TW: Mentions of Suicide and Attempted Suicide.

In Emden Wilhelm Hartmann slowly opened his eyes and noticed the faint glow of sunlight shining on the curtains. Getting out of bed he wandered over to the curtains and pulled them open allowing the sunlight to fill the room with a soft warm glow. Walking back over to the bed he sat down on it the springs creaking slightly under his weight. Grabbing his black boots he placed them on his feet and carefully tied the laces into a knot. Getting off the bed he strolled over to the door and opened it the sound of it creaking echoed throughout the hallway. Once Wilhelm reached the kitchen area he saw Clara and Koralin both sitting at the table reading this newspaper both looking very concerned about something.

Wilhelm approached the table and sat down beside Koralin who passed him the newspaper. Wilhelm gently took the newspaper from Koralins hand. Placing the newspaper down in front of him he started to read what was on the front page.

Attempted Assassination of Otto Assing.

Last night at midnight there was an assassination attempt on the East German politician Otto Assing in Munich outside the motel he was planning to stay in. Otto Assing was shot and wounded and is currently in a hospital in Munich his condition is stable according to the hospital. Unfortunately, two of his security guards were killed by the assassin.

As for the assassin, we know that he was formerly a soldier in the SS. Yet the intention of attempting to kill Otto Assing is unknown. And we currently don't know if the assassin is still in Munich or if he has fled the city. But we do know that the assassin is armed and dangerous. If you see any suspicious activity, please report it to the local authorities.

Wilhelm looked up at Koralin who had tears streaming down her face. Wilhelm placed his hand on her shoulder and gently squeezed it.

"He will be alright," Wilhelm said as he gently rubbed Koralin's back in an attempt to soothe her.

"Why would someone try to kill my brother Mr. Hartmann?" Koralin asked as she tried to hold back her tears.

"I don't know Miss Assing,"

"I wish I could see him. But I can't as I have to stay here and I feel guilty that I can't see him,"

"I'm sure that he would understand why you can't see him,"

Wilhelm continued to try to soothe Koralin while Carla got up from her seat and began to make some breakfast. Eventually, Wilhelm hummed a soft and soothing tune to calm Koralin. Koralin wiped her tears away after a few minutes and looked over at Wilhelm with a small smile. After a while, Carla placed three bowls of warm porridge and three spoons on the table the homey smell of oats filled the air. Carla sat down beside Koralin and looked at Wilhelm and smiled and Wilhelm smiled back at her.

They started to eat their porridge. Wilhelm took his first spoonful of porridge, and as the creamy porridge filled his mouth, a sugary and oaty taste spread throughout his taste buds. A gentle warmth also flowed through his mouth as he ate. Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Carla got up from her seat wandered over to the door and opened it. Wilhelm paused and looked up and saw a familiar man standing at the door.

"Who are you, sir?" Carla asked.

"I am Lennard Bain a friend of Mr. Hartmann," Lennard replied.

"I see and why are you here?"

"I want to speak with Mr. Hartmann in private,"

Wilhelm got up from his seat and approached Lennard as he walked over to the door he felt his heart thumping in his chest. He wondered if someone had finally found out who he was and that he might need to admit the truth. As he stopped in front of the door Lennard politely gestured for him to come outside which Wilhelm did so. Once Wilhelm stepped outside he shut the door and smiled at Lennard even though he was deeply anxious about what Lennard had to say to him.

"I'm guessing that you have read the newspapers?" Lennard asked.

"I have read them and seen the news," Wilhelm replied.

"I might know who tried to kill Otto Assing. But we are going to have to go see someone,"

"Wait where do we have to go? And who do we have to see? Also how exactly did you know I was here?"

"All will be answered on the way just follow me,"

Lennard Bain walked down the street and Wilhelm reluctantly followed him still anxious about what was going on. Yet he felt somewhat glad that Lennard hadn't figured out his true identity. Lennard was walking down the street at a quick pace likely due to his past as a soldier. This caused Wilhelm to quicken his pace to keep up with Lennard.

"How did you know where I was staying?"

