Yesterday Was Long Ago: Part Two Page 14

  “Gaby, those were specialists. That’s all they do.”

  “How can I ever thank you, Lucas? You came at the right time.”

  “Never mind. Men have an instinct too. And while we are talking about it, I’ll take a ride to the Wertheim’s, hoping the pig is up by now!”

  Astrid looked shocked at his outburst, but only replied, “Don’t get too upset, Lucas. I’ll settle it when the family is back.”

  “Right… with him denying everything and us in Lausanne,” he replied and closed the door.

  “Mother, I had my monthly, you know… so you see, I was safe; but I didn’t want to tell Lucas or the doctors that I saw Bertram give Sam a wink and turned away from me when they whispered. After all, for you, Bertram meant family.”

  “No more Gaby. As a matter of fact, the moment you children leave, I have a warrant out for him, but first I’d like to call Rupert again.” Gaby felt relieved. “I have a feeling everybody knows more than you and I do, Gaby.”

  “Indeed, we do,” said Andreas upon entering the room, kissing first his mother, then Gaby on both cheeks. “I’ll bet Mother didn’t sleep at all, and me just a few hours. Gaby, I was so glad to hear your voice.”

  “You don’t know how I felt when Lucas brought her back.”

  “I can imagine. Where is he now?”

  “Going to see Sam Wertheim.”

  “That should be quite interesting. Lucas with his Swiss accent and Sam with his Jewish one, though both speak German well… but nevertheless—”

  After ringing the doorbell several times, a male servant finally opened the door. “I am Dr. Rosatti, and would like to see Sam Wertheim,” he said kindly to the surprised servant.

  “Please come in. The place is in a big mess. As long as my wife and I have worked here, we never experienced anything like this at all. Mr. and Mrs. Wertheim are out of town.”

  “That’s why I am here,” he interrupted, knowing the rest of the story.

  A chubby young man with a rather arrogant look on his face walked down the steps, tying his monogrammed silk house robe. He didn’t even bother to say good morning or excuse himself for the messy place. “We celebrated our graduation,” he said with an hauteur Lucas hated with a passion.

  “I am Dr. Rosatti, Gaby von Walden’s fiancé, and according to my sources, I know where all of you … well, let’s call it graduated.”

  Sam knew at once that he was not only a doctor’s doctor, but also a man he couldn’t talk down to, never mind pick an argument. That he was Gaby’s fiancée was his biggest surprise. “That Bertie will get his,” he thought to himself.

  “So, what can I help you with?” he asked with a mixture of fear and sarcasm.

  “I’d like to know how you were able to get Miss Gaby von Walden to come?”

  “Very simple. Please take a seat. Her brother Bertram said she could attend my party and I agreed.”

  “A man like you has to do better than that,” he said very curtly.

  “Why don’t we wait until Bertie von Walden is present. Somehow I’ll feel better.”

  “To begin with, we both know he is her stepbrother, is called Bertie the Pimp, and according to the note he left his mother, he is not coming back.”

  “What makes you think that?” Sam asked very uneasily.

  “The note said ‘good-bye’ and included some money he must have received from selling his stepsister,” he said calmly as he watched Sam’s face tighten. “Will you settle with me…or with the police? As I have the distinct feeling that rape was the intention, and I’ll tell you why. Before midnight, I came to this God-forsaken bawdy house and was told by those drunken ‘graduates’,” he emphasized strongly. “that I would find Gaby and you in one of those upstairs bedrooms. You can imagine how happy I was to find my sick fiancée in the bed, unconscious and you on the floor nearby. Well, either asleep or unconscious.” Lucas made sure the nearby servants heard every word, and Sam was too occupied to notice them. “I called the ambulance.”

  “You did?” he jumped up.

  “Don’t worry, it was from my former hospital. They were told by me to be discreet about it.” Sam gave a sigh of relief. “Now it’s your turn to tell me the truth, and I mean the truth!”

