July 17, 1944
Grand Island, though larger than Holdrege or Kearney, didn’t fit the bill for Sid that weekend. Even when the other soldiers headed out to explore the local scene, Sid stayed behind. Then, he wanted to check his temperature, see what was wrong. By Monday, he couldn’t wait to get to work, discover what concerned Commander Moss, and return to Camp Atlanta.
Anything would be better than spending every waking moment wondering what one young woman was doing. He hated the fact that Anna Goodman had crept under his guard.
His style was to enjoy whatever woman he found himself matched with. Now, he mooned over a girl who drove him batty. A gal who forever surprised him. And a woman who made him want to drop everything and protect her.
What magic had she worked on him?
Monday morning, Sid strode into the satellite headquarters and introduced himself to the officer in charge. He tried to cover his surprise when he learned Larry Heglin filled that bill. “Commander Moss asked me to spend some time with you this week and see how we could better support your opereations in Grand Island.”
Heglin sneered at him from behind his desk. “We’re just fine, Chance. I’ve got things humming along without any interference from the bigwigs.” He kicked back and stared down his nose at Sid. “Why would Moss send someone like you here, anyway? You’re the one who lost the prisoner. Still trying to get in Moss’s good graces?”
Sid stiffened his back. Heat climbed his neck, and he tried to force it away with a deep breath. “I’ll spend the day with the prisoners at their assignment and check their quarters tonight.”
“Waste your time all you want. I don’t know what you think you’ll find. The prisoners are fine, the employers pleased. That’s all the Army can want.”
Sid marched from the room. Of all the people who could command the post, he had to deal with someone as incompetent as Heglin. Yet another reason to get in and get out. It would have helped if Commander Moss had told him anything about why he was here. He hadn’t picked up anything over the weekend. But most of the soldiers were on passes, with just a couple left to guard the prisoners.
Sid strode around the compound. The Army had retrofitted the old Dodge School to meet its needs. An eight-foot fence towered around the school with a few men and dogs patrolling the perimeter. Directly across the street stood the German American social club at Liederkranz Hall. The polka music had blasted from the facility over the weekend, but nothing that concerned Sid.
A bus waited outside the front door, and a steady line of prisoners boarded it. They stood with heads high, and quiet conversation flowed among them. From all outward appearances, they seemed content … at least as much as they could for people thousands of miles from home.
Sid made a mental note to learn who served as prisoner liaison and spend time with him. Until then, he’d circulate among them, see what he could pick up. He hadn’t heard of aggressive Nazis being relocated from this group, so he didn’t expect that to be the challenge.
The bus rumbled over the road until it reached the beet fields, where the prisoners worked. The day passed with Sid talking to the prisoners or their guards and finding each group equally unwilling to cooperate.
At this rate he’d have to spend a year here to learn anything.
Sid kicked back on his bunk that night, trying to stay as quiet as possible, as the soldiers bantered around him. Maybe they’d forget he was there.
“Did you see what Heglin did today?” A skinny soldier with a Bronx accent spoke from the doorway.
A soldier lying on his bed snorted. “You mean he actually left his desk? That guy likes to sit and look important rather than do anything.”
“Sure, but today he strolled around surveying his kingdom after you left. I thought he acted kind of funny, so I kept an eye on him. He headed into the prisoner section. When he came out, he had a odd look on his face and loaded pockets.”
“So? What’s the big deal with that?”
“I don’t know. Thought it interesting since he avoids the Germans like they’ve got some a disease.” He pushed away from the door. “I’ll never understand why someone like him was put in charge.”
“That’s the Army for ya. Always makes perfect sense.”
The men chortled, then wandered into topics that held no interest for Sid. He couldn’t imagine what Heglin could have found in the prisoners’ quarters.
The next morning Sid stayed behind when the bus left. He decided to keep an eye on the prison and see if he could learn anything. If he could stay out of Heglin’s way, maybe the man would forget him and repeat his actions from yesterday. Although, in a corner of his mind, Sid wondered if Heglin had put the soldiers up to that conversation last night. Surely, if theft were the issue, Commander Moss would have mentioned it.
Sid strolled through the prisoners’ section, and everything seemed in place. The beds were neatly made and the aisles clear of clothes and other personal belongings. As he reached the end of the first room, Sid was surprised to see a prisoner asleep under his covers. Nothing appeared wrong with the man other than he lounged in bed rather than worked his job.