"I might have caught a glimpse of where you went. I can assure you that I'm not the kind of person who stalks people,"

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere on the outskirts of town,"

"Who are we seeing and how are they linked to what happened in Munich?"

"We are seeing Thorsten Thalberg. He was in the SD and was quite high up in it too.
"He knew Heydrich and Himmler. Thorsten grieved when Heydrich died as he looked up to the man.
"But the reason why he might be linked to what happened in Munich is due to his nephew being very against communism,"

Wilhelm's face went as pale as a sheet at the mention of Heydrich and Himmler. Lennard glanced over at Wilhelm and placed his hand on Wilhelm's shoulder.

"Are you alright Mr. Hartmann?"

"I just have bad memories of what Himmler might have wanted to do to my brother,"

"What did he want to do to him?"

"He wanted to make him disappear..."

"Himmler made a lot of people disappear."

Wilhelm saw the haunted look in Lennard's eyes which made him wonder if Himmler wanted to do something to Lennard as well. But Wilhelm dared to not ask just to not stir up bad memories. Eventually, they made it to the outskirts of Emden and walked down a gravel road. Birds sang in the nearby trees and the leaves rustled in the gentle warm breeze. Wilhelm's gaze lowered to his feet and Lennard placed his hand on Wilhelm's shoulder once again which caused Wilhelm's shoulders to tense involuntarily.

"Are you alright?"

"Just nervous about meeting Thorsten Thalberg,"

"Trust me he has changed in a good way. He has started to realize what he did during the war was wrong,"

"I see but it still makes me nervous,"

Eventually, they saw a small brick house on a small grassy hill. They continued to follow the gravel road up the hill until they reached the front of the house. Lennard wandered over to the mahogany door while Wilhelm awkwardly stood a couple of meters away. Lennard knocked on the door and waited for it to open. A man with short blonde hair and jade eyes opened the door. The man was wearing shiny black shoes that were polished to the point that you could almost see your reflection in them. He was wearing jet black trousers, a jet black overcoat that was nearly buttoned up, a white shirt that was also buttoned up, a red tie with black diagonal stripes and some gold wire rimmed glasses.

"Lennard Bain it's been a while since we have talked," the man said.

"Yes, it has been a while, Thorsten," Lennard replied.

"Who's your friend?"

"That's Wilhelm Hartmann. I saved his life from communists in Hannover not too long ago,"

"I see well come in you two. I can tell that you wish to speak with me about something,"

Thorsten walked back inside his house and Lennard glanced over at Wilhelm and politely gestured for him to come over. Lennard walked into the house and Wilhelm cautiously followed him. Upon entering the house Wilhelm saw Thorsten sitting in a worn brown leather armchair next to a small window with light grey curtains that were open and letting in the early morning light and filling the room with warmth from the sun. Next to the armchair was a small dark brown coffee table and on that was an empty white coffee cup and a small picture of Reinhard Heydrich in a black picture frame.

Wilhelm fixed his gaze on the picture and upon noticing this Thorsten gently pushed the picture frame down onto the table so it was facing down. Wilhelm's gaze wandered to the other side of the room where Lennard stood in front of the oak walls and above him were many hooks where paintings were hung. Wilhelm then drew his attention back to Thorsten who was now cleaning his glasses with a white microfiber cloth.

"Why are you two here exactly?" Thorsten asked as he put his glasses back on.

"Have you not heard the news, Thorsten?" Lennard asked.

"I have heard the news about someone attempting to kill Otto Assing. But that doesn't explain why you are here,"

"The man who attempted to kill Otto Assing was formerly in the SS. Do you think that your nephew did it? Thorsten, I know Albert was in the SS,"

Thorsten stared at Lennard the color slowly drained from his cheeks. Thorsten got up from the armchair and wandered into the nearby kitchen the wooden floorboards creaking as he walked across the room. Wilhelm gazed over at Lennard who still stood in the same place and he had his arms folded. Wilhelm's gaze wandered to the floor unsure if he should say anything or if he should stay silent. Suddenly there was a loud high pitched whistling coming from the kitchen and after a couple of moments it stopped and Thorsten came back into the room with two cups of tea.

