The Scharfuhrer on duty, visibly startled at the visit of so senior an officer on Christmas Eve, popped to attention. He didn’t at first recognize Muller, but Muzer knew who he was. His name was Otto Zeiman.
When Muller first joined the police as an Unterwachtmann, Zeiman had been his corporal. He, too, had joined the SS-SD and had risen to Scharfuhrer.
“Heil Hitler!” Zeiman said. “How may I help the Standartenfuhrer?”
“How are you, Otto?” Muxer asked, offe ring the older man his hand.
“It’s nice to see you again.”
“The Standartenfuhrer is kind to remember me,” Zeiman said, beaming happily at him.
“When no one’s around, Otto, it’s Johnny, like always.” The older man colored with pleasure. He would never, Muller knew, call him by anything but his rank, but the gesture had cost nothing, and it was always valuable for a man like Zeiman to think of himself as a special friend.
“Hauptsturmfuhrer Peis is the officer on duty,” Zeiman said.
“Shall I tell him you’re here?” Peis, the SD officer-in-charge in Marburg and another face from a long time ago, was like Zeiman a professional, not a political, although Muller, who had checked his dossier in Berlin before leaving, had learned that Peis’s devotion to the National Socialist cause had recently become almost fervent. That was something to keep in mind.
“The boss is working on Christmas Eve?” Muxer asked, and then, before Zeiman could reply, added, “Please, Otto.” Wilhelm Peis, in what looked like a brand-new uniform, came into the foyer a moment later, gave the straight-armed salute, said “Heil Hitler! ,” and asked how he could be of service to the Herr Standartenfuhrer.
He was surprised to see Muller, period, and even more surprised to see that he was now a Standartenfuhrer. The approach he decided to take with him was, consequently, formal. As Standartenfuhrer, Muller might resent any intimacy. / “Heil Hitler!” Muller said. “I had hoped, if it would not interfere with your duty, that we might have a drink for Christmas.”
“I regret that I have nothing to offer the Standartenfuhrer,” Peis said.
“Then why don’t we go to the Cafe Weitz?” Muller said.
“If the Standartenfuhrer will be good enough to wait, I will get my coat,” Peis said.
When he was in the car, Peis said, “This is very nice.
Standartenfuhrer Kramer has one very much like it.”
“This is Kramer’s,” Muller said. “He was good enough to give me the use of it.
“May I ask if the Standartenfuhrer is here officially?” Peis asked.
“Offici’sy, Peis, I’m on leave,” Muller said.
“I understand, Herr Standartenfuhrer.”
“It’s Christmas Eve, Wilhelm, ” Muller said. “And we have known each other a long time. Don’t you think you could call me Johann’?
“Yes, of course,” Peis said, pleased.
The proprietor of the Cafe Weitz, a pale-faced man in his sixties who wore a frayed-at-the-collar dinner jacket, greeted them enthusiastically, and Peis obviously relished being able to introduce Muller as his’ friend.” The proprietor said he was honored and asked if Muller had ever been to Marburg before.
“I was born here,” Muller said, and regretted it. The cafe owner looked as though he had committed a terrible faux pas by not recognizing Muller.
“I’ve been away for years,” Muller said. “But I came to see my mother at Christmasl’ Two bottles, one of Steinhager and one of French cognac, were promptly delivered to their table.
“While I am here, as I say, unofficially,” Muxer began when the cafe owner finally left them, “there are a few things I would like to make discreet inquiry about.”
“I am at your service, Herr Standartenfuhrer,” Peis said.
“Johann,” Muller said with a smile.
“Johann,” Peis parroted uncomfortably.
“Tell me about Professor Friedrich Dyer,” Muller said.
Peis grunted, as if the inquiry did not surprise him.
“What do you want to know?” he asked. “We have a rather extensive file on him. If you had asked at the station, I could have shown it to you.” “Just tell me, Wilhelm,” Muller said.
“Well, he knows Albert Speer pretty well,” Peis said.
Muller was astonished to hear that, but he was a policeman, and his surprise showed neither on his face nor in his voice.