“Yes, sir, it would.”
Globočnik nodded. “Well, I will tell you what I think. I think the books probably reflect income and expenses of the brickyard accurately. I don’t believe cash was withdrawn to purchase materials, or the transactions would have been noted in these books. I believe the missing cash went into someone’s pocket.”
Maximilian spun around. “Oh, Eli,” he said. “How could you? After all I’ve done for you and your family. How could you be so greedy and ungrateful?” Then he faced Globočnik. “I am so sorry, your excellency. I trusted him to manage the brickyard honestly. I have known his family for years. I even helped his wife secure placement in the Lipowa shops rather than be subject to deportation to a distant camp. I never expected him to betray me and embezzle money.”
Globočnik tapped a pen on the desk. Silence reigned for a few moments. “Herr Poleski, I find it highly improbable that Rosen took the money. He doesn’t have access to the bank account.”
Maximilian’s lips quivered. “Perhaps he requested that I withdraw the money to give to him for materials. Yes, that’s it. I seem to remember that happening on many occasions.”
Globočnik glanced at Eli. “What do you have to say about that, Mr. Rosen?”
Eli hung his head and did not respond.
“Are you afraid to answer, Mr. Rosen? Are you afraid of reprisals that would affect your wife, Esther? I understand she was sewing uniforms in the Lindenstrasse labor camp and coming home each night—that is, until Mr. Poleski asked me to make other arrangements.”
Eli glared at Maximilian. His jaw quivered in rage.
Globočnik continued and stared at Maximilian. “You needn’t be afraid to unburden yourself of the truth, Herr Poleski. We already know the truth.”
Maximilian leaned forward. “It was all a careless mistake,” he said. “From time to time I would borrow the money, clearly intending to pay it back. Most of the time I did, but some of it must have slipped my mind. We were so busy. I will promptly pay the money back. I assure you.”
“And how will you do that, Herr Poleski? Will you pay it back from the money you receive from selling forged Juden-Ausweis identification cards?”
Maximilian jumped to his feet. “Never did I do such a thing. You have me confused with someone else.”
Globočnik motioned to his adjutant, who nodded and left the room. A moment later he reappeared with an elderly man in a striped prison outfit. Maximilian’s eyes widened, and he slumped into his chair.
Globočnik rolled his index finger, motioning for the prisoner to speak. “Tell us, Mr. Gottby, what business did you conduct with Maximilian Poleski, he of royal blood?”
The old man gulped and said, “We manufactured and sold IDs to Jews in Lublin and in Lodz.”
“Were these fake identification cards a special kind? Were they Juden-Ausweis IDs, the kind of cards that show that a Jew is working and therefore exempt from deportation?”
“Yes, sir. That’s correct.”
“Tell us how the illegal scheme worked, Mr. Gottby.”
“Maximilian would make contact with a Jew who wanted a Juden-Ausweis ID. He’d bring me the information, and I would manufacture the ID card. Then we split the money.”
“He’s a liar,” Maximilian said indignantly. “Why would you take his word over mine?”
Globočnik grinned. “I do admire your audacity.” Then to his adjutant he said, “Take them away.” Eli watched as the two of them were led from the room.
“I never took any money, sir,” Eli said.
“I know that. You can go. Return to your brickyard.”
Eli stood, turned and said, “About Esther, my wife, I’d like to know how she is.”
Globočnik tipped his head. “The last I heard, she was alive, but the sewing shop at the Lindenstrasse camp was closed two months ago.”
Eli was shocked. “Closed? Where did all the women go?”
Globočnik shrugged. “Some went to Belzec, some to Majdanek, some to the east, to other work camps. Specifically, I don’t know about your wife.”
* * *
Eli returned to the brickyard, his mind in a daze. Maximilian had sworn to protect her, to safeguard her. He obviously knew that the Lipowa camp was closing and concealed it. Even this very day, knowing she was gone, Maximilian falsely promised he would have Esther released from Lipowa and get them all to Sweden. How foolish, Eli thought, to rely on a single word that Maximilian uttered.
Yet if anybody would know what happened to Esther, if anyone would know where she had been sent, it was Maximilian. But he was as good as dead. More than likely shot to death within minutes of leaving Globočnik’s office.
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
FÖHRENWALD
FÖHRENWALD DP CAMP
AMERICAN ZONE
DECEMBER 1946
Before returning to Föhrenwald, Eli and Major Donnelly met in the Landsberg camp administration office to review the details of the plan to arrest Max the following week. They were joined by Aaron Davison, Shael Bruchstein and Moshe Pogrund. A map of the camp was spread out on a table. Major Donnelly tapped the map with his finger. “My MPs will be placed here and here, behind the administration office and out of sight. I will be here. Mr. Davison, you will stand here outside of the commissary. When Max tenders the visa to you, you will hand over the six thousand Swiss francs to him in full view. We’ll have it all on film. Then we’ll take him into custody. With any luck and a great deal of persuasion, Max will then give up his source in the United States.”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Max evaded capture in Föhrenwald,” Eli said. “We should have had him, but because one of our residents alerted him to the sting, he didn’t show. If Max learns about this operation and doesn’t show up next week because one of you tipped him off or failed to keep this operation secret, there will be hell to pay.”
“We know,” Pogrund said. “No one will say a thing.”
Satisfied that everything was in place, Donnelly and Eli left Landsberg for the return drive to Föhrenwald. Eli was anxious to get home. He had only been gone for the day, but he hadn’t wanted to leave Izaak at all. He had agreed to go to Landsberg only because of Adinah’s kind offer to stay and Dr. Weisman’s promise to check in on him. Weisman had said that Izaak was a strong little boy, and he seemed to be holding his own, but Eli was beside himself with worry. He felt helpless and could only pray.
Adinah met him at the door with a cautious smile. “I think he’s doing better,” she said, crossing her fingers. “Less coughing today since the injection. Dr. Weisman stopped in tonight after his clinic hours and examined him. He said he was pleased with what he saw. ‘There is reason for optimism,’ he said. He hopes to have the results from the strep test tomorrow or Tuesday, but he wants him to keep taking the medicine.”
Eli breathed a sigh of relief. Though nothing was certain, he had seen the dreaded disease quickly consume Bernard without any remission or reason to be optimistic. Adinah’s report that Izaak was improving was surely a good sign. He quietly walked into the bedroom to tuck Izzie in and noticed that the rosy-red complexion that had covered his face and chest was almost gone. Izaak did not feel as warm as he had when Eli left early that morning. He returned to the living room to thank Adinah, but she had fallen asleep on the couch.