Free Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson Page A

They’ll confiscate everything. Call Joseph and tell him to gather up his things and come here to Zamość. When the family is all together, we must make plans to leave Europe.’
    “‘Leave Europe?’ Mother said. ‘Where would we go?’
    “‘America. I’ve already applied for a visa and I have a sponsor.’
    “Father put his hand on Ziggy’s shoulder to calm him down. ‘I agree the situation is serious, Ziggy, but we’re in no danger yet. Maybe you’re right about Austria, and I will call Joseph, but Poland is secure. We have a large army and I’ve heard no talk of invading Poland. In fact, Hitler just gave his word to Minister Beck that he will guarantee our borders. He doesn’t want to risk a fight with Poland.’
    “‘Risk a fight? Large army? We have no army compared to Germany,’ Ziggy said with a wave of his hand. ‘Hitler’s been arming for years; there’s no stronger army in the world. He invents excuses to invade. You think there’s no talk of invading Poland? He screams about Gdansk; the free city of Danzig. He screams about the Polish corridor. Right now, Abraham, he’s building roads to Poland. Maybe you can answer me. Why would he build roads to the Polish border?’
    “My father just shook his head. The talk went on well into the night. Otto and I walked Hannah home, came back, got ready for bed and they were still talking. My father wired his brother late that night, but Uncle Joseph only said he’d think about it. A few days later we learned that Chancellor von Schuschnigg had resigned, and that a new chancellor, a National Socialist, had taken over in Austria. On March 12, 1938, the German troops marched into Vienna to a great celebration. This was known as the Anschluss.”
    “Did your Uncle Joseph get out of Vienna?” Catherine said.
    “Eventually, but not in time. He came to us the following May with nothing but a suitcase full of clothes and a few pieces of hidden jewelry. His leg was broken. My Aunt Hilda had to help him walk.”
    The afternoon was waning, and Ben was tiring when Liam arrived.
    “We’re just wrapping up,” Catherine said.
    “I’m sorry, I couldn’t get here any sooner. Can I take you both to dinner?”
    “Ben is probably very tired – we’ve worked all afternoon,” Catherine said, poking Liam with a hidden elbow. “We should let him go home.”
    “What kind of dinner did you have in mind, Liam?” Ben said.
    “I thought maybe we’d grab a steak at the Chop House.”
    “Oh, that’s perfect. I could eat a horse,” Ben said.
    Catherine shot Liam a look from a squinted eye. “You two go on without me, I need to finish up some work.”
    “We wouldn’t think of it,” Ben said. “We’ll wait for you. How much time do you need?”
    “Excuse me a minute, Ben,” Catherine said as she pulled Liam aside. “I’ve been working with Ben for four hours, listening and taking notes for a lawsuit I doubt will ever be filed,” she whispered to Liam through clenched teeth. “I admit he’s very engaging and his story has captured my interest, but do you have any idea what this is doing to my practice? I worked until midnight last night. I have an unfinished motion sitting on my desk. I have Jenkins breathing down my back, and I’ve only billed twenty-one hours this week.”
    “Can you meet us at seven?” asked Ben from across the room.
    Catherine’s eyes sent darts of fire at Liam, who grimaced. She turned away and sighed. “Make it eight-thirty.”
    * * *
     
    Ben and Liam sat by the windows on the second floor of the Chop House overlooking Ontario Street. The westbound traffic was heavy and the gridlocked taillights cast a red hue throughout the room. Catherine was now thirty minutes late.
    “She doesn’t like me,” Ben said. “I’m not her kind of client.”
    “I think you’re wrong,” Liam said. “Don’t be so quick to condemn.”
    “She’s not a very happy woman. She rarely smiles. Maybe it’s just me.”
    Liam shook his head.