She sat down with him a few weeks after the theft and wanted to make sure that Kurt didn’t want to steal for profit or gain. He assured her that the only reason he had taken that painting was because of Greta and the fact that the painting had originally belonged to her family. She asked him if he was willing to help “retrieve” a few more items that belonged to the ladies in her circle of friends. She let him know that these items had also been wrongfully obtained at a terrible cost by Hitler’s Army and that they would be return to their rightful owner. Kurt was so grateful that Heidi had not turned him over to the authorities that he readily agreed to help her retrieve the lost heirlooms.

Heidi had been busy the past few weeks. She had collected data on about a dozen items that needed to be retrieved. She had pictures, blueprints, passwords and personal information on the present owners. She laughed when Kurt’s jaw dropped at the extensive data she had collected.

“Where did you get all this information from?”

“You’d be amazed at how easy it is to get information from the society matrons once you start complaining about the hired help. Last week Greta and I hosted a luncheon for a few ladies and I happen to mention that my son had to change security firms because the system we had kept going off at all hours of the night for no reason. All of a sudden everyone was either singing accolades or disparaging their own security firms. I asked them which company they might recommend and they all started giving me detailed descriptions of their own security system. One of them even told me her password because she was so proud of the fact that no one would ever guess that she was using her ex-husbands middle name as her password.”

Kurt laughed, “You do have a way with people Heidi.”

“It doesn’t take much to get those ladies to start talking about even the most intimate details of their lives,” she commented. “Now, I think we should start with this piece.” She handed Kurt a picture of a pendant.

“It’s pretty. What is the history on this piece?” he asked.

“Have you heard of Faberge eggs?”

“The Czar Nicholas type Faberge eggs?”

“Exactly. This pendant was made for the Czarina by Faberge himself. It was an exact replica of an egg that the Czar had given her for Christmas. When the family was sent into exile, one of the ladies that helped clean the house and cook for the family became a confidant to the Czarina. She tried her best to make life as easy as she could with her limited resources. She smuggled in treats for the children and was even able to smuggle correspondence from the royals to their European cousins. As a thank you the Czarina gave the pendant to the woman. After the royals were murdered, the lady and her family fled to Germany in fear that they would be murdered as well. They managed to make a life for themselves in Munich and their children grew up and married locals. Her daughter married a Jewish man and her mother gifted her with the pendant on her wedding day. The rest is history – as they say. The couple was eventually sent to Dachau and never heard from again. The pendant disappeared and then reappeared after the war. I want to return it to its rightful owners.”

“Who does it belong to?”

“It belonged to Lisel’s aunt.” Lisel was another one of Heidi’s circle of friends. “I had the group over for dinner one night and I asked each one to think about something that had been taken from their family during the holocaust. I told them that I wanted to know that if given the chance - which of their family heirlooms would they want returned. Some of the items were of sentimental value while others were priceless but I made sure to list every item they mentioned.”

“Why?” Kurt’s curiosity was evident.

“I never really think about that time. It was painful the first time around without revisiting it all over again. However, you landed on my doorstep with this stolen painting wanting to right a wrong and I haven’t been able to get over the fact that Greta was overjoyed when I presented the painting to her. She insists that she has made peace with her life and is ready to go on whenever her time is up. The painting seemed to heal her shattered heart. You, Kurt, you - made that possible. My friends have been my family for so long and I know that many of them are but a shadow of what they were meant to be and all of that potential was stolen from entire families. I think we can help them come to terms with their past and help them let go of some painful memories by providing them with a piece of their loved ones.”

“You gave the painting to Greta?” Kurt had been wondering about the painting but didn’t have the nerve to ask Heidi about it.

“I did.”

“Did she asked you were you had gotten it from?”

“I did mention how it got to me. Rest assured Greta would never give you up to the authorities. Of course, she will have to hide the painting away from everyone except for close family members. It is after all stolen property but just having it in her possession has made a difference. She is grateful to everything you did for her family.”

“I didn’t even realize what I was doing at the time. I guess I have no impulse control and in this instance I’m glad it helped her and I am truly appreciative of the fact that you kept me out of prison. I couldn’t have gone to my family. My dad would have probably keeled over with another heart attack. You were the only one I could think of at the time.”

