Execution [Book 2 of The English Lion]

XXXVII. Colette

I am currently on a small plane heading towards Berlin. The Verrat and Alexander had been working on getting me in and out of Berlin that had been put together in a matter of hours, which was no surprise. I'm only spending a few days in Berlin, as to talk to Alexander in relation to confidential matters that could not be discussed over telegrams, letters, notes or even the phone.

I landed in Berlin in the early afternoon as I had departed from a local airfield in London quite early in the morning. There was a car waiting for me on the tarmac as I got off the plane with my luggage in hand. Alexander - wearing aviator glasses - was standing outside the car, which looks like a Volkswagen, based on closer inspections. He smiled as I got closer.

"Guten Tag, Colette. Hatten Sie hier einen tollen Flug ohne Probleme? [Good afternoon, Colette. Did you have a great flight here with no problems?]" He asked as he took my luggage to put it in the boot of the Volkswagen.

"Nein, überhaupt keine Probleme. [No, no problems at all.]" I replied as he opened the door of the shotgun seat for me. Alexander nodded as he closed the door before he made his way to the driver's seat. He got in then wore a seat belt. I did the same as he looked at me.

"How is she?" Alexander asked.

"Up to yesterday, she's not sleeping well or eating a lot. But she's working," I replied, watching him closely. Alexander sighed, as I notice he clenching his jaws.

"She really needs to eat and have a better sleep schedule," Alexander muttered, and I chuckled. He glanced at me, looking slightly confused.

"Well, Isabelle worries for you during our PhD years. It looks like her worries about your sleep and eating schedule had made a full circle," I explained.

Alexander smiled a bit, laughing quietly before he cleared his throat.

"I've asked Herr Hitler that I can take today and tomorrow off because I told him that a close friend of mine is coming to visit. Herr Hitler made me promise that you have to visit him in the Reichstag in two days as I go to work since he let me off today and tomorrow," Alexander informed me. I sighed.

"Alright," I muttered as he looked at me apologetically.

"You get to meet Hugo tomorrow and spend the day with him tomorrow. You're all mine today because I'm giving you a tour of Berlin, among a number of other things that I've planned to do with a close friend of mine today," Alexander told me, cheering me up immediately as I look at him amusedly.

"Oh really?" I asked as he started the car and drove it, as we headed to the city, going on a tour.

"Yeah," Alexander replied. Both of us spent the rest of the day laughing and visiting memory lane until it was time to have dinner at a local restaurant after I got to visit the hotel, and we picked up James and Hugo to have a carpool ride to the restaurant.

"Time to get my German act together," I heard Alexander mutter under his breath as he parked the car. I look at him apologetically, knowing that he hated it, but for the sake of the United Kingdom, he would carry out his duty. I was about to get out of the car but Hugo - being the gentleman - opened the door for me and helped me out. I smiled at him as the three of us walked in.

"Wie heißen Sie, Herr? [What is your name, sir?]" The receptionist asks Alexander.

"Alexander König. Ich habe eine Reservierung für vier um halb sieben. [I do have a reservation for four at six-thirty.]" Alexander replied and the three of us glanced at him. The receptionist checked the book and nodded before motioning us to follow him.

"Alexander König. Es-tu fou? [Are you out of your mind?]" Hugo asked quietly in French and in a low voice, looking at Alexander. James and I huddle closely to hear his reply.