I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 188: Chapter 98: Sewer Escape

At two in the morning, Werner and Peter were at an abandoned factory in the Friedrichshain District.

It had once been a textile factory, but production stopped after the Wall went up. It had since become a gathering place for vagrants and Black Market dealers.

Werner led Peter through the dilapidated factory building to a sewer entrance in the rear courtyard.

Franz was already waiting there, holding two flashlights and a map.

"Boss," Franz said, handing the flashlights and map to Werner. "I’ve marked the whole route. Go down here and follow the main pipe west for two kilometers. You’ll see a fork—go left. After another kilometer, there will be a manhole shaft leading to the surface. That’s the Kreuzberg District in West Berlin."

Werner took the map, examined it carefully, then handed it to Peter.

"Memorize this route. The sewers are dark, they stink, and there are probably rats, but it’s the safest way for you right now. We’re too short on time to risk the checkpoints. Besides, I’ve been making the crossing a bit too often lately. If I get spotted, the entire network will be compromised."

Peter took the map, his fingers still trembling. He looked at the pitch-black sewer entrance and took a deep breath.

"I’m ready."

"Wait." Werner pulled an envelope from inside his coat and pressed it into Peter’s hand. "This has five hundred West German Marks and Reinhard Mueller’s contact information. When you get to West Berlin, find him. He’ll arrange a place for you to stay and get you identification papers."

"Thank you." Peter took the envelope and looked at Werner. "Mr. Betelich, I don’t know how I can ever thank you..."

"Don’t thank me." Werner waved a hand dismissively. "Just get out safely and don’t get caught. That’s the best thanks you can give me."

Peter nodded firmly. He took one last look at the East Berlin night sky, then switched on his flashlight and walked toward the sewer entrance.

Franz helped him lift the heavy iron cover, and a foul stench immediately billowed out.

Peter frowned but didn’t hesitate, climbing down the iron ladder.

"Remember, head west," Werner called out a final instruction. "And go left at the fork."

"I remember," Peter’s voice echoed from below.

The beam of the flashlight bobbed in the dark sewer, slowly receding until it finally vanished around a bend.

Franz replaced the iron cover and brushed the rust from his hands. "Boss, you think he’ll make it out?"

"He will." Werner lit a cigarette. "I’ve taken that route myself. It’s clear."

"So what do we do now?"

"Go home and get some sleep." Werner turned and walked toward their parked car. "At six tomorrow morning, the Stasi will go to make the arrest and find Peter gone. Pastor Weber will say he went out last night and that he doesn’t know where. Then the Stasi will come to me and ask if I know anything."

"And what will you say?"

"I’ll say I don’t know either." Werner exhaled a plume of smoke. "That Peter is a cunning one. He must have caught wind of the plan and fled."

Franz nodded and followed Werner to the car.

The car drove through the empty streets, streetlights flashing past one by one.

Werner leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes.

’Not all of it was a lie.’

’I do believe that history will remember people like him. Those who hold fast to the truth in the darkness, those who refuse to be silent—they will be remembered one day.’

’But more importantly, I can’t let anything happen to Pastor Weber’s nephew. That would destroy my Church network.’

’So you see, even when I’m "doing a good deed," I have my own selfish reasons.’

’But at least...’ Werner opened his eyes, watching the sky slowly lighten outside the window. ’...the outcome is good. Peter survived; he can continue to speak out. The others in the reading group won’t face harsh punishment. And Pastor Weber’s network is secure.’

’That’s enough.’

******************

At 8:30 in the morning, Werner’s phone rang.

It was Von Brown.

"Betelich, Peter Weber has fled." Von Brown’s voice was filled with barely suppressed rage. "How the fuck were you keeping tabs on him?"

Werner feigned surprise. "What? Fled? What happened?"

"At six this morning, Vonke’s men went to make the arrest and found Peter wasn’t at his residence. Pastor Weber said he went out around ten o’clock last night and still hasn’t returned." Von Brown took a deep breath, his voice growing even colder. "Betelich, he was on your watchlist. Why didn’t you know he was planning to run?"

"Major, I..." Werner paused. "I observed him last week. The reading group had already stopped meeting. I thought he was just laying low. I had no idea he was preparing to flee."

"Laying low?" Von Brown sneered. "He caught wind of something! Do you know who informed on him yesterday? It was a member of his reading group, a man named Anton. He had some family trouble and was desperate for money, so he sold Peter out to Vonke. Vonke’s office approved the arrest warrant yesterday afternoon and planned to move this morning."

A thought struck Werner. "The warrant was approved in the afternoon? Then how did Peter find out?"

"What do you mean?"

"Major, think about it," Werner said, lowering his voice. "The tip was handed to Vonke yesterday afternoon, and the warrant was approved that same afternoon. Logically, only people in Vonke’s department should have known. But Peter fled at ten o’clock last night. What does that tell you?"

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.

"Are you saying... someone tipped him off?" Von Brown’s voice took on a dangerous edge.

"I wouldn’t dare speculate," Werner said cautiously. "But the timeline is highly suspicious. If Peter had really sensed the danger on his own, he would have fled much earlier. Why last night, specifically? And his escape was so clean—he didn’t even pack a bag. It’s clear he was acting on precise intelligence."

Von Brown didn’t answer immediately. Werner could hear the flick of a lighter on the other end of the line, followed by a deep drag of a cigarette.

"Were the others arrested?" Werner asked.

"They were," said Von Brown. "The other four from the reading group: Maria, Lucas, Anton, and a female student named Emma. Vonke’s men brought them all in."

"And what did they have to say?"

"They all claim they don’t know where Peter went." Von Brown paused. "However, with Peter gone, this can’t be escalated into a major case. The others are just participants. Without the ’organizer,’ Vonke’s department can only give them a lecture and let them go."

Werner breathed a silent sigh of relief. ’Peter is gone, and the others are safe.’

"Betelich," Von Brown’s voice grew cold again. "Find Peter Weber, or at least find out where he went. If you can’t, you’d better start thinking about how you’re going to answer to me."

"Yes, Major. I’ll do everything I can."

After hanging up, Werner leaned back in his chair and lit a cigarette.

’Von Brown is starting to suspect that Vonke’s department has a mole.’

’This was good news for Werner. Von Brown’s attention would shift from him to the internal factional struggles.’

’The Stasi was already riddled with mutual distrust. With Peter’s escape, Von Brown would certainly suspect that people under Deputy Director Herman had deliberately let him slip away.’

’As for Werner, he just needed to make a show of "searching" for Peter for a few days before reporting to Von Brown that he couldn’t be found and had likely escaped to West Berlin. Von Brown would be furious, but the brunt of his rage would be directed at Vonke and the faction behind him.’

Werner exhaled, watching the smoke dissipate into the air.

’Peter should be in West Berlin by now.’

’The sewer route only takes three hours. Add in some time for getting lost in the pipes, and it’s four hours at most.’

’It was 8:30 in the morning. By now, Peter would have already climbed out of the manhole and be standing in the West Berlin sun.’

’The Stasi would never find him.’

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