“I need you to take the time to think about what helping me would entail. I am not going to pressure you into anything you don’t want to do. If you don’t think you can do this with me then I will respect that and let this go. However, if you want to proceed I think we can make a difference in the lives of our friends.”

“Do you think we can do this and get away with it?”

“Yes. I think that between the two of us we can definitely succeed without getting caught. Understand that you will be the one taking most of the risks though, but I will be with you all the way.”

Kurt stood up and hugged Heidi. “Count me in,” he whispered in her ear wondering which of the items was the one Heidi wanted.

From that moment on they were inseparable. They spent every free moment planning their moves and collecting information from every source they could get their hands on. Kurt became quite proficient at sneaking in and out of places. His body was thin and he had a dancer’s fluidity that made it possible for him to skirt around obstacles in his path. Heidi suggested he train his body in the martial arts and he took up yoga as a way of relaxing. His body became toned and while his frame was not prone to massive muscles he was as close to physical perfection as he could get. No one would have guessed that under all those layers there was a body to die for.

Over time they eventually managed to retrieve all the items on the list without the authorities connecting the thefts. He had been questioned as part of different investigations due to his presence either before or during some of the thefts, but was always dismissed as a suspect. Kurt was sometimes offended that no one considered him a viable suspect although, he was glad he was never arrested. He didn’t think he could rock the jailhouse look. None of the items were ever recovered by the authorities and the insurance companies had to settle with their clients.

Heidi and Kurt met after the last item was retrieved and they had a celebratory drink. They had retired from the retrieval business and both were happy. They no longer had to worry about something going wrong during a retrieval. It had taken a toll on both of them mentally and physically but both were willing to pay the price for their friend’s happiness.

“Which item was for you?” This was the question Kurt had been dying to ask Heidi.

“None of them were for me,” she replied. “It was never about me – it was always about my friends. I am fine.”

“What would you have chosen?”

“Years ago, my family gave shelter to an artist named Beto David. My parents never asked for anything in return but Beto loved to paint and one day he decided to paint me wearing my favorite red jacket. At the time, my favorite color was red. He gave the painting to my parents as a gift. After my parents were sent to Auschwitz the painting disappeared only to reappear in the possession of the Muller family. They insist that my father sold it so that I would be looked after but my parents were arrested without any notice and of course the only people that can refute that statement are dead. It would be nice to have the painting back. I remember the smile on my mother’s face whenever she looked at the painting.”

“Which painting is it?”

“It is called “The Girl in Red” and it is a beautiful piece of work. However, we are done with our work Kurt and it is time to call it quits. I’ve appreciated your efforts and believe me when I say that you have very powerful families that count themselves as being in your debt. If there is ever anything and I do mean anything you ever need don’t hesitate to ask.” She bid him farewell and he left her estate feeling a bit sad that their adventures were over.

The jolting sensation of the wheels hitting the tarmac startled Kurt out of his memories. They had landed at Frankfurt and he could feel the nervousness setting in. He had an expensive, stolen piece of work in his possession and he needed to get through customs even though he had cleared security in New York. Most of the other items that he had taken had been housed in Europe so it was easier to get them across the open borders. This was a bit more challenging since he had the actual item on his possession and the chances of him being caught were greater.

Kurt traveled extensively to Europe. He had become friendly with some of the airport employees especially the customs personnel and baggage claim handlers. Kurt had figured out that a smile and a flirty personality went a long way. He noticed that Fritz and Anya were on duty at two of the custom windows and he maneuvered his way so that he made sure he was next in line at Fritz’ window. He straightened his clothes smiled brightly and made his way to the counter.

“Hello Mr. Hummel, anything to declare?” asked Fritz smiling widely. It was no secret that he had a crush on this handsome American but could never seem to gather the courage to ask for his number.

Kurt knew the effect he had on Fritz as he whispered huskily, “Nothing but boring old designs.”

Fritz blushed, “Can I please look inside the mailing tube?”

