Meet Krueger

I very carefully and casually run my hand over my coat to check if I can still feel the outline of the gun underneath.

“Stop doing that.” Clarke whispers to me. “Somebody might notice.”

“I’ll try.”

“Don’t worry. It’s not going anywhere.”

The two of us stop when we reach a corner.

“The bar is right around this corner. I don’t want to go in together. You go first, and fade into the surroundings.” He tells me. “I’ll be a few minutes behind you.”

“Where do you want to meet after?”

“Just go right back to Lyudmila’s. Make sure nobody follows you.”

“I understand. I will see you soon.” I say to him and round the corner. The bar is just a few doors down. I read the sign before opening the door.

Every head in the room looks at me when I step through the door. So much for going unnoticed. The women are the first to look away, then most of the men. A few continue to stare at me as I awkwardly make my way over to the bar.

A drunk staggers over to me. “Eyy devushka!” I don’t even look at him.

“Y-you should come back to my place!” He slurs and grabs my arm.

“In your dreams.” I growl and yank my arm back.

“Oh come on!” He begs, reaching out and trying to grab my chest. I pull back and slap him across his face. He looks at me, stunned.

“You’re lucky I didn’t hit you in your pathetic balls.” I tell him. “Fuck off.”

He slinks away, and I turn to the bartender approaching me.

“I’ve never seen you here before.” He says, wiping a glass.

“I’ve never seen you here before either.” I joke.

“Hey, girls like you are good for business.” He tells me. “Can I get you something to drink?”

“One second.” I say, and search through my pockets. Empty. How could I forget?

“I’m sorry.” I tell him. “I don’t think that I have enough money.”

“It’s okay.” A voice comes from my left. “I’ll buy her a drink.”

I turn to see a man step up to the bar next to me. If it weren’t for his disgusting uniform, I might even say that he’s handsome. He is very well groomed, blonde hair trimmed neatly and parted down the side, a strong face and piercing blue eyes. He looks to be in his mid twenties.

“What would you like?” The bartender asks me.

“Vodka please.”

“What is your name?” The man asks me politely.

“Tatyana.”

“A fitting name. A pretty name.” He says.

“Thank you.” I say. The bartender puts my shot down on the bar. “And thank you for the drink.”

“Oh please, it was the least I could do. My name is Friedrich Krueger, but you can call me Fritz.”

All of the color leaves my face. “It’s nice to meet you… Fritz.”

The bartender places a mug of beer in front of Fritz. He picks it up and holds it in front of me. I pick up my shot and smile nervously.

“Prost.” He says, and I nod. The two of us clink our glasses together before drinking.

“So what do you do?” He asks me. “I’d like to know more about you.” He takes a sip of his beer.

“There’s not much to know.” I say, stalling. “I’m just a simple peasant girl.”

“How come I’ve never seen you in here before?”

“I haven’t really been out much since… you know.”

“I see.” He says. “But not all of us are bad. When you are in my company, you have nothing to fear.”

“Excuse me, sir.” I hear a familiar voice, and look up to see Clarke on the other side of Krueger

“You know, this is my favorite bar.” Fritz tells me, ignoring him.

“Sir.”

“Can you take a fucking walk?” Krueger snaps at him. “We’re having a conversation. Find your own girl.”

“I just wanted to ask you a question.”

“Stop bothering us!”

“It’s just that you look like a traveled man. Have you ever been to Spain?”

Krueger sets his beer down and sits straight up. All expression leaves his face.

“No.” Krueger says quietly. “But I’ve been to Greece. Twice.”

“Maybe you’d like to step outside for a cigarette?” Clarke asks.

“There’s a back door.” Krueger says, and stands up. He gives me one more look of longing before heading towards the back of the bar.

Clarke glances over to him, then at me, before he stands up and follows him. I wait a few more moments, before standing up and following them myself. I peer around a corner to see a door closing, and creep up next to it. I place my ear against the wall to hear a conversation in English.

“Your timing couldn’t have been worse.” I hear Krueger scolding Clarke. “I was about to seal the deal before you showed up!”

“Hey, I might have done you a favor.” Clarke argues. “These Russian girls are crazy.”

“Crazy hot. My ‘superiors’ warned me about them, but I don’t care. Not if they look like that.”

“I’d fuck her too, not going to lie.” Clarke says with a laugh. I roll my eyes and smirk.

“Let’s make this quick so I can go back and get her.” Krueger urges.

“So how did a man like you end up in such a uniform?” Clarke asks.

“I was born in Munich.” Krueger says. “Grew up there, and moved to New York when I was eight. “I got a call from the Führer, a call for all Aryan men to come home and fight for Germany. But I also got a call from Uncle Sam, and that’s the one that I intend to answer.”

“I admire your bravery.” Clarke says. “Now, onto business. I’d like for you to meet me and my associate somewhere a little more private.”

“Absolutely. Then we will be able to discuss matters more freely.”

I hear paper being unfolded. “Do you see this spot?” Clarke asks. “Can you meet me there tomorrow, at 1900?”

“I will be there.” Krueger says. “Now I’m going back in there and I’m going to fuck that girl.”

“Good luck with that.” Clarke tells him. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

When Krueger comes back inside, he doesn’t find me. I’m already gone.