Thorsten walked over to Wilhelm and handed him a cup of tea which Wilhelm politely took. Thorsten wandered over to Lennard and handed him the other cup of tea which he took reluctantly. Thorsten walked back to the armchair sat down and gazed over at Lennard who was gazing at him. Wilhelm sipped his green tea a sweet and herbaceous filled his taste buds. The warmth of the tea filled him with a sense of comfort that he hadn't felt for a while not since before the war.

"Did Albert do it Thorsten?"

"I have a feeling that he did do it, Lennard,"

"What reason would he have to try and kill an East German politician?"

"Albert has had a history of wanting revenge on the communists.
"He lost his brother Benedict to the Soviet Army in the war. And due to that his sister Florentina, unfortunately, cut her life short.
"After he found out that both Benedict and Florentina were dead Albert also attempted to cut his own life short after visiting a physicist one night,"

Wilhelm stopped drinking his tea and he felt his blood run cold at the mention of what Albert had tried to do.

***

In Berlin, Werner Heisenberg is in his study the room is pitch black except for the glow of a small lamp on his wooden desk. The only sound in the room is the quiet ticking of the clock on the wall. Heisenberg is sitting at his desk writing things out on these pieces of paper. Suddenly he hears footsteps creaking loudly on the wooden floorboards. Putting his pen down beside the papers he looks up from his work and notices a man with short blonde hair and icy blue eyes standing there staring at him. The man is wearing the uniform of an SS captain.

"Captain Thalberg I didn't even notice you come in. I'm assuming that you are wondering about my progress," Heisenberg says.

"Yes, Dr. Heisenberg," Albert replies.

"I am making decent progress. But this project will take a while,"

"I see,"

"Do you want anything to drink?"

"No. Besides I need to be heading off now. I shall report that you are making good progress,"

Albert Thalberg walks off and Heisenberg goes back to writing. Suddenly there's a loud earsplitting crack outside that causes Heisenberg to drop his pen out of fear. Getting out of his seat Heisenberg cautiously walks out of his office and walks down the hallway towards the front door the floorboards quietly creaking underneath him as he cautiously approaches the door. Placing his hand on the silver doorknob which is cold to the touch.

Slowly turning the doorknob he pushes the door open his heart thumping in his chest as he wonders what's behind the door. Once the door is open Heisenberg immediately notices Albert Thalberg lying on the footpath groaning in pain and with one hand on his chest. He also notices a black pistol lying next to Albert. Heisenberg approaches Albert kneels down beside him grabs the pistol and puts it back in Albert's holster. Heisenberg gently picks Albert up and carries him into his house. Wandering back into his study he walks over to a black leather couch and places Albert on it.

"Take it easy Captain I shall go get something for you,"

"I need to be going,"

"No, you are hurt. Just stay here,"

"Fine,"

Heisenberg exits the study and goes to search for something to help with Albert's injuries.

***

"I also have a feeling that Albert is possibly looking for the physicist who helped him that night. I must say that you look a little bit like that physicist Mr. Hartmann," Thorsten said as he looked at Wilhelm.

"I get that a lot, Mr. Thalberg," Wilhelm replied as he finished his tea.

"Thank you for telling us what you know Thorsten. But we should get going," Lennard said as he walked over to the coffee table and placed his teacup on it.

"You are welcome Lennard and I hope to see you again soon," Thorsten replied.

Wilhelm walked over to the coffee table and placed his teacup on it. He and Lennard walked out of the house and Lennard closed the door behind them. They both started walking back down the gravel road to Emden in silence.

***

At the Assing household, Wilhelm sat on the bed in the room that Carla allowed him to stay in. The fading light from the sunset shone through the window casting long shadows on the walls. Carla opened the door and looked at Wilhelm with a look of concern.

"Are you alright Mr. Hartmann?" Carla asked.

"I'm fine just lost in thought," Wilhelm replied.

"Alright just making sure. Also, dinner will be ready in 30 minutes just letting you know,"

"Thank you, Carla,"

Carla then closed the door leaving Wilhelm alone with his thoughts.

Wilhelm thought to himself. "Why would Albert be trying to find me? Would he want to protect me from the Soviets?"