Chapter 12 Another Shock

730 Zulu, Monday, July 28, 1981, US Embassy, Bonn

Maria arrives at work committed to trying to bluff her way through the difficulty caused by Leon’s seeing her with Klaus in Dortmund after she told Leon she was through with Klaus. She had a dreadful train ride back from Dortmund thinking all her plans to be with Klaus were now destroyed. By the time she got to her apartment she decided to invent a story to explain why she was with Klaus. She went for long walks alone on Saturday and Sunday thinking of story after story.

Maria couldn’t concentrate on developing a plausible story during her walks. She kept coming back to whether she was doing the right thing by committing to Klaus. Already it led to her lying to Leon, which made her uncomfortable. Klaus having secrets he wasn’t willing to share kept giving her doubts. She finally concluded her love for Klaus was the most important thing. She believed if she didn’t stay with Klaus she might never find another man who would make her as happy. If loving Klaus caused her to do some things she wasn’t comfortable with it was worth it as long as no one got hurt.

By Sunday evening she decides on her story. When she arrives at work she goes straight to Leon’s office to face the music head on. She is shocked when she gets there. His office door is open; Jack and several others are there with long faces and speaking in low tones.

Maria enters Leon’s office and inquires, “What’s wrong?”

Jack turns to her with a very sad face and replies, “Leon was killed in an auto accident on Saturday.”

Several emotions flash over Maria before she can speak. First is sadness as Leon has been a friend as well as her boss and mentor. Then she feels relief; maybe he hadn’t been able to tell anyone of seeing her with Klaus. Finally, she replies, “Oh no.” And after a short pause, “How did it happen, Jack?”

“Leon was in Dortmund seeing a possible target and on the way back to Bonn when we believe his car was run off the road by another vehicle. Either that or Leon fell asleep at the wheel. It appears his car crashed into a barrier and flipped over. Likely Leon was killed instantly.”

“Is there anything I can do Jack?”

“No Maria, we were just discussing what needs to be done and I think we have it covered. I hate to bring up work at a time like this but did you make a decision about taking the job opening in the Washington office?”

“Yes, I decided I want it, but now with Leon’s death are you ok with me transferring at this time?”

“Yes, it’s going to take some time to decide how to replace Leon. I should say we can’t replace him so we have to figure out how we go forward without his expertise and leadership. I don’t want you to lose the opportunity for transfer.  Another opportunity like this may not come up for a year or more.”

“Ok Jack, I’ll go start the paperwork for my transfer with the Human Resources office. Would it be ok if I take a couple of days’ vacation after I get the paperwork in motion? There is some sightseeing I’d like to do before I return to Washington.”

“Certainly Maria, you’ve earned it and a few days off being a tourist may help you deal with Leon’s death.”

Maria walks to her office thinking although tragic Leon’s death makes it possible to continue with the plan she worked out with Klaus. The real reason she wants vacation days is to spend them with Klaus before they have to be apart for several weeks. As she thinks about Klaus a dark thought comes to her. Did Klaus have anything to do with Leon’s accident? Why had he been in such a rush to make a phone call after their encounter with Leon in Dortmund? Don’t be silly she tells herself. Klaus assured her what they would be doing would not cause harm to anyone. She decides to go to a public phone during her lunch hour and leave a message for Klaus to call her at that phone after work. She checks and she has the piece of folded paper with a phone number on it Klaus gave her in Dortmund before she left for the train.

When Klaus returns her call she tells him what happened to Leon. He doesn’t seem as surprised as she expects. He just says it was a sad turn of events but it makes it possible to continue with their plans. She tells him she can take some vacation at the end of the week. She says she wants to spend the vacation days with him and asks if she can meet him somewhere where it is unlikely they’ll be seen by anyone who knows them.

“Let’s meet in West Berlin Maria. I can get there with little trouble at checkpoints but not until Friday. That’s a place you might go on vacation so it’ll be a good cover story. If you can make it this Friday call the number I gave you for leaving messages and leave a message for Karl Schultz. Say the message is from Marlene and say she’ll meet Karl at a certain time. The time will be the time the train you select arrives in the West Berlin station. When you get there find a seat as close to the ticket office as you can. I’ll find you and walk by so you can spot me. Then I’ll leave the station and walk to my hotel. Follow me without being obvious and we’ll meet in my room.”

“Ok, I understand. I’ve got to go. Love you and I’ll see you Friday.”

“Love you, Maria, see you Friday, Goodbye.”

13:30 Zulu, Friday, August 1, 1981, West Berlin

Maria’s train arrives on time at the West Berlin station. She finds the ticket booth then finds a rack of brochures advertising tourist attractions in West Berlin. She selects four brochures, takes a seat near the ticket booth and scans one of the brochures. Within five minutes she sees Klaus walking by. As soon as he exits the station she follows him to his hotel. Just as she did in Dortmund she watches to see what floor his elevator stops at and then takes the elevator to that floor. There is a man in the hall waiting for the elevator so she walks past the room Klaus is entering until the man gets on the elevator. Then she turns back and knocks quietly on Klaus's door. He opens it and embraces her as soon as the door closes behind her.

“So wonderful to see you my darling, Maria.”

“Oh Klaus, it seems like forever since we were together in Dortmund. I’ve missed you terribly.”

“I missed you too Maria, let’s get our planning done quickly and then have a relaxing weekend together. I think there are only a couple of things we have to share. First, as I hoped I am going to get the transfer to Washington D.C.  I’ll be working at the French Embassy. There are some details yet to be arranged but I should be able to travel in two or three weeks. I must have a new identity. The necessary identity papers and cover story for the background of my new identity are being prepared. All I know now is my new name will be Claude something or other. I have to wait in Dresden until all the preparations are in place. They’ll make Klaus “die” and I’ll assume my new identity as Claude. Then I can travel with my new papers. So unless something delays things I can join you in Washington in about four to six weeks. It takes that much time because of my insistence on having my birth name Claude.”

“That’s great news Klaus. I plan to leave for America by the middle of next week. I'll find an apartment and start my new assignment the beginning of the following week. I know I'll miss you but I’ll have my new assignment to adjust to and that’ll help keep my mind off being apart. How will we connect when you get to Washington?”

“After you find an apartment find a local diner where you can have coffee each weekend morning. Then call the top number on this paper and leave a message for Karl Schultz again. Use a public phone and speak in German. Leave the address of the diner and the time you are there having coffee on Saturday mornings. If everything is going according to plan say the message is from Heidi. If some problem develops that’ll make it risky for me to come to the diner say the message is from Dagmar. If the message is from Heidi I’ll come to the diner on the first Saturday I am in Washington and have a coffee. When you leave the diner I’ll follow you discretely back to your apartment. If a problem comes up and you have left the first message from Dagmar call the second number from a public phone and speak in French.  Say you have a message for Henri. You can tell the person who answers what has happened and he will relay the message to me. Also, you can give them your apartment phone number. If it’s safe for me to call you say the number is for Mary. If it isn’t safe to call your apartment say the number is for Aria. If the number has to be for Aria wait two days and call the second number again. Say you are Aria and ask if there is a message for you. There will be a message for Aria from Henri giving a time and a safe place where we can meet on a Sunday.  Let’s go over all of it a couple of times until you are sure you have it memorized.”

Maria and Klaus don’t leave the hotel room until early the next Monday morning when Maria leaves to go back to Bonn to get ready to leave for America.  Klaus returns to Dresden, hopefully for the last time. It is hard for Maria to say goodbye but she tells herself soon they’ll be together for good.