The Secret Crown

by Chris Kuzneski

  Needless to say, it had made headlines around the world.

  ‘Looking back on it,’ Kaiser asked, ‘which was more thrilling: hunting for the treasure or getting the reward?’

  ‘The hunt,’ Payne blurted. ‘Definitely the hunt. No question about it.’

  Jones argued from his chair. ‘Easy for you to say. You were rich already.’

  Payne smiled. ‘That’s a very good point.’

  ‘Does that mean you disagree?’ Kaiser wondered.

  ‘Not really,’ Jones admitted. ‘I simply like mocking Jon.’

  ‘In other words, you loved the hunt, too?’

  Jones nodded. ‘You could say that.’

  ‘Great! I’m glad to hear it.’

  Payne paused in thought, wondering where this was headed. ‘Okay, Kaiser. Enough with the foreplay. What’s going on?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Jones said, ‘did someone die?’

  ‘Did someone die?’ Kaiser echoed. ‘Why would you ask that?’

  ‘No real reason. Just a hunch.’

  ‘Well,’ he said, searching for an appropriate response, ‘someone did die, but his death was fortuitous.’

  ‘Not for him,’ Payne observed.

  ‘True, but it was for us.’

  Jones grinned in victory. ‘I couldn’t agree more.’

  Kaiser sensed he was missing something – perhaps an inside joke – but didn’t take the time to ask. He knew a fortune might be on the line, and the clock was already ticking. ‘Out of curiosity, have either of you been to Munich?’

  ‘Munich?’ they asked in unison.

  ‘Yes. The capital of Bavaria.’

  Payne shook his head. ‘Can’t say that I have.’

  ‘Me, neither.’

  Kaiser continued. ‘It’s a wonderful city, perhaps my favourite in Germany. There’s an interesting mix of old and new, and the Weisswurst is simply delicious.’

  ‘The what worst?’ Jones said.

  ‘The Weisswurst,’ he repeated. ‘It’s white sausage. A Bavarian specialty.’

  Payne and Jones tried not to laugh, which took a lot of effort. The last time they had dined with Kaiser, he had spent half the meal professing his love of sausage. The man had dozens of rivals in central Europe, yet the odds were pretty good that a heart attack would kill him before one of his adversaries. And in between bites of meat, he had admitted as much.

  ‘Before you start listing ingredients and cooking times, I’d like to back up a little bit. Tell us more about the guy who died,’ Payne demanded.

  Kaiser answered cryptically. ‘I’d prefer not to mention any details over the phone. However, let me assure you that I wasn’t involved in his death – if that’s what you’re wondering.’

  ‘And yet his death benefits us. I believe that’s how you phrased it.’

  ‘Yes, I did. And yes, it does.’

  ‘Care to explain?’ Payne asked.

  ‘I’d love to, but not over the phone. For additional details, you need to come here.’

  ‘Where’s here?’ Jones wondered.

  ‘Munich. I thought that was pretty clear.’

  Payne laughed. ‘Nothing about this conversation has been clear.’

  Kaiser considered the remark, then nodded. ‘Perhaps not. But I assure you there’s a reason for my caution. The fewer people who know about this, the better.’

  ‘Well, you’re doing a great job. Because we’ve been chatting for five minutes, and neither of us have any idea what you’re talking about.’

  Kaiser paused, searching for a different angle. ‘Jon, do you trust me? If so, come to Munich. I promise it will be worth your time.’

  Payne shook his head. ‘Actually, Kaiser, it’s you who needs to trust us. If you’re not willing to give us some basics, there’s no way we’re getting involved. So far, all we know is someone died and you love Weisswurst. And that’s not a lot to go on.’

  Sensing some tension, Jones re-entered the conversation. ‘Speaking of Weisswurst, leave it to Germans to invent a white sausage. What kind of racist bullshit is that?’

