Chapter 101

The train arrived in Warsaw mid-afternoon. They found a corner of the station and kept to themselves for a few hours while waiting for the overnight train to Frankfurt to arrive.

Once on board, Alex wondered if he’d be able to sleep as the train hurtled toward home. He knew that he and Erich would have to keep a low profile once they arrived in Frankfurt. It would be best if they went unnoticed. Their beards and hair helped disguise their faces, but the Kunzbergs were well known, and their height alone could give them away. On the other hand, it had been four years since they’d “died.” Would anyone really take notice of two dead men walking the streets of the large city?

He did finally fall asleep, and woke as the train pulled into the station in Frankfurt. Being Thursday morning, the station was busy with commuters and tourists. Alex and Erich both wore hats and kept their heads down as they made their way through the crowd.

Fortunately, Erich’s parents, Uncle Friedrich and Aunt Klara, lived only about a half-mile from the train station, and the five men set out toward the house as soon as they found their bearings. Alex’s stomach churned as they walked through the familiar streets. He was so thankful to be back home in Germany, but now an entirely new challenge began: staying out of Devin’s sight and finding Anna.

He glanced over at Erich, who was grimacing. “You alright?”

Seth, Tony, and Greg walked behind them.

Erich blew out a long breath. “How can I be nervous about seeing my family?”

“I’m glad I’m not the only one who feels that way.”

Erich looked at him, surprised. “I didn’t think you got nervous about anything.”

“Maybe not before, but now, yes.”

Erich’s childhood home came into view and their steps slowed.

“What’s the best approach?” Seth asked. “Knock on the door or walk right inside?”

Alex glanced at his cousin. “Do you have your keys?”

Erich thought for a moment and then dropped his bag on the ground. “I just might.” After a few minutes of rummaging, Erich made a triumphant sound. “I hope they didn’t change the locks.”

They cautiously made their way down the street. Most likely, both his aunt and uncle would be awake, but Uncle Friedrich wouldn’t have left for the office yet.

They walked around the back of the house, and Erich unlocked the door. Familiar voices drifted toward them from the direction of the kitchen. Tony closed the door behind them and Alex motioned for the three non-Kunzbergs to wait there while he and Erich announced their presence. Alex and Erich exchanged nods before quietly entering the kitchen. Dishes clinked and Uncle Friedrich spoke about a legal case he was researching.

They stopped just inside the doorway of the kitchen. “Hello, Mutti. Hello, Vati.” Erich spoke loud enough to be heard, but not loud enough to startle them. Too much.

Aunt Klara screamed and dropped her coffee mug. It crashed to the floor, porcelain and coffee scattering everywhere. Uncle Friedrich stood, pushed his chair back, and took a defensive stance. His eyes went back and forth between the two cousins. “Erich?” he whispered. “Alex?”

Aunt Klara’s hands flew to her mouth in shock before she ran to Erich, wrapping him in a tight embrace as tears cascaded down her cheeks. She reached for Alex, and Uncle Friedrich moved behind her, embracing them all with his long arms.

“We were told you were dead,” Uncle Friedrich said, his voice rough and strained.

Erich sighed and shook his head. “That’s what you were supposed to believe. I’m sorry you suffered.” He kissed his mother’s head.

“The others are here,” Alex said. “May I call for them?”

“Oh!” Aunt Klara said. “Of course.”

Alex went to gather the others and returned to the kitchen. His uncle and aunt also knew them and hugged and kissed them as well.

Uncle Friedrich stepped back and studied the full kitchen of men. “Where are...”

Alex’s eyes burned, and he closed his eyes, shaking his head. “They... didn’t make it...” He didn’t want to go into the details. Not now. Not when he’d have to repeat the story again so soon when he got home.

“Have you spoken to your father?” Uncle Friedrich asked Alex.

Alex shook his head. “We only just got into town. Your house was closest to the station.”

“I should call him.” His uncle reached for his phone.

“No, Uncle. I need to see him in person. As soon as possible.”

“Of course.” He looked around at the group of men. “If you don’t mind being uncomfortable, we might be able to squeeze into the SUV.”