  “I cannot because I am too embarrassed, afraid, or plain ashamed,” he said, looking at the floor. “But I swear I did not touch her. Frankly, I don’t know how I got upstairs either. Since I am never drunk, I suspect some foul play was involved, and I suspect none other than Bertie, and that’s the reason he is not coming back, or Vienna would have one more prisoner in jail.”

  “Well, Mr. Wertheim, the reason I spared you more difficulty is because everyone I know thinks very highly of your relatives, and it is for their sake that I shall not pursue this matter any further. I know you are among many who have been had by Bertie the Pimp and I am sure you knew him under this name quite well.”

  Sam nodded. “I know, as a doctor, you must have seen plenty.”

  “I would say not quite a crowd like that from last night.”

  “But I assure you no one was raped.”

  “How would you know? Anyway, I am leaving for Switzerland; the chances are we will never see each other again as you will return to America.”

  “In a month. My parents and I want to see more of Austria. We were all born in Vienna and immigrated about twenty years ago,” he said, feeling extremely relieved. “And I am sorry we had to see each other like that. But I will tell all my family, so they won’t hear it from someone else. As you know, it’s never repeated the same way.”

  “I know,” Lucas said, though he was sure Sam would never tell them the whole truth. Both blamed, in parting, Bertie the Pimp, being sure he would not be around for a long time.

  ∼

  “How did it go?” was Astrid’s first question.

  “Well… in the beginning I did not like him at all. But as I cornered him and he knew he had no way out, he apologized sincerely. I imagine he thought he could try to put his charm on Gaby, possibly get her to submit, but a rapist he is not! He blamed everything on Bertram. God only knows where he is hiding."

  “Lucas, I swear to you, the moment he comes back I’ll have him arrested.”

  “I’d like to see that,” he smiled.

  “Rupert called and would like to talk to all of us. We all have to hear what he has to say. He possibly lied to him too, or Bertram would be with him. After all, they were friends,” Astrid lamented.

  “A man like him is a Judas!”

  “And just to think how good his parents were to him. By the way, did you mention to Gaby what you told me last night?”

  “Yes, I did, as the opportunity presented itself, otherwise it would have been the very wrong timing, considering those horrible circumstances. I was called by her nurse the moment she woke up and by six, I took the first tram to see her.”

  “Well, what did she answer you … if I may be so frank?”

  “You may be, Mrs. von Walden. I was more shocked when she took everything so calmly and only replied that she had expected it someday.”

  “How wonderful for both of you!”

  “That’s what I was thinking. You have not the slightest idea how I thought for years, why would a beautiful girl like her take on a guy like me?”

  “Don’t degrade yourself. There is not a girl that would turn you down.”

  “Strange you should say that. I heard the same words last night at the Professor’s dinner party.”

  “You see?”

  “Well, they didn’t know how sweet and beautiful Gaby is… that’s the difference.”

  Gaby heard some voices in her bedroom and assumed Lucas was back. “Hi, Lucas! Was he rude, conceited, or both?” Gaby smiled at him warmly. She felt exhilarated after Lucas’ offer but was not about to show it.

  “Everything considered, it went quite well. He promised to tell his family all about it.”

  “So what?” she stated ironically. “Knowing them as mother and
I do, they will buy him a new suit or get him a new expensive watch for being so innocent and honest. He will twist everything around and throw it at Bertram.”

  “As it should be,” Lucas replied.

  “Speaking of a watch,” Astrid said handing her a box. “I baked a cake for this evening too, waiting for the whole family to be together, never thinking it would turn out this way.”

  “It turned out quite well for me.” Lucas smiled while Gaby opened the box. “How very beautiful, Mother!”

  “Wertheim had it shipped from America, among many other items for themselves,” she verified, fearing someone may think it came from Bertram.

  “Mother, this is a gorgeous watch. Even the box is elegant! Maier & Berkele Jewelers since 1887.” She took her old one off and put the new one on immediately, giving each one a look at it.

  “Happy Birthday, Gaby,” Andreas said, feeling a bit embarrassed, as all he could afford were small earrings. “Once I have money, you’ll get nicer things.

  “You are the best brother anyone could ask for. You are priceless!” He liked her opinion of him, as he felt the same way about her. Lucas came next with a nicely wrapped book.