Sid neared the bed, keeping his steps light. The man sprang from his bed and grappled with Sid until he held Sid in a neck hold.
“You looking for something?” The words hissed into Sid’s ear. “I told you come today. You take nothing more from my men and will return what you stole.”
Sid pulled down on the arms locked around his throat. The man was stronger than he looked, and Sid grew light-headed. Someone said he’d been here? And he stole? That had Helgin’s fingerprints all over it. But he couldn’t get to the bottom of this while in a choke hold.
He tried to slide his foot behind the prisoner and knock him off his feet, but the man only pulled harder while lifting him off the ground. Sid scratched at the man’s face and arms, but he seemed oblivious to any contact.
The man was a brute.
Why would Heglin set him up? What was he trying to cover up?
Sid licked his lips and tried to force some words out. “Stop. You’ll be executed for killing an American soldier.”
“I accept the punishment if it ends the stealing.”
The man was beyond reason. Sid arched his back and lunged backward with everything in him. The prisoner grunted as Sid’s full weight toppled on top of his, carrying them both to the floor. Sid felt the whoosh of air that left the man’s lungs as they collided with the floor. His choke hold eased. Sid rolled to the side and rubbed his neck, keeping a wary eye on the prisoner.
Sid pulled a piece of rope from a bed frame and used it to tie the prisoner’s hands together before he came around. The prisoner groaned and attempted to roll over. He eased to a sitting position and hung his head.
“Who told you to wait for me?”
The prisoner shook his head, lips squeezed in a tight line.
“I will get to the bottom of this, so I suggest you tell me before I decide you tried to kill me.” Sid’s heart pounded. If the prisoner didn’t decide to talk soon, Sid didn’t want to know what he’d have to do to get answers. He took a deep breath and prayed for control. He needed some. Fast.
The prisoner stared at him, his face a mask. A muscle twitched in his jaw, but his eyes remained set.
“All right. You get to come with me.” Sid hauled the man to his feet and dragged him up the stairs and to the office. Heglin had disappeared, so Sid marched into his office, shut the door behind them, and settled the prisoner on a chair. He slipped around the desk and grabbed the phone.
“Commander Moss, please.” Sid tapped his foot as he waited. What should he tell the commander? Someone used a prisoner to try to harm him? That he didn’t have any proof of who, just a series of bruises?
“Moss, here.”
“Good morning, sir. I’ll bring one of the prisoners back with me.” The conversation spooled out quickly. “No, sir, I don’t have any concrete answers yet. Yes, there are some strange things happening. But the prisoners seem well cared for. I’ll stay another day or two and then return. Yes, sir.” Sid hung up and stared at the prisoner. “What am I going to do with you for another couple of days?”
The man continued to ignore him.
“Guess you’re my new shadow.” Sid stood. “Let’s get back to work.”
The door opened as Sid reached for it. Heglin stood there, face rigid. “What are you doing in my office? With one of my prisoners?”
“Checked in with Commander Moss. And this prisoner is no longer yours. He attacked a U.S. soldier and will return to Camp Atlanta with me. I wonder about your security, Heglin. He shouldn’t have stayed behind.”
“The doctor determined he was too sick to work.”
“Seems healthy as a horse now.” Sid grabbed the prisoner’s shoulder and pushed past Heglin.
The next days passed without learning anything new. He hiked over to the German center across the street and ate with some of the locals, met with the doctor who checked the prisoners, and generally kept his eyes and ears open. While things felt off, nothing jumped out as wrong.
He drove back to Camp Atlanta with one prisoner and a truckfull of questions, feeling like he’d somehow failed.
Once he’d turned the prisoner over to the camp brig, he marched toward Commander Moss’s office. He waited and waited and waited. Thoughts of what he’d rather do filtered through his mind. And a feisty blonde kept pulling at him. Regardless of what happened next, he knew he needed to find Anna. Too much time had expired since he’d seen her.
That feeling seemed strange. What happened to the guy who enjoyed the company of everybody? When had she snuck so far under his radar that she demanded more from him? Yet, he knew she would never actually do that.
No, she’d wait for him to make a decision and approach her. And if somebody else stole her affection during that time, it would be Sid’s loss alone. He couldn’t let that happen. As soon as he was done with Commander Moss, he’d have to try to reach her at the Wisdoms’. The sound of her voice would have to be enough today.
But it wouldn’t be forever.