer, a "your" fellow at Humboldt in Berlin (medical school) By the way you know you look a lot like
Schumann! That's why we wanted you."
"Well it is said that in the world each of us has seven look-alikes. I hope this likeness can work in my favor and not against."
"Listen I wrote down two important things if it should bother you; stop by the restroom before you go sit down and read them, ah you
called Panzer."
What if he stops me before reading them?
" Don't worry now he is sleeping like an angel, I put a sedative in his drink."
" But you are a little devil! But by the way
how do you know all these things?" (pointing to the two-page report)
" I was his girlfriend and I know a lot about it."
"Well, I thank you."
I won't give you anything to sleep, you'd better stay alert"
"thank you"
He went out and returned to his station, after stopping in the bathroom to study the two small pages left for him by Brigitte.
Klaus meanwhile was sound asleep,.
It was now 11:30 a.m. Amanda, despite her attempts in the morning, still had not been able to contact Billy at the agency.
Dotty, in the kitchen, was preparing her meatloaf.
"Amanda, dear, still no news?"
" No, Mom. on Saturdays he is not so easy to find, you know.
Even if he were at the agency, he doesn't always answer and the secretary doesn't work on Saturday mornings (she invented on the spur of the moment)."
by now it's almost noon though, I might try to call him at home, at the very least I'll tell Janet to have him call me!"
" Here,yes good idea. The man has no sensibility. Why didn't he go there if it was really important?"
" You know mom, he is the office manager and it is normal that he delegates certain missions to his employees, besides the fact that he is a manager and
certain types of work are done by the specialized staff."
"And, tell me, what would be his specialization? Frontline ..since he often comes back hinged!!!?"
" Ufffff... well you know how some things go!! anyway you also know that since it is a government job, it is covered by secrecy, so
you can't say anything, even to close relatives - he managed with difficulty to unravel the situation - Well now I'll call Janet, with permission,
Mom."
" I understand my dear, I'll go up and change, the meatloaf and potatoes are in the oven...I guess you want some privacy right?"
Amanda rolled her eyes and flashed the best smile that could come out, blushing.
She picked up the handset and dialed the number
"Hello..."
"Janet, good morning, this is Amanda."
"Oh good morning dear, what a nice surprise,
tell me all about it."
"Actually I need to speak to Billy, is he home?"
Billy at her side waved her off but after a dirty look from his wife he picked up the phone.
"Good morning Amanda, I just got in, tell me, did something happen? Are you not well?"
" Billy!!! I've been trying to reach you all morning..."
"I'm sorry, you're right..but I've been in a meeting and just finished a little while ago. I guess you want to ask me about Lee's mission!
Actually I know very little except that, at 3 o'clock, Blue Leader pulled me out of bed and intimated that I should call Brigitte, an ns agent
who acts between the U.S. and DDR, and when I called her she told me that she needed Lee and that only he could carry out that
mission but that's all she told me.She gave me the flight directives, that's all.Believe me I'm sorry I can't tell you more but I know that Lee,
for the duration of the mission he won't be able to get in touch with anyone, neither with me nor with you. so rest assured if you don't
hear."
"You tell me how I can stay quiet!!!"
" I know, but, believe me, it must be something really important if it's coming from Blue Leader. You can tell your mother that it is a
mission in an impassable area in the mountains where there is no service and that(if all goes well-but don't tell her that) she will be back in a few
days."
"Will you promise to keep me informed if you know anything?"
"Sure Amanda, although I doubt there will be contact, we have to trust him and TP. Goodbye Amanda.I have to go now, I have people for
lunch."
" Oh yes, but yes, of course" He hung up.
"Oh Lee, God bless you, please be careful!" she said to herself, biting her lower lip, as she always did when she was in
apprehension.
Fortunately Dotty was still upstairs.
It was no more than a couple of hours before landing and Klaus woke up, looked at his watch.
" Damn, that's not like me, how did I sleep all this time.He got up to go to the restroom, looked around, saw him and
changed direction.He caught up with Lee
" Micháel, what a surprise!"
"Look at you, Panzer!!! is it really you? Long time no see!!!"
" Well not much longer either, you're losing it my friend! We met 6 months ago at the party at Korinne's!"
He was trying to remember but nothing about that event was marked in the notes.
" Oh yeah right! what a party!"
" I guess that blow to the head made you lose your memory a little, my friend!
Say did you ever see her again?" the plane at that moment had a jolt
The Speaker intervened to help him.
" This is your commander speaking;
we are passing through a low pressure field, all passengers are requested to take their seats and fasten their
seatbelts, Thank you."