Kurt smiled even though his stomach was in knots. He gently slit his designs out and let Fritz look inside the container. He had taped a design to the front and back of the painting and if it was inspected carefully the painting would undoubtedly be discovered. Since Fritz was used to seeing Kurt and knew that he was a designer he let Kurt hold on to his designs and did a cursory check. Kurt kept up a lively conversation with him trying to distract him. Eventually Fritz stamped all the necessary paperwork and Kurt was able to finally breathe. He had made it through customs!

He quickly made his way out of the airport and over to the Hilton Hotel which was connected to the airport. Kurt enjoyed staying at the Hilton when he was not staying as a guest at someone’s estate. The windows were sound proof and he enjoyed being near the airport in case he had to make a quick exit.

He was in Frankfurt at the request of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, Angela Merkel. He had never designed a dress for her but he had been touted as one of the premier designers and her stepson was getting married soon and she wanted her gown to make a statement at the wedding. The wedding was still 7 months away but Kurt was in demand and the sooner a gown was ordered the better for everyone involved. It was also the perfect cover story so that his trip to Germany would be under the guise of a business trip. What better alibi than an appointment to see the leader of the German government? Kurt smiled at the irony.

w34;xxxxxxw34;

Heidi had caught pneumonia and her doctors were not very optimistic. She was not responding to the treatment and her body was weakening. Karl Wagner, Heidi’s son, sat at her bedside and watched her deteriorate a little every day. It seemed like she had nothing left to fight for and he just couldn’t face the fact that she seemed to have given up on life. He was not only her son but her confidant and she had shared with him her activities with Kurt. He had wondered what was going on when he noticed that his mother was spending a lot of time with Kurt and not spending a fortune.

He had decided to help his mother behind the scenes and he was the true brain behind the heists. Kurt did not know he was involved and Heidi had never wanted her son implicated in anything so she kept this information from Kurt.

Karl couldn’t figure out why his mother his mother was giving up and he grew desperate. He remembered hearing her tell Kurt about the painting “The Girl in Red” and he wondered if having the painting in her possession would make a difference. Karl loved his mother and so he picked up the phone and called Kurt.

Karl flew to New York to see Kurt and explained the situation. Kurt had been shocked at the extent of Karl’s role in their retrievals and he readily agreed to one last job. They stared planning that same day. Time was of the essence and Karl had come prepared with all the information Kurt needed and before he left New York the wheels were in motion. Now Kurt was in town with the painting and would be here tomorrow. Karl was hoping that this would rally Heidi’s strength and give her life new meaning.

w34;xxxxxxw34;

Kurt woke up on Tuesday morning and was waiting for a car to pick him up and take him to the building that housed the mayor’s office. Chancellor Merkel was meeting with the mayor in the morning and had scheduled in a quick meeting with Kurt right afterwards. Kurt was used to dealing with rich women but most of them were ladies whose spouses were the rich and powerful. He had never had a customer like Chancellor Merkel. He was thrilled that he had been asked to design her gown and fully intended on creating the most beautiful gown ever.

Kurt met with her for approximately 30 minutes and he promised her some preliminary sketches within the next 48 hours. He was to fly down to Berlin on Thursday to finalize the design. He was taken back to the hotel and arrived just in time to meet up with Heidi’s chauffer. He jumped in the car and before he knew it he was standing in front of Karl. They exchanged pleasantries as Karl led Kurt into his office.

“I can’t thank you enough for doing this Kurt,” he said.

“You know I would do anything for Heidi. How is she by the way?”

“She is not doing well. I think she’s tired and has given up the fight. It’s really frustrating to see her just lying there not getting any better. The doctor’s say that the treatments should be working but so far nothing seems to be working. I’m hoping that once she sees the painting it will help motivate her to start fighting. I’m desperate. Can I see it?”

Kurt rolled his designs out of the mailing tube and gently peeled the painting away from the designs he had taped to the front and back of the paining. He handed the painting to Karl.

“Wow! I never thought I would ever see this painting inside my home. I can’t wait to show it to mother!” He gently held the painting and walked over to his desk. He pulled out a simple frame and proceeded to put the painting into the frame. “I really want to get this professionally framed but since I can’t this will have to do. Come, let’s go see mother.” He started walking to the wing that housed Heidi’s suite.

They knocked on the door and a nurse let them in. “How is she doing?” asked Karl making sure to whisper in case she was resting.

“About the same,” answered the nurse.

