The Storyteller
Chapter 3: eo 1
by Picoult, JodiThe chapter opens with Leo Stein, a deputy chief in the Justice Department’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions division, receiving a bizarre phone call from Miranda Coontz. She claims her cat is the reincarnation of Josef Mengele, the notorious Nazi doctor, and insists the animal is plotting to kill her. Leo, accustomed to investigating war criminals, dismisses her delusional claims but humorously notes he’ll delegate the case to his colleague Genevra. The call highlights the absurdity Leo sometimes faces in his role, contrasting sharply with the gravity of his actual work—pursuing aging Nazis for wartime atrocities.
Leo reflects on his career choice, having turned down a lucrative law firm partnership to seek justice for Holocaust victims. He acknowledges the challenges of his job, especially as perpetrators die of old age, and laments how truth often takes a backseat in legal proceedings. His dedication stems from a desire to honor the six million victims of Nazi lies. The narrative underscores his commitment to uncovering historical truths, even as he navigates the mundanity and occasional absurdity of his caseload.
The tone shifts when Leo receives another call, this time from Sage Singer, who claims her acquaintance, Josef Weber, confessed to being a former SS officer. Unlike Miranda’s ramblings, Sage’s account is credible and alarming. Weber, a healthy elderly man, has asked Sage—a Jewish woman—to assist in his suicide as a form of atonement. Leo’s professional instincts kick in as he probes for details, recognizing the significance of Weber’s admission and his connection to the Death’s Head Unit, which oversaw concentration camps.
The chapter concludes with Leo’s growing intrigue about Weber, a rare self-identified Nazi. He contrasts this with his usual work of painstakingly unmasking war criminals who hide their pasts. The mention of the *Fedorenko v. United States* case reinforces the legal precedent holding camp guards accountable. Leo’s mix of skepticism, dry humor, and unwavering dedication to justice paints a vivid portrait of a man grappling with the weight of history while confronting its lingering shadows in the present.
FAQs
1. What are the two “red flags” Leo identifies during his conversation with Miranda Coontz, and what do they reveal about his professional approach?
Answer:
The first red flag occurs when Miranda says she’s been trying to find Leo for years, which strikes him as odd because his department (Human Rights and Special Prosecutions) is easily reachable through the Justice Department. The second red flag emerges when she claims the FBI sent a drone to kill her, which Leo knows is implausible. These moments reveal Leo’s methodical, skeptical approach to calls—he listens carefully but assesses credibility based on factual inconsistencies. Despite his doubts, he remains professional, demonstrating his commitment to hearing out every lead, no matter how unlikely (e.g., “We take every call, and we take them seriously”).2. How does Leo contrast his real work as a “Nazi hunter” with its Hollywood portrayal, and what does this reveal about his character?
Answer:
Leo dismisses the glamorous Hollywood image of Nazi hunters (e.g., Daniel Craig or Vin Diesel), emphasizing his mundane reality: he uses research, not weapons, relying on historian Genevra’s expertise. His “weapon of choice” is historical accuracy, not physical force. This contrast highlights his humility and dedication to truth over spectacle. It also underscores the painstaking nature of his work—building cases against aging war criminals, often with little glory (e.g., the 2008 case where the defendant died post-trial). His focus on truth (“somebody owes [the victims] the truth”) reveals his moral compass and disillusionment with corporate law’s indifference to justice.3. Analyze the significance of Josef Weber’s confession to Sage Singer. Why does this case stand out to Leo?
Answer:
Weber’s voluntary admission of being an SS officer is unprecedented in Leo’s experience. Typically, Nazis conceal their pasts, and Leo must painstakingly uncover evidence to corner them. Weber’s confession—and his request for Sage, a Jewish woman, to help him die—adds layers of moral complexity. It suggests a twisted desire for atonement or manipulation. Leo’s surprise (“He told you he was a Nazi?”) highlights how Weber breaks the mold of defendants who “think they should literally get away with murder.” This case stands out because it inverts Leo’s usual process, forcing him to grapple with a perpetrator who openly acknowledges his guilt but seeks control over his punishment.4. How does the chapter illustrate the challenges of prosecuting Nazi war crimes in the modern era? Provide specific examples.
Answer:
The chapter highlights three key challenges: (1) Time: Leo notes his job grows harder as perpetrators die off (e.g., the SS guard who died before extradition). (2) Evidence: Cases rely on historical research (Genevra’s reports) and survivor accounts, which can be flawed (e.g., survivors misremembering Mengele at every Auschwitz transport). (3) Public perception: Many leads are unreliable (e.g., Miranda’s delusional claims) or frivolous (“My Neighbor’s a Nazi” calls). The 2008 case, ending with the defendant’s death, underscores how justice is often delayed or denied. These examples show the uphill battle of holding perpetrators accountable decades later.5. Evaluate Leo’s decision to leave corporate law for HRSP. What does his choice reveal about his values and worldview?
Answer:
Leo abandoned a lucrative partnership in corporate law because he found it indifferent to truth (“truth is an afterthought in most trials”). His move to HRSP reflects a commitment to historical justice and moral clarity—he cites the “six million people who were lied to” as owed the truth. This choice reveals his prioritization of purpose over prestige, as well as his belief in confronting historical atrocities even when the work is grueling and unglamorous. His frustration with corporate law’s ethical compromises contrasts with his dogged pursuit of accountability for war crimes, illustrating his integrity and idealism.
Quotes
1. “We’re the real Nazi hunters, nowhere near as glamorous as we’re made out to be in film and television. I’m not Daniel Craig or Vin Diesel or Eric Bana, just plain old Leo Stein.”
This quote contrasts the romanticized Hollywood portrayal of Nazi hunters with the gritty reality of Leo’s work, establishing the chapter’s central theme of unglamorous but vital justice-seeking. It comes early in the chapter as Leo introduces his role.
2. “It didn’t take me long in the world of corporate law to realize that truth is an afterthought in court… But there were six million people who were lied to, during World War II, and somebody owes them the truth.”
This powerful statement explains Leo’s motivation for his career choice, contrasting legal technicalities with moral imperatives. It represents a key turning point where Leo reflects on why he chose this path over corporate law.
3. “Although historically we know that Mengele could not have met every transport, almost every Auschwitz survivor with whom I’ve spoken insists it was Mengele who met their transport… Which means that other monsters met some of them instead.”
This insightful observation about collective memory and trauma demonstrates how historical truth becomes filtered through survivors’ experiences. It comes during Leo’s reflection on the nature of Nazi crimes and their documentation.
4. “We do the opposite of what police do; instead of looking at a crime and seeing ‘whodunit,’ we start with a name, and pore through databases to see if there’s a match—a person who’s alive with that name—and then to figure out what he did during the war.”
This quote clearly explains the unique methodology of Nazi hunting, contrasting it with conventional detective work. It appears as Leo describes the painstaking process of building cases decades after the crimes.
5. “I’ve never had a defendant confess until I’ve managed to back him so far into a corner with evidence that he has no choice but to tell the truth.”
This statement reveals the extraordinary nature of Josef Weber’s voluntary confession and sets up the chapter’s central conflict. It comes as Leo reacts with surprise to Sage Singer’s revelation about Weber.