" Well let's continue later Micháel," he trailed off.
" Sure, see you later..phew, saved in the corner."
he buckled up" and looking to his left he saw Brigitte.
"Don't worry, everything is going well, I didn't know about this reunion." "Okay but let's try to slip away as soon as we land, I'm not attracted to the
the idea of being in the way."
The turbulence continued all the way to Dresden to the point that the pilot had to circle the airspace one more time before getting the okay for
landing, which was , by the way, rather abrupt.
"Uh! Finally stop "he said as he looked at hoBrigitte.
" You're looking a little bleached, super agent!!! Are you okay??"
"Yes all right. The blow to the head must have made me a little nauseous, but I'm okay now!"
"Yeah, sure, let's go! Ah let's do one thing, you go straight out, I'll take your luggage, Come out this way, he's already in line for
the other exit. may be he is waiting for you, try to cut the cord."
"Okay."
He started down the long aisle, at a fast pace, took his mirror from his pocket...he could see him in the distance, stuck in the traffic of
passengers trying to make his way through."
"Hey Micháel are you in a rush? Catch you around! tonight if you want I'm at the Red Rooster, we can have a beer."
"Yeah maybe, let's see! Sorry but I have an appointment now and I'm late!"
He exited the airport and found TP as directed.
Klaus, secretly had followed him and, seeing TP took some pictures.
"Something doesn't sit right with me about him, never would Micháel have treated me with such indifference...I have to find out what's up."
He headed for the baggage claim room where he found Brigitte about to unload her suitcase from the belt.
" Can I give you a hand?"
" No, thank you, I have the cart here!"
" Ah but ... all your stuff??"
" Sure ..and whose is it supposed to be?"
" Mah I thought that ..since he didn't pick up anything, that that was Michael's!"
"So what if it was?"
"Well, he would have told me, we've been friends for many years! But maybe ... the fact that he ran away quickly ..."
" Don't get paranoid Klaus! We're not together, he's just a friend, he was in a hurry, and he asked me to pick it up for him, then I'll take it to him!"
" If you want I'll take it to him!" he said, taking the handle of Lee's suitcase."
Brigitte immediately put herself between him and the suitcase, lest he read any of it, his name
on some forgotten nameplate.
"No, I'll do it, don't worry!"
"Gee, you've gone icy on me, you used to be so accepting!"
"Sure, at one time, before you left me to
fling yourself into Annelise's arms!"
" I apologized to you!"
" And I forgave you, but forgiveness does not mean forgetting! And now if you don't mind, give me your hand, I'm in a hurry!"
" Sure, please."
He left.
It was now almost evening
Klaus reached the first pay phone and, putting in the coins, dialed the number.
Mrs. Schumann good morning. this is Klaus
Is Micháel at home?
"Oh hello Klaus. no, Micháel should be back tomorrow from Washington. He was supposed to have already left but they held him up at the airport
because of a passport problem. If you call him tomorrow night, maybe you can find him."
"Ah ok. Thank you. See you soon!"
He hung up!
"Gee, who's that then?
I have to warn right away ...!!!
Why would anyone want to take his identity?"
I'll go get the photos developed and see who our friends are!!!
A little later outside the Red Rooster
"Are you sure they are coming tonight?"
"Schröder told me so, Lee."
" Well Brigitte, Tp let's go inside, remember all the steps, let's hope Klaus doesn't show up, I wouldn't want him to ruin our plans!"
They reached the bar counter
" Hei Harold!"
" Brigitte!!! more and more beautiful! What can I give you?"
" I need a favor. -She showed him two pictures-.
We will sit on 2. when they arrive have them sit on 1."
"Who are they? if you don't mind me asking?"
"They are spies (said in a whisper) They have hot material that I absolutely must retrieve. so I recommend you do as I
told you."
"Sure doll, for you this and more."
"Oh one more thing, maybe we'll mess up, as soon as my friend beckons you (pointing to TP) send your men to block the two
of the pictures, hold them here so the three of us can leave undisturbed."
"Count on it baby doll..you know you look more and more like your mother..you look wonderful!
Do you still see your father?"
" No, don't mention him to me, you know how I think of him
"Don't worry sweetheart, you know I would do anything for you, I never could stand those arrogant dummies, you made the right choice,
my darling."
"Well, there's Clarice's signal..they're coming."
They took their seats at the small tables and waited for the two spies to arrive.
Henrik and Vladimir entered the club and reached the bar counter.
"Good evening gentlemen, what can I serve you?"
