Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part Two Read online

  “No, it’s not… but it’s not anyone else’s fault either. And after all I’ve heard tonight, you were born to hurt people. You played up to your mother to hurt her loved ones, and played up to my good-hearted parents to hurt their loved one. In their case, its me!” He pounded on his big chest. “But I won’t let this happen to them.” Bertram shook, unable to hold his cane still. “Just keep on walking until I tell you to stop,” Rupert sneered. “Come on… just walk.” Rupert knew that place quite well, and any mistake could take him down right along with Bertram, who went on his knees, begging Rupert not to harm him. Instead, he punched him all over his body. “This is for your poor sister! This for your poor family! And this one— is for me!” He held one arm on the iron railing and pushed the almost lifeless body he once saved many years ago towards the wild gush of water, throwing the cane after him, watching both as they disappeared within a split second. To him, it felt close to midnight, the white mass of water giving him plenty of light for this unforeseen tragedy, which a day previously was unimaginable.

  He lit a cigarette, walked slowly back, fetched his baggage, and waited two hours on a bench under a small roof for the next train back to ‘Red Vienna’, as it was presently called. The city was also known for its high suicide rates, so this was not suspicious. If he had brought Bertram in front of a judge, he would have lied his way out of it and gone free. But in the process, he would have made sure that Rupert’s police captain would have him resign or even fire him. Somehow, he felt the last of the bad von Waldens had disappeared. May the good ones have a long, happy life. He would tell his parents the whole truth, as he knew they would understand. Also, a promise to leave the Red party would be made, as both were very much against its violence. He would also see the von Waldens and tell them what they should know, but still had to concoct a story of how Bertram had disappeared. Suicide would be plausible since Astrid had received a good-bye note under her pillow.

  ∼

  While Lucas enjoyed dinner and a lengthy conversation with his professor, he felt it was not a very congenial surrounding. There were ten to twelve couples present, but it looked to him as if they were gathered on short notice and had very little in common. The food was served by two servants who were rather unsure, and the hostess had had too much to drink. He wondered if he had been spoiled between the von Waldens’ and Reinhardts’ get-togethers, which were always a delight. However, he was grateful about one thing. Since they had very little else in common other than how lucky Switzerland was to be spared the war, he also was constantly asked why he was still single, since so many beautiful girls in Vienna are just dying to find a husband like him. He replied, with one of his rare smiles, that he had had little time to look because he was studying for the last ten years.

  “Well, now when you return to your lovely country, they will undoubtedly surround you with their mothers nearby.”

  “A doctor is always a good catch,” interrupted the half-drunk hostess.

  “Not necessarily,” was his short answer, but he made up his mind to visit Astrid von Walden soon and tell her about his love for Gaby, which had lasted for as long as he could remember. Looking at his watch, he realized that it was ten and time for him time to go. He said his good-byes, thanked the inebriated hostess, and shook hands with his kind professor, understanding completely why the poor man spent all his time at the university, including weekends in the Research department.

  Lucas knew that Andreas was at a graduation party and his mother would never go to sleep until he was safe at home. It was no different when he took her children to a concert, play, or opera. She was always up and waiting, glad that nothing had happened. He was sure all lights would be on and Gaby asleep by now. Astrid greeted him with a mixture of surprise and relief, as Bertram had promised to have her back no later than ten, but if one is having a good time, she shouldn’t be too worried, she calmed herself.

  “What brings you here at this hour, Lucas?”

  “May I come in?”

  “Of course. Has anything happened?”

  “No, no. The party was a bore. I feel sorry for the Professor, as the guests didn’t seem to know each other.”

  “You don’t say! But I heard he has a sick wife.”

  That was a typical answer one expected from a woman like her. “Mrs. Walden,” he stammered quietly as not to disturb her sleeping daughter. “I have something of great importance to ask you. As you know, in two days we will be leaving.”

  “And I will not go along until my sister apologizes!” she interrupted sharply.

  “No, it’s not that at all.”