  “It’s a love story,” he smiled. “just right for a young lady like you.”

  “I heard about it,” she raved, very pleased. “Renate is still reading it; she got it for her birthday too.” It was Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, one of the first translations in French.

  “Thank you so much, Lucas. It’s something I will always treasure,” she said with a gleaming face.

  “Your Aunt and Uncle will give a party for you upon our return. Then, I’ll have another little gift, and hope you will like it just as much.”

  “I am sure I will,” she said, when Hermine, still dressed up from her four-hour journey, entered. “Happy Birthday, Gaby,” she said, obviously relieved that the cake was still not cut.

  “How was your vacation,” Astrid asked.

  “It was raining most of the time. I should have stayed here, as my parents and I didn’t part on the best of terms.”

  “Oh, wait until you hear our story.” Astrid grumbled, trying not to appear angry. “Later. Much, much later when our children are gone, and you and I are all alone.”

  “That bad, Baroness?”

  “Worse,” Astrid answered.

  “Now with Rupert appearing any minute, the family will be complete, and we can sing ‘Happy Birthday’. After all, he was, for the last few years, part of our family too.” They all nodded in agreement, and Hermine gave Gaby a box and went to her room to change her travel clothes, but thought about her mistress’ remark; and with no sign of Bertram, she knew something was wrong, but would never permit herself to ask any questions pertaining to von Walden family affairs, let alone the shameless Bertram.

  Rupert came in fully unprepared for Gaby’s birthday, and his face showed his frustration.

  “Never mind, Rupert. I am surprised at myself for pulling a small party off. We were only waiting for you with our singing, since you have one of the best voices.” He only gave a forced smile, and all present could see he had been through a big calamity too, never mind the real truth.

  No sooner than the cake was finished, Gaby had showed Hermine and Rupert all her presents and tried Hermine’s light blue hand crocheted sweater on, the phone rang. Astrid, standing nearby, picked it up and heard a thunderous voice demanding to speak to Bertram. “Bertram is not here!” she replied curtly, and everyone got quiet.

  “That cannot be true, Mr. Blumenfeld, as he has plenty of money. But be that as it may, if your son is owed money, I will make sure you or he gets it back very soon.”

  “Good, and he borrowed from Abbe Koch too.”

  “Then he will get it back as well. As you doubtless know, Bertram is not my son and has not lived with his family for the last ten years.”

  “Is that so?” Then you better watch out for your little girl, too, because she is a drunk!”

  “I’ll make you pay dearly for that remark, Mr. Blumenfeld. My daughter went there invited, got a spiked drink, and ended up in a hospital to get her stomach pumped. The doctors immediately suspected foul play,” she fumed. Gaby held Lucas’ upper arm very tight and Andreas got up simultaneously with Rupert to show support. “What do you mean, you will investigate? I have a policeman already here to get to the bottom of this mess. Yes, you can talk to him.” She handed the phone to a rather anxiously waiting Rupert, knowing how much better he was informed, while she took a seat next to Lucas, who put his arm around her and said, “Calm yourself. I will not leave here until the matter is settled. All I have to do is send a telegram.” Gaby reached over and nodded in agreement.

  “This is Sgt. Foster. What’s your problem?” he asked firmly. Blumenfeld repeated his story, adding ‘foreign money’ scornfully, feeling well above a little Sergeant of the police force. After all, he owned four hat factories and hats were bought even if one could not afford a good dress to go with it.

  “There is no problem in getting the money back as I am in possession of it. But Bertram did not—I repeat DID NOT—borrow it. Those three boys gave it to him.”

  “What for?” he screamed. “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard if you don’t mind me saying so.”

  “I do mind, Mr. Blumenfeld. Not because I work for the police department, but because we are always investigating parties where certain girls are in high demand. Do I make myself clear?”

  “Very clear, Sergeant, but neither of those boys are in need of buying a drunken von Walden girl, no matter what her mother thinks. I have known their family’s reputation all my life from my patrons in Lindenfels. I imagine that’s why you are there to investigate.”