“Is she awake?”

“Yes, she was asking who had arrived.”

Karl and Kurt walked into the bedroom and Kurt was surprised at how frail Heidi looked. Her face was pale and he could see by the bags under her eyes that she was not sleeping well.

“Mom, Kurt’s here and he brought you a surprise.”

“Kurt…,” whispered Heidi softly reaching to grab a hold of Kurt’s hand.

“I’m here Heidi. I heard you weren’t feeling well and I found something that might help you feel better.”

Karl handed him the painting and they both heard the gasp, “Nooo Kurt – what have you done?” Kurt was surprised at her reaction. He thought she would be happy to see the painting. “We were done with all of this sweet boy, why would you risk your future for this old woman?”

“I risked it because I love you and I knew you needed something to help you feel better.” Kurt could see the tears forming in her eyes. She squeezed his hand and said, “Thank you. Tell me how you did it. I am sorry you had to do this all alone.”

“I had help. Karl was very helpful. However, there was a complication. Somehow or other - word got out because there were police patrolling the perimeter of the museum. I managed to get in and out without being seen.”

“How did you get around the alarm system?” asked Heidi.

Kurt laughed, “That was the easiest part.”

“I thought they were designing a state of the art system for that painting?”

“I see someone has been keeping track of the painting,” said Kurt as he gently patted her hand.

“I tend to keep track of things I value – just like I always know where you and Karl are at any given moment in time,” she replied flippantly. Her cheeks were pink and Kurt could see that old spark slowly starting to gather steam.

“After Karl told me you weren’t feeling well we set the retrieval in motion. I happened to “bump” into Frau Muller in New York and I casually mentioned that I was designing Chancellor Merkel’s gown for her stepsons wedding. She was impressed and immediately asked if I could design her gown as well since she had been invited to the wedding. I told her I would have to get back to her as soon as I looked at my schedule since I am always booked far in advance. I didn’t want to appear too eager. I called her a few days later with the happy news that although I was booked solid, I would be willing to fit her in since she had impressed me with her beauty, style and flair. There was one condition – I would need to have access to her for one week before the wedding - the sooner the better and that I was free the following week.”

“Did she agree?”

“Even though the wedding isn’t until next year she agreed. I spent a week at her home and I must say I designed a gorgeous gown for her. I even mentioned that I would have it finished before Chancellor Merkel’s dress which impressed the hell out of her. She was giving me a tour of her home when I casually commented on all the art they owned. I had originally planned to stake out the home to get the painting from there, but she told me that they were getting ready to lend some pieces to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. When I squealed in delight, even though inside I was worried, she went on to show me the pieces they were lending out. “The Girl in Red” was the very first one she showed me. When I worriedly asked about the safety of the paintings she described in detail the elaborate system they insisted the museum have in place for their painting. She even mentioned that it could only be opened with their fingerprints. She gave me so many details that I figured it might be easier to steal it from the museum than from their home. Karl was able to get the particulars on the museum and I quickly managed to get a mold of the Muller’s fingerprints by switching their wineglasses during dinner.”

“But how did the police get involved?” asked Karl.

“Not sure - but that painting is worth millions. I’m sure there are plenty of thieves out there just waiting for a chance to steal that painting. I just happened to get there first.”

By this point in the conversation Heidi was sitting up in bed and asked Karl to help her sit on her chair by the fireplace. She was more animated than he had seen his mother in a while and he knew retrieving the painting had been a good idea. He would forever be grateful to Kurt.

“Kurt, I just want you to promise me that this is your last retrieval. Please promise me, on your mother’s grave that you will let this go from now on. I mean it Kurt,” she said when she sensed his hesitation in giving her his promise. “I will not be able to rest in peace unless I have your promise. I know you are a man of your word and you would die before breaking a vow.”

“I promise,” said Kurt as he hugged her gently. Heidi had become a very important person in his life and he knew that he would agree to anything to make her happy.

“Now, young man – met anyone special lately?” Kurt laughed as he started filling her in on his budding romance. He stayed for dinner and then hurried back to the airport to the hotel for some sleep before he started on the designs for Thursday’s meeting with the Chancellor. It was a good thing he already had some ideas running around his head.