Wilhelm and Ilsa sat at the small table in the sitting room, drinking coffee and eating breakfast. Wilhelm read the news on his tablet, and Ilsa sat quietly eating her toast. Kurt had just left to take Sofie and Derek to school.

The house was quiet these days. Both their daughters had left to begin their own families, and the grandchildren were in school. Kurt and Wilhelm spent most mornings at the Schloss . Ilsa typically found contentment in reading or visiting town, but occasionally a sense of melancholy would engulf her, causing Wilhelm to worry.

He put his hand on his wife’s. “Are you going into town today?”

Ilsa nodded. “I’m going to drop some things at the children’s home and help serve lunch.”

Wilhelm nodded. “I know how much they appreciate your help there.”

Ilsa smiled. “I like being there.”

“What do you say we?—?”

A scream from downstairs interrupted Wilhelm’s suggestion that they take Sofie and Derek to the lake this weekend, and he jumped to his feet. It sounded like Hilde, one of the maids, in the entryway.

Wilhelm hurried downstairs and froze a few steps from the bottom at the sight of the five bearded men standing in the entryway, along with his brother and sister-in-law. It couldn’t be...

“Alex...” He stared as the tall man with a beard took off his hat and grinned.

“Hello, Vati.”

Wilhelm’s jaw quivered, his voice stolen by the weight of unspoken words. His son! His son was alive! And home! “Ilsa! Come quickly!” He ran down the remaining steps and pulled his son into his arms. “Alex!”

A cry from above him made him turn back to the stairs. Ilsa stood on the steps, her face pale, her beautiful gray eyes wide and filling with tears.

“Mutti.” Alex nodded to his father and tearfully went to embrace his mother.

Wilhelm looked around at the four other men, standing self-consciously, and beamed. “You are here. Alive?” He shook his head and went to each of them, hugging them hard and telling them how happy he was to see them. He then looked at his brother. “They came to you first?”

Friedrich shrugged. “I live in town.”

Ilsa pulled away from Alex long enough to embrace the other men, then returned to Alex’s arms.

“Come, let’s sit and you can tell us everything.” He glanced at Hilde, who beamed at the men, tears streaming down her face. “Please, bring breakfast upstairs.”

She curtsied and hurried away toward the kitchen, her expression as joyful as everyone else’s.

Wilhelm sighed and looked into each man’s face. “But where are the others?”

Alex’s face fell. “It’s a long story. One I will gladly share.” He glanced at his mother. “But I would love a good, strong cup of German coffee first.”

Wilhelm laughed, his heart lighter than it had been in years, and motioned to the stairs. “It will be brought.”

Alex sighed and took a sip of the first decent cup of coffee he’d had since being taken by Vitaly. His mother sat close by, staring at him with wet eyes.

“I’m so—?” Mutti shook her head and swallowed. “I can hardly believe you’re home.”

He put his arm around his mother’s shoulders. “Me too.”

Erich sat between his parents, and Seth, Greg, and Tony sat eating heartily of bread and cheese.

He glanced at Vati, who watched him with a smile on his face. Vati had aged since he’d seen him last. The stress of the last few years was evident on his face, with lines etched deep and his eyes filled with exhaustion. There was more white in his hair than before, but his smile was as welcoming and assuring as it had always been.

“Alex?”

Alex turned at the voice that came from the direction of the stairs. He stood as he made eye contact with his younger brother. “Kurt.”

From across the room, Kurt stared at him, unmoving. He stood tall, clean-shaven, with a sense of confidence in his lifted chin. His eyes were wide and his knuckles white on the banister.

Alex sensed a hint of hesitation in Kurt’s voice, making him wonder whether Kurt was truly happy to see him. “Hello, Brother.”

Suddenly, a wide grin split Kurt’s face, and he hurried across the room and embraced Alex in a hard hug. “You’re alive!”

Alex grinned and hugged his brother with all his might. Despite their differences growing up and as adults, he loved his brother with all of his heart and was thrilled to see him.

Kurt greeted the others and then sat down and grabbed a roll. “Where the hell have you all been?”

Alex glanced at his father, who nodded, and started sharing the story of how they had been captured and held prisoner for four years by Vitaly.