  “Oh good.”

  “I think you should know that for quite a long time—I even hate to tell you for how long—I have been in love with Gaby and want to ask you… should she feel the same about me… of course I’ll give her time… would you object to a marriage? I know she is seventeen tomorrow and I need your permission, just in case Gaby would be willing.”

  Looking at him rather pleased but still in shock, she said, “Why Dr. Rosatti, I should feel very happy about it.”

  He told her with a sigh of relief that his parents were informed about it a year ago and would love to welcome her like a daughter, having known her all her life.

  “I feel the same way about you, Lucas,” she replied, embracing him heartily.

  “Of course, the wedding will be in Laussane as my many relatives have all the facilities for a big wedding.”

  “I’ll be there,” she promised, hoping Gaby would say yes. She looked at the clock again. “She should be here any moment now.”

  “Who?” he asked.

  “Gaby. She went with Bertram to Wertheim’s party, as Samuel and some of his friends are graduating. She never attended one before and Bertram felt she might enjoy being among young people.

  “He did, did he!” he said furiously.

  “Why do you look so upset Lucas? Bertram will be here shortly.”

  “Bertram?” he uttered in disgust. “Why would you trust him?”

  “Why not? He is very reliable.”

  “I wish I could feel that way.”

  “You two really never cared for each other, which is a shame since you are both such nice young men.”

  As the clock struck eleven, he had had it. “I am going to get her back and I will tell the Wertheims politely why.”

  “They are not there. They are in France. It’s Sam’s own party.”

  “What?” he screamed and was on his way.

  ∼

  He could hear the noisy and singing crowd, after arriving via tram at Wertheim’s spacious villa. On graduation night at all big universities, taxis were reserved well ahead. Before ringing the doorbell, the guests were still singing what seemed like a different tune in voices which left much to be desired. “Well that is how a party is supposed to be,” he thought. But his Gaby in a place like this? Who would she know? Bertram and Sam Wertheim were all he could think of.

  A tipsy girl finally opened the door, hugging him with “Please, sir, come right in. We are in need of sober men; the rest are on the floor snoring or drunk.” He only smiled to gain her confidence. The half sober ones had, at times, two girls on their laps or were in many cases on the floor in unsightly positions, when he asked the nearest ones, “I am looking for Gaby Walden. You know where I can find her?”

  Whoever paid any attention and understood him, shook his head and slurred, “Never heard of her” and “Pour yourself some wine.”

  “Then tell me, where can I find Sam Wertheim?” he inquired further while seething inside.

  “Oh, him… you can always find him upstairs in a bedroom. Better knock first a few times as he may be busy,” he grinned coyly.

  His heart pounded faster, fearing the worst. All bedroom doors were wide open, looking undisturbed, except for one. He didn’t even bother to knock, entering a small sitting parlor, with an open entrance which was obviously the bedroom. There was Sam, whom he had encountered several times from
the store previously while asking for Astrid. He was still in an elegant suit and tie on the floor, asleep or passed out. He didn’t care, but noticed Gaby on the bed, with her head on the side, still lots of vomit on the pillow and floor. He checked her pulse and heartbeat, which was alright, but knew at once that one of the men got her drunk and had tried!

  Doubtless her sick condition had discouraged them some. However, he suspected Bertram in the scheme right away; no telling what deal he had made. Or was Bertram trying to get her too? He lifted her dress and saw some bloody discharge and his first thought was rape! Running downstairs, he asked aloud for the location of the phone and dialed his former hospital to send an ambulance, as inconspicuously as possible, to Hirschenstraβe 47, as he wanted to avoid a scene. He knew and liked the Wertheims, and the reputation of the von Waldens was at stake. It was, without a doubt, the carefully planned work of Bertram, who was nowhere to be found.

  He waited for what seemed to be an eternity at the hallway until a small ambulance arrived.

  “Dr. Rosatti, do we need a stretcher?”

  “Absolutely!”