  “I am, but not the way you’d like to believe. I will make damn sure that those two rotten boys, Herbert and Abbe, will never again get any entrance in any of the Wertheims’ parties, and that includes you and your wife. The Wertheims will be informed as soon as they return from France.”

  “They were not there?” he asked, perplexed.

  “No! Only their nephew Sam, who, like your boys, also ‘borrowed money’. You can tell that bunch of liars they can pick it up at Breuner’s or call my police station in the ninth district at 74 Hahngasse!”

  “Who in the hell is Breuner?”

  “Ask your son and he will tell you all about it. Good day, Mr. Blumenfeld. I am sure we will meet again.”

  “Thank you, Rupert. Now, finish your cake. God, when will this all end?” Astrid cried.

  “Don’t worry, Mrs. von Walden; and you, Gaby, look all upset too. I will get those Jews and I’ll get them good!”

  Again, there was silence as no one ever said anything negative about the Wertheims or Silvermans. However, they were the only Jews Astrid had ever met and Rupert had possibly more experience. Lucas felt grateful to Rupert and complimented him. Now, he felt Astrid was in good hands and they were ready to leave as planned. He took Rupert to the side and whispered, “Go easy on poor Mrs. von Walden. Don’t tell her everything at once.”

  “Not only that,” Rupert whispered in return. “I will only tell her what I feel she ought to know. There is not a thing she can do about it anyway.”

  “Thanks.”

  “We decided to leave tomorrow as scheduled,” Lucas announced. “With Rupert and Hermine, you will be in very good hands.”

  Astrid smiled, relieved, as she wanted to spare Gaby anymore unpleasant accusations, knowing she was telling the truth. She was sure Rupert would be the best help possible.

  “Here are the names of those two doctors who examined Gaby. There is also the document from the hospital in case you need it,” Lucas stated matter-of-factly, and Rupert, taking the first glance at it replied, “That’s all I need. And will that self-important Blumenfeld ever be sorry he gave us a call!”

  “Rupert, how much did you have to give them? Or is it not any of my business?”

  “Don’t mind telling you, Mrs. von Walden. Sam gave him 300.00 d
ollars, Herbert Blumenfeld 500.00 Czech crowns, and Abbe Koch 300.00 Swiss francs.”

  “And you got the money?”

  “All of it and then some.”

  “Wonder what the money was for?” she inquired, stunned, when Andreas blurted out, “FOR GABY, MOTHER! I am sure he had planned it all along!”

  Gaby and Astrid held their hands in front of their faces with Hermine saying, “For the first time, I feel I am ahead of you, Baroness … and it took me only twenty years!”

  Lucas and Gaby were still holding hands tightly and Lucas said, tongue-in-cheek, “I don’t mind a day like this at all. Happy Birthday again, Gaby! It will be a day we will always remember.”

  Astrid opened a bottle of wine and said in jest, very definitely, “For men only!”

  Hermine laughed, preparing the glasses on a silver tray. “Just for a moment I’d like to be Hermann,” she giggled, and everyone applauded wholeheartedly.

  “Of course,” Astrid agreed, thinking that no one would have ever offered one crown to get her to bed. As sweet as she was, no man ever had any desire to court her.

  ∼

  Blumenfeld’s household was quite a different matter. Richard told his upset wife, Rosalia, to stay out of it, as it was an affair between gentlemen; providing one could call them that. They awaited the arrival of Sam Wertheim and Abbe Koch. Blumenfeld lost no time in calling both of them to set the record straight. Once more, it was a case of déjà vu involving Gaby Walden.

  Sam was nervous, not knowing how much Herbert’s strict and conceited father knew. Abbe Koch, Sr. was a problem. Those two boys had a lot to worry about. A trip to Paris was at stake, and all that for a blonde beauty no one even had gotten near. Sam spoke first. “What’s this all about?” he asked, knowing that he had nothing to lose.

  “How much does Bertram von Walden owe you?”

  “Who wants to know?” he replied sharply, feeling it was none of his business.

  “I do, because my son, Abbe, and you must get the money back.”

  “I don’t care about the money. I have plenty more,” he replied dismissively.