Page 40 of All We Thought We Knew

“I must apologize, Miss Delaney,” Gunther said. “I was rude a moment ago when you were merely being polite by offering not to take too much of my time.”

Her serious gaze studied him. Gunther wondered what she saw. The enemy?

“You don’t need to apologize.” She gave a slight shrug. “I don’t actually understand why you and the others are being detained.”

“Nor do we.”

She seemed surprised by his response. “Didn’t they tell you?”

Gunther saw her earnestness, so he answered without sarcasm. “The authorities arrived at my apartment in New York City and took me to Ellis Island, where I was held for a month before I was given a hearing. No charges were brought against me. Only questions,” he said, shaking his head. “But they didn’t listen to my answers. They didn’t care that I was innocent of whatever it was they thought me guilty of. The other detainees have similar stories.”

Sympathy shone in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

The guard approached. “Ma’am, I need you to finish with this man so he can get back to work.”

Miss Delaney nodded. “Yes, of course.” She opened a brown file folder and took out a single sheet of paper. With pencil in hand, she looked up at Gunther. “State your name and where you were born.”

For a moment, Gunther’s mind flashed back to the interrogation in New York. The government men who came to his apartment asked the same questions. Had Miss Delaney been sent here to trick him? Perhaps they hoped his responses would be different if a pretty woman asked them.

“Gunther Schneider. I was born in Germany.”

He watched her closely to gauge her reaction, but she simply jotted down the information.

“What is your occupation?”

“I was a student at Columbia medical school, studying to be a doctor, before I was arrested.”

Her brow rose. “A doctor? That’s wonderful.”

Gunther glanced at the guard, then back to her. “It was, but now the question is, will I be allowed to return to my studies?”

Three men in military garb came through the door, chatting as they entered. They glanced at Gunther and Miss Delaney but continued to the long counter at the far end of the room where lunch foods were set out, filled their plates, and took a seat at one of the tables.

Miss Delaney returned her attention to Gunther. “We better hurry, before the room fills with hungry personnel.”

She proceeded to ask more questions. His age. His religious background. His family. Gunther provided the answers, although he didn’t elaborate on Rolf or his military involvement in Germany.

“That’s all the information we need.” She returned the sheet of paper to the folder.

Gunther stood. “Thank you, Miss Delaney.”

“It’s actually Mrs. Delaney.”

“My apologies.”

She nodded and seemed about to say something when a ruckus arose from the table where the soldiers dined.

“Help!” one of them hollered.

Gunther turned to see a man lying on the wood floor, with the other two gathered around.

“Someone help him. He isn’t breathing.”

The guard hurried to the group. He conferred with the men, then approached Gunther and Mrs. Delaney. “I’m going for a doctor,” he said. He gave Gunther a hard look. “You stay here. Understand?”

At Gunther’s nod, the guard ran out the door.

“I hope that young man will be all right.”