  Hearing it, a few slightly intoxicated girls pulled their partners strongly by their sleeves, whispering rather in panic. “Let’s get out of here. Someone is dying!”

  “Where the hell is Sam?”

  In no time, the place emptied itself. Many were staggering out and taking some deep breaths for fresh air, obviously wondering how they would make it home. Bertram had made a promise to many that a few taxis would arrive by midnight when the last trolleys were ending their routine fares. Lucas tipped each ambulance attendant in Swiss francs, asking them to forget the incident.

  Arriving at his former working place, he summoned a colleague in the nearby emergency room to give Gaby a thorough checkup, just in case she was in any way molested. Two doctors returned from the examination telling him that she was alright, but had her menstrual cycle, and a nurse was in the process of cleaning her up and making all other arrangements. However, they suggested to put a tube down her throat to get the rest of food or alcohol out. “Although she is still asleep, she is from time to time moaning. I suspect something was put in her glass.”

  “No doubt about it,” the nurse replied.

  “Well then, that explains it. She may have been too weak or too sleepy to get all of it out.” the entering doctor confirmed.

  “Her unsuspecting mother gave her permission to attend a graduation party at the Wertheims’.”

  “You mean the Wertheims from the department store?”

  “Yes and no. The Wertheims are in France vacationing, but trusted their nephew with a party. Absolutely no supervision. You should have seen that crowd.”

  The doctor smiled and sighed. “How well I remember!”

  Lucas only gave an agreeing nod, having never known any of those days. He looked at his watch and was surprised to notice that the last tram had left already and thought of a worried Astrid. “May I use the phone and call the girl’s mother? She must be sick with worry by now.”

  “Over here, Doctor Rosatti.”

  He explained the present situation, told her Gaby was in the best of care at the Wilhelminen hospital.

  “Your former place?”

  “Yes, Mrs. von Walden, and not a word will be said to anyone. Poor thing didn’t know what she was drinking; otherwise she is alright. Did you by any chance see or hear from Bertram?”

  “No… I am sorry.”

  “Good, because I would let him have it.”

  “I don’t know what you mean. He only wanted to have his sister with his nice friends.

  “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  With that statement, he hung up and directed a question to the waiting nurse. “Will there be anyone with her until Miss von Walden wakes up?”

  “I will. And I have to get some of the usual information. By the way, we worked together for a few days, Dr. Rosatti.”

  “I thought I knew you, but couldn’t quite place you. Where at the hospital?”

  “The mortuary,” she smiled. “And thank God they realized how useless I was.”

  “Not useless. It’s not everyone’s favorite place. But remember, the dead ones do us no harm,” he recited, before a doctor took him by his arm.

  “I was supposed to work until midnight before you came in,” he said in jest. “And now you need a ride home!”

  “Right! Now that would be very nice after my horrendous experience of a few hours ago.”

  “Glad to do it.”

  They only talked about his return trip to Lausanne, and this time for good, with very little chance of ever returning to Vienna. Gaby was never mentioned.

  ∼

  The moment Andreas opened the door, Astrid told him that a good and a bad thing happened in the last few hours while he was gone.

  “Just tell me the good first so I’ll be able to take the bad one better,” he smiled.

  “Andreas,” she sighed. “Lucas wants to marry Gaby!”

  “I could have told you that!” She looked astonished. “Now the bad thing, mother?”

  “Well, Bertram took Gaby to Wertheim’s party, and she drank much too much for her own good,” she said, searching for the right words. “Lucas came by, as I said, to ask for her hand in marriage and when I told him she was at Wertheim’s party, he got very upset, went to them and found Gaby drunk and took her to the hospital. He just called a short time ago telling me she is all right but decided to let her rest overnight there.”

  “Now who does Gaby know in Wertheim’s circle that Lucas and I don’t know?”

  “Well, Bertram took her over there and promised to have her back by ten.”

  “Bertram!” he yelled. “And you let her go with him?”

  “I thought he was reliable, though now I am not so sure. But maybe he got drunk too? Who knows what goes on at a party?”

  “Didn’t you tell me that the Wertheims are in France?”

  “Yes, it was Sam’s party and everyone there graduated from his university.”

  “So, what does that mean, Mother? They wouldn’t try with a girl like our Gaby?” he yelled again. “Why didn’t you tell me about it? I would have gone with her! First thing in the morning I’ll ride over there.”

  “Don’t make a big thing out of it, Andreas. They all are so kind to us.”

  “Well let’s hope for the best. Good night, Mother!” he said finally, seeing that he upset her terribly.

  9

  Grabbing her pillow to sleep, she felt some paper rattle, and turned her light back on, only to find four fifty Swiss francs notes and a piece of paper saying, ‘Good-bye. Bertram.’ She jumped out of bed and ran to Andreas’ room.

  “Andreas, I know you are tired,” she pleaded almost in tears.

  “I am not! I am thinking of poor Gaby and her experience at her first party.”

  “Well something isn’t right… look at it!” She threw the money and enclosed good-bye note on his bed and started to shake.

  “Does this surprise you? I never could imagine that scoundrel was so nice to us for nothing!”

  “Don’t say that, Andreas. We are talking now of more than three years. I was sure he had changed for the better.”

  “Then why has he never lived with us? Unless he lives a secret life we, or rather you, wouldn’t approve of!”

  “Rupert and his parents are very nice people.”

  “I agree, but both fellows live in an apartment at Rupert’s parents.”

  “I will call him. Maybe he knows.”

  “Yes, why don’t you?” Needless to say, no one answered. Rupert was on his way back to Vienna to see his parents and then to visit the von Waldens at once.

  “I get no answer. Maybe I’ll call his parents.”

  “No, mother. You’ll just worry them in the middle of the night. Rupert may not have told his parents where he is going or he is on duty. Let’s wait until tomorrow. But before we do anything, let’s wait for Lucas and Gaby. She will tell
us everything. Please calm down, Mother, and get some rest.”

  “How can I after the note and money? It has to mean something.”

  “He was always secretive, unpredictable, and like his father said, a compulsive liar.”

  “Not since he returned from the war. My God, Andreas… he was always so good to all of us,” she lamented in tears, almost furious at Andreas for calling him a liar. She thought of her husband… where was he when she needed him most. But then again, Bertram would have never been around. Astrid never slept a wink and was brewing coffee when Lucas and Gaby arrived.

  “Good morning. We were lucky to get a taxi cross-town,” he said in an upbeat tone. Gaby looked straight at her mother’s tired face, but nevertheless said firmly, “Don’t ever send me with Bertram anywhere!”

  “I won’t, Gaby. I had no idea… I am so very sorry. Look at that,” she said handing both the note.

  “Ha!” Lucas replied. “That is probably the money.” He didn’t elaborate further, but gave Gaby a chance to tell her mother what she told the doctors in his presence.

  “Now tell me exactly what happened the moment you left the house,” she pleaded, stroking her hair, while Lucas served them the coffee.

  “He brought me to Wertheim’s and promised to bring more girls from my school so I would feel comfortable. Once in the living room, he introduced me to some students who didn’t know who he was, as I overheard some people ask about it until someone answered that he was Sam’s and Abbe Koch’s friend. Sam came over and told the waiter to get me a glass of wine, and Bertram left, I thought, to get my friends. Then Sam came again, and had a friend with him by the name of Herbert something, and I asked for some raspberry soda, which he did bring me. It was so hot in the room I gulped it down and that is the last thing I remember until I woke up at the hospital.”

  “Oh, dear God!” Astrid cried, with her hands folded looking towards heaven.

  “Don’t worry Mrs. von Walden, no one touched her. I had her thoroughly examined.”

  “You did?” Gaby’s face turned bright red. “When?”

  “Around midnight… as soon as I got there. You were still deep asleep,” he smiled. Thinking of her monthly period immediately, she moaned, covering her face instinctively. “Oh, dear God!”