PARADOX - Chapter 16

April 25, 2012 – Berchtesgaden - Treff Alpenhotel Kronprinz



“Can you trust him?” Henri wiped a beer mustache from his upper lip. “I know you’re close friends and work associates, but this is a delicate and dangerous matter after all.”

“I’d trust him with my life,” Monday replied. “He’s more than a friend and mentor, he’s like a brother to me. Besides, Dom has the academic background and connections that I do not have. It’s going to take more than a simple degree in archeology and Special Forces training to solve the second half of this riddle. We haven’t exactly figured out the first half yet either.”

“I don’t like the looks of that Brother… what’s his name,” Chester smirked. “He’s got fish eyes, eminds me of a dead trout.”

“I’m more worried about the man who just tried to kill me.” Monday took a sip of his drink. “Obviously he was hired by Schäfer and the attorney, but I don’t think he was the one who destroyed Daria’s apartment. If it hadn’t been for Weps he may have gotten me. The distance was too far for an amateur so he has to have had military sniper training of some sort.”

“I’m inclined to agree,” Henri stated. “That shot reeks of professionalism. Herr Schäfer may have more assets than we realized.”

“And now that he has the second message things go from bad to worse,” Chester said. “They know we’re one step ahead of them on looking for the gold but the implications of the second message may mean more to them.”

“We also have no hard proof that it was actually Schäfer who hired the hit man,” Monday stated. “He may still be in for his cut of the finder’s fee. Now that he knows that Daria and I are not alone in this hunt, he either settles for his cut or brings in more muscle of his own. Considering the second note, my bet is on more muscle.”

“The assassin could not have known about the documents.” Henri sighed. “So he has to be Schäfer’s hired man. I would lay odds that he now knows the whole story and he may have connections himself.”

A sudden knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Dominic entered carrying a bottle of Napoleon Cognac. “Would you believe the concierge was on his way up with a bottle of Camus,” Dominic blurted. “I wouldn’t feed that swill to my worse enemy.” He smiled as he walked over to the sitting area where the other three sat. “I asked Brother Contadino to meet me for dinner at a later time.” He took his time pouring a finger of brandy into four snifter glasses and passing them to the others. “I took the opportunity of testing it and can assure you it is of the finest quality.”

Monday held his snifter in salute to old friendship and good cognac. When he finished the harsh liquor, he glanced at Chester and Henri with a raised eyebrow noting a sign of agreement. “I prefer the Camus.” He glanced at the empty snifter.

Dominic gave him a dirty look. “You always did have the taste of a barbarian.” He had a look of pity on his face.

“You indicated that you were on vacation?”

“Holiday,” Dominic replied. “In Europe we call it holiday, not vacation.”

“Whatever.” Monday swished his brandy around. “I have known you for a long time Dom. I know that we have often depended on each other and backed each other when others found it inconvenient to do so. Fraulein Wolff presented me with a problem that has since blossomed into a full blown perfect storm. We would like to have your help in solving it, but before I explain I must caution you that it may be time consuming and dangerous.”

Dominic placed his cognac snifter on the coffee table and gave his full attention to Monday. Nodding his head in a positive reply he said, “Go ahead.”

Over the next fifteen minutes Monday filled him in on the hunt, starting from the time that Daria had asked him to help her rebury her alleged grandmother. As he finished, he asked Dominic if he was interested in becoming a full partner in the search.

“Hitler’s granddaughter!” Dominic’s eyes were glowing. It was obvious that Daria’s family heritage and the contents of the second message meant far more to him than the possibility of finding Nazi gold. “Are you joking? Am I in? I would not miss the opportunity this presents for all the gold in the world.” He reached down and poured himself half a glass of the powerful cognac then drank it in one quick gulp.

“I knew we could count on you Dom.” Monday poured himself another shot of cognac even though he wasn’t particularly fond of the stuff.

As he sat his snifter on the side table, Daria entered the room fresh and casually dressed in a fashionable red skirt with a white and blue matching blouse.

“You look lovely Fraulein. Dominic stood as she entered the room.

“Danka,” Daria replied with a slight blush, her eyes traveling to Monday who also stood as she entered. She noticed that he nodded his head in a positive manner noting that Dominic had been successfully recruited in the search. “You are going to help us with the clues Signore Prestano?”

“Dominic!” I insist you call me Dominic…better yet, Dom.” At her nod he continued. “Starting with the gold, what have we uncovered so far? I also understand that the second message was taken from you?”

“The original was taken, but I scanned it into my laptop computer. As luck would have it my laptop was here in Monday’s room and not at my apartment.”

“The original papers covering the location of Nazi gold make reference to several places and several people.” Monday spread the document copies out for Dom to read. “They mention a Junkerschule and call it the cradle of the Reich. They reference a man called Johann Jäger but say his death is nil but his birth reflects the sun and the sun shines from the place of his birth to the number of paces from the door of Stadtpfarrkirche. They also mention The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, upon the date which the blood of Caesar was spilt. Based on what we’ve figured out so far, the mention of Junkerschule combined with Stadtpfarrkirche definitely places the gold in Bad Tölz. They also mention Hanna Reitsch, and her grave in South America.”

“Reitsch died in Frankfurt at the age of 67 on 24 August 1979,” Dom noted. “She never married. Why they would place her grave in South America is a mystery.”

We haven’t figured out where Johann Jäger comes into play and how Caesar’s blood and the Iron Cross fits in either?”

“Johann Jäger.” Dom was talking to himself. “Johann Jäger. I believe Jäger was from Bad Tölz and he lived in the seventeenth century. He was the leader of a military force at the battle of Sendling just south of Munich. He was also the son of an innkeeper. The inn was called the Weinhaus Höckh. If I’m correct, that inn still exists today.”

“So our next goal is the Weinhaus Höckh in Bad Tölz.” Monday glanced at the small group. “The birthplace of Johann Jäger.

“A good place to start.” Dom raised his glass for another spot of brandy.