" Do you have a free table? a bit secluded,if possible!"
" We have the one over there nr.1 is the most secluded, you're lucky, it has recently opened up and tell me what can I get you?"
"For me a beer and for my friend a vodka, nice and cold in a chilled glass."
"We will be with you in a little while, if you would like to have a seat."
"Thank you."
Henrik, who was the eldest, held the briefcase tightly in his fist and, upon reaching the small table, laid it under the table, clutched between his
legs.
They let the order come then Lee, with a gesture of his head, gave the signal.
Clarice, who was a breathtakingly beautiful girl in a skimpy dress, reached Henrik's table and sat down next to him.
Brigitte took a seat next to Vladimir.
The two looked at the girls and smiled.
" Beauties, not tonight, We are working and waiting for a friend," Vladimir said.
" Clarice put a hand on Henrik's shoulder.
" Give just 10 minutes, will you offer me something?"
" Okay just 10 minutes, what do you want?"
" A small beer, okay, or if you want we drink together from yours."
"That would be interesting but ... " he called the waiter with a wave of his hand and had the beer brought to him. He drank it greedily.
"Hey honey take it easy I don't want to have to take you out drunk."
Clarice put one leg on top of Henrik's while with her hands she began to seek physical contact with his chest.
Brigitte was trying to do the same even though the young Russian was a little colder, although she was smiling.
At that very moment Lee and TP stood up,
moved to the right, and TP, raising his voice after Lee had poured beer on him, began to insult Lee
and punched him in the cheekbone, which landed him right under the two spies' table.
The glasses tipped over and the girls,startled, backed away.
Lee took a second to exchange the briefcases, despite being handcuffed to Henrik's arm and, immediately, security officers from the
arrived at the table. Harold also arrived.
" Stop stop stop, what's going on?
"Our friends have had a little too much to drink,"
Henrik said.
"Guards take them out. ..And don't let me see you around here again..Excuse me gentlemen,
I'll bring you back another drink each, don't worry.
I will now send someone to clean the table."
They were about to leave the club when Klaus
entered with three other officers.
"There they are, that's them get them, they are American spies! I want them alive, especially Scarecrow!!!"
" Damn it's Klaus, something went wrong! I wasn't believable enough Brigitte"
"No Lee, you acted well., but we were fooled by one particular!!! The height, Micháel, played basketball in college, is almost 2 meters"
"Ah That's it! small detail but very significant"
"Hey, Harold, the keys, quick," said Brigitte.
"Here they are!"
" This way guys"
" they went back and , opened a back door, squeezed into Harold's Jeep, while bullets roamed the air around them"
"Quick, quick..Lee faster!!!"
"stay down with your heads."
The rear crystal shattered and Clarice was met by a large shrapnel in the neck.
"Noooo, Clarice!!!!! Please don't die my friend!"
" I, I...have done my part...you ..you try to save yourself. go to runway 6 a private plane is waiting for you!" He exhaled.
"Lee, airport, runway 6, quick...nooo Clarice!!!"
Meanwhile, the car had been flagged down and MfS agents were desperately trying to track them down.
"We have to change cars, Lee, turn right.
Here's where we hide the jeep."
"Lee take that we're not going to be conspicuous. It belongs to a friend of mine, but he is in jail now, It has an engine underneath that will surprise you.
I will then send someone to get Clarice, she is dead anyway, let's go."
Proceeding slowly so as not to arouse suspicion, and by side avenues, they arrived at runway 6, Loading their stuff and briefcase
they took off.
" Marcus go to Salzburg, from there we can leave safely"
"Ok Brigitte"
"Ah Marcus do you have a first aid kit here?"
" Sure look in that compartment"
" Hey Lee I guess I'll have to be a
Red Cross."
" Yeah..Good thing TP I told you not to hit hard."
" Well! I had to be credible."
"Yeah..credible ok, but it's not like you had to smash my cheekbone...Ouch take it easy, it hurts!
"Oh come on now, don't complain, at least you're still alive!!!
"I feel sorry for Clarice, believe me!"
" Thank you Lee..that's it done, you don't even need stitches, you did well, it will heal soon!"
" Well Lee, let's open the case."
"There they are! Uh! that's some hot stuff,
look!"
" Look here Lee, it's even got your name on it!"
" I'll tell you, Brigitte, that doesn't surprise me at all. but I guess yours will be on it from now on!!! How do you think your father will take it?"
"" I don't care, we haven't spoken in years anyway."
"and..., tell me something Brigitte, what was in the briefcase we left him?"