  Kaiser laughed. Softly at first, and then much louder. After a while, it became apparent that he wasn’t laughing at Jones. He was laughing at himself. ‘You’re right, Jon. Obviously you’re right. I called you out of the blue and asked for too much trust in return. If the roles had been reversed, I would have bucked as well.’ He took a deep breath, hoping to start anew. ‘Tell me, what would you like to know?’

  ‘Let’s start with the basics. Why did you call us?’

  ‘Why? Because you’re the only guys I know who have experience in this field.’

  ‘Really? What field is that?’

  Kaiser smiled as he answered. ‘Buried treasure.’

  5

  Sunday, 19 September

  Munich, Germany

  Payne and Jones didn’t see themselves as treasure hunters. They really didn’t. But thanks to the fortune they had discovered in Greece and a few recent adventures, the world viewed them in that way – whether they liked it or not. In truth, neither of them had a background in history, archaeology or any related field, but they made up for their deficiencies in other ways. Both men were highly trained operatives, extremely intelligent and always looking for a challenge.

  To them, the promise of a new mission was the ultimate bait.

  To sweeten the deal, Kaiser had chartered a luxury jet for their nine-hour flight to Germany. Due to the six-hour time difference, the Gulfstream V left a private terminal in Pittsburgh just before midnight and arrived in Munich at 2.50 p.m. All things considered, the trip was a pleasant one. Payne and Jones slept comfortably in reclining leather chairs. They spent the rest of the time playing cards and watching movies on a giant plasma screen. A fully stocked refrigerator, filled with an assortment of snacks and gourmet foods, kept them fed. Sports drinks and bottled water kept them hydrated. Over the years, they had been on enough missions to perfect the art of travelling. They knew when to eat, when to sleep and what they needed to bring. Like expectant mothers, they even kept travel bags by their doors, just in case they were forced to leave in the middle of the night and didn’t have time to pack.

  Of course, pregnant women rarely packed ammo.

  Despite the luxury jet and the lure of treasure, Payne and Jones had played hard to get until Kaiser brought out his secret weapon – the pageantry of the world’s largest fair. As luck should have it, Oktoberfest had started the day before and would continue until 3 October. Held annually in Munich, the sixteen-day festival would attract more than six million people, many of whom would eat too much and drink even more. The duo had always wanted to attend, but had never made the arrangements. With Kaiser’s connections in Germany and his generous offer to foot their bill, Payne and Jones realized this was the perfect time to go.

  The meeting came first, then two days of celebrating.

  What could possibly go wrong?

  Kaiser greeted them inside a private hangar near Munich airport. He was wearing a T-shirt, blue jeans and a brown leather jacket – the same clothes he always wore. Nothing about his appearance really stood out, and nothing about him seemed menacing. In his mid-fifties, he had slicked-back grey hair and bushy eyebrows that dangled above his dark eyes. When he talked, he smiled a lot, like a friendly neighbour or a local merchant who cared about his customers.

  And the truth was he actually did.

  A decade earlier, when Payne and Jones had met Kaiser for the first time, they figured his kindness was just an act, that he was being nice to them in order to get their business. But over time, they realized that wasn’t the case. Kaiser was a good guy, a gracious guy, who was very good at his job. He didn’t lie, or steal, or sell drugs. He didn’t rip people off. He made his money by acquiring hard-to-find items and selling them at a fair price. To military personnel stationed in Germany, Kaiser wasn’t a criminal, he was a businessman. Nothing more, nothing less.

  Then again, every once in a while, Payne and Jones would hear st
ories about Kaiser that were less than flattering. Mostly they involved suppliers who tried to con him, or buyers who went against their word. In those situations, Kaiser abandoned his cordial persona and handled the offenders in an appropriate fashion. He liked to refer to it as ‘street justice’. Once Payne and Jones had asked him about a violent rumour, but Kaiser wouldn’t confirm or deny anything, obviously enjoying his reputation. Then he told them something they would never forget.

  Never mistake kindness for weakness.

  To this day, it was still one of their favourite sayings.

  ‘How was the flight?’ Kaiser asked as he shook Payne’s hand.

  ‘Wonderful. Thanks for the royal treatment.’

  ‘Nothing but the best for you two.’

  Jones gave Kaiser a friendly hug. ‘Not to be rude, but are you sure you can afford it?’

  Kaiser looked at him, confused. ‘Why would you ask that?’

  ‘Because you’ve been wearing the same clothes for the past ten years. Don’t they have malls over here?’ Jones glanced at Payne. ‘We need to take him shopping.’

  Kaiser laughed, enjoying the good-natured teasing. ‘I’ll have you know I bought a new T-shirt just last year. I’m good to go for the rest of the decade.’

  Jones argued. ‘Come on, man. A guy in your business should have some style. We need to get you a shiny suit and some fancy jewellery, like a gangster. Maybe even a fedora.’

  Payne shook his head, embarrassed. ‘Please ignore him. It was a long flight, and he’s over caffeinated. Just let him run round the airfield for twenty minutes, and he’ll be fine.’

  Kaiser smiled. ‘I wish we had the time, but we’re on a tight schedule. If we don’t leave now, we won’t get to the site before dark.’

  ‘The site? What site?’ Payne asked, still unsure what Kaiser had found and what was expected of them. ‘Now that we’re here, I was hoping you’d fill in some blanks.’

  ‘I’d be happy to,’ Kaiser said as he picked up Payne’s bag, ‘once we’re airborne.’

  ‘Airborne?’

  Kaiser started to walk across the hangar. ‘Didn’t I mention that on the phone?’

  Payne hustled after him. ‘You didn’t mention anything on the phone.’

  ‘Really? I could’ve sworn I did.’

  Payne caught up to him and grabbed his arm. ‘Hold up, Kaiser. We need to talk.’

  Kaiser turned, smiling. ‘About what?’

  ‘Listen, I appreciate your enthusiasm and understand the time constraints, but we’re not getting on another plane until you tell us where we’re going.’

  ‘Not a plane,’ he countered, ‘a helicopter.’

  ‘Cool,’ Jones blurted as he caught up to them. ‘I love choppers. Can I drive?’

  Kaiser shook his head. ‘Sorry, we have a pilot.’

  ‘Then I call shotgun. You can’t see shit from the back seat.’

  Payne gave him a dirty look. ‘Hold up. You’re not bothered by this?’

  ‘Actually, now that you mention it, I am bothered by this.’ Jones handed his bag to Kaiser, who gladly accepted it. ‘I figure if he’s carrying your bag, he should carry mine, too.’

  Payne growled. ‘That’s not what I was talking about.’

  ‘Really? Then what’s bugging you?’

  ‘We don’t know where we’re going or what we’re involved in.’

  Jones sighed, trying to get under Payne’s skin. ‘Fine! Be that way! Kaiser’s trying to surprise us, and you’re determined to ruin everything.’

  Jones spun towards Kaiser, who was trying not to laugh. ‘Is the site in Germany?’

  ‘Yes,’ he answered.

  ‘Is the site secure?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Can we bring weapons?’

  ‘If you like.’

  ‘Will we need them?’

  ‘Probably not.’

  ‘Are we dressed appropriately?’

  Kaiser inspected their clothes. Both men were wearing cargo pants, long-sleeved shirts, and comfortable shoes. Perfect for where they were going. ‘Yes.’

  ‘What about snacks?’

  ‘Yes, there’s food at the site.’

  Jones threw his arm around Payne’s shoulder and squeezed. ‘Come on, Jon. The man has snacks. How bad can it be?’

  6

  Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

  (59 miles south-west of Munich)

  Garmisch and Partenkirchen were separate towns for over a thousand years, until Adolf Hitler forced them to combine prior to hosting the 1936 Winter Olympics. Located near the Austrian border, the picturesque town of nearly 30,000 people sits near two of the largest mountains in Germany: the Zugspitze and the Leutasch Dreitorspitze.

  The helicopter circled above the valley for a few minutes, giving Payne and Jones an aerial view of the landscape before it touched down in a green pasture south-west of the town. A lush forest, filled with tall pines and rugged trails, started at the edge of the meadow, as if God had run out of grass and been forced to change the terrain at that very spot. In a span of less than ten feet, the topography went from flat and grassy to steep and rocky.

  Although the sun was shining and the weather was pleasant, Payne and Jones had spent enough time in the mountains of Afghanistan to understand how drastically altitude could affect the weather. It was sixty-eight degrees where the chopper had landed, yet the peak above them was covered in snow. Depending on the length of their hike, they knew the temperature could drop significantly – especially after dark.

  Jones swore under his breath, not thrilled with the possibilities. Despite years of training and hundreds of missions, there were few things he hated more than cold. And Payne knew it.

  ‘Looks frigid up there. I hope you packed your mittens,’ Payne taunted him.

  Jones swore again, this time a little louder.

  ‘What was it that you said earlier? “The man has snacks. How bad can it be?” ’ Payne asked in a mocking tone. ‘Well, I guess you’re about to find out.’

  Unhappy with the turn of events, Jones was ready to unleash a string of four-letter words, but Kaiser cut him off before he had a chance. ‘The sun goes down around seven – even sooner where we’re headed. The trees choke out the light.’

  Payne nodded in understanding. ‘Then we better get moving.’

  Kaiser pulled a cargo bag from the belly of the chopper. ‘I’ve got flashlights and basic supplies. Everything else is at the site.’

  ‘How far away?’

  ‘Maybe thirty minutes.’

  ‘Not a problem,’ Payne said as he studied the forest. Starting at the edge of the meadow, a narrow path snaked its way up the hillside until it disappeared in the trees. ‘Out of curiosity, who owns this field?’

  Kaiser walked towards him. ‘Why do you ask?’

  ‘Why? Because we just landed a helicopter on it. Plus, if we need to haul something off the mountain, we’ll need to bring in a truck.’

  ‘Don’t worry. It’s taken care of.’

  ‘Meaning?’

  Kaiser smiled. ‘Meaning, it’s taken care of. Seriously, Jon, you should relax. All I need you to do is figure out what we’re dealing with.’

  Even though Kaiser had kept his word and filled in some details during their trip from Munich, Payne wasn’t comfortable with his role as consultant. Normally he was the man in charge of the mission, not the one with all the questions.

  ‘Sorry,’ Payne said, ‘force of habit.’

  ‘No need to apologize. Or worry. I’m telling you, Jon, this will be easy. You’ll be drinking beer at Oktoberfest before you know it.’

  Payne forced a smile, hoping he was right. ‘Sounds good to me.’

  ‘It’s about freaking time,’ snapped Jones as he brushed past them and headed towards the trail. ‘The longer we wait, the colder it gets.’

  Confused, Kaiser looked to Payne for an explanation. ‘What’s his problem?’

  ‘Unfortunately, there are too many to name.’

 
; All things considered, the hike was a simple one. The weather was mild, the ground was dry and the path was well defined. Someone had marked the way with chalk, placing an X on trees in order to highlight the route. Every once in a while, there would be a circle or a square or an arrow pointing to the left or right, but Kaiser explained they were ‘dummy signs’ meant to confuse intruders. Payne and Jones weren’t sure who would follow symbols in the middle of the woods – unless Robert Langdon was in town – but they took it in their stride. Until they knew what had been discovered, they weren’t sure how much caution was necessary.

  ‘We’re almost there,’ Kaiser assured them. He reached into his bag and pulled out a two-way radio equipped with GPS. ‘I have to let them know we’re approaching.’

  ‘And if you don’t?’ Payne asked.

  ‘They’ll shoot us,’ he explained.

  Jones, who was leading the way, stopped instantly. ‘Good to know.