standing beside him. For decades, they tracked down war criminals that had escaped after the war. But rumor has it that they had a nasty breakup this past year.”
“They look more like a couple of guys who wandered away from Sunshine Village.”
“Don’t be fooled by the grandfatherly facades. I did a story on them a few years ago when I worked at Newsbreaker. It’s rumored that Sterling has Martin Bormann’s skull displayed in his office.”
Before Veronica could ask why anyone would keep this Martin fellow’s skull on display, or how it was connected to Maggie’s project, her mother entered the room like the Tasmanian Devil, speaking rapidly into a phone. Veronica hadn’t heard this many apologies from her mother in her life. Someone was in big trouble, and Veronica had the feeling it was Maggie.
She abruptly ended the call and eyed the group suspiciously. Zach was her first target. “I see you’ve taken it upon yourself to join us, Mr. Chester. Are you planning a story for your newspaper?”
“No, ma’am. My son TJ helped Maggie on her project and I’d like to get to the bottom of this as much as you. My son is very good at using Photoshop software, which I think might have played a role in many of the altered photos displayed during the presentation.”
Her mother sat down behind her desk, looking out of sorts. Veronica could tell she was craving a cigarette. Veronica didn’t smoke, but a shot of bourbon would have hit the spot right now.
She pointed at Sterling and Youkelstein. “Did you two get lost on your way to a hearing-aid convention?”
Sterling cleared his throat with an attitude, as if to say he shouldn’t have to introduce himself. “Ellen Peterson invited me. I will always make time for Holocaust survivors, even with the election so near, and so much to do.”
Seemingly unimpressed, she turned to Obi-Wan. “And you Mr. …”
“Youkelstein. I also received an invitation from Ellen. She mentioned in her video presentation that she believes Aligor and I can assist in stopping a group called the Apostles, who’s aim is to return the Reich to power.”
“And when we’re done with that, we can all fly to Mars for lunch. Do either of you have a previous relationship with Ellen?” she continued, while holding a stare at Maggie. To Maggie’s credit, she peered right back. “Since invitations were supposed to be given to family or close friends only, I’m confused by your presence.”
“I’ve known Ellen for years. My organization helped many people like Ellen who survived concentration camps. And her grandson, Carsten, worked for me at Sterling Publishing. That is why I didn’t hesitate to come when I received the invitation,” Sterling answered quickly.
Youkelstein added, “I would consider myself neither family or close friend, but she indicated to me that she was a fan of my books, which I assume was the reason for my invitation. She stated that she’d reveal secrets of Nazi Germany that would astound me, and she delivered.”
Principal Sweetney leaned back in her chair and sighed. “So let’s review the facts. During the Heritage Paper presentation, Maggie played a video of her great-grandmother, Ellen Peterson, in which Ellen confessed to lying about being a Holocaust survivor, and went on to claim that she had been taken in as a young girl by Adolf Hitler, who raised her in a hideaway in the Bavarian Alps.
“She later partook in a group calling itself the Apostles, which included a who’s who of Nazi war criminals such as Himmler, Rudolf Hess, and Heinrich Müller, the latter she claimed to have a child with named Josef. And not just any child, but one who was anointed as the ‘chosen one’ who would help return the Reich to past glory. This led to an orchestrated plan that has been in place since these Apostles infiltrated America after the war. Now sixty some years later, instead of confessing this story to the FBI or the Justice Department, Ellen decided it would be best to reveal this in Mrs. Foss’s sixth grade class. Did I miss anything? Flying monkeys?”
Veronica should have been shocked, but she wasn’t. The whole thing was more sad than anything. Ellen hadn’t been in her right mind lately—the alien sighting being exhibit-A—but she had to admit this one was a doozy. Her heart broke for Maggie, who desperately wanted to believe in those around her after a tumultuous year in which her world flew off its axis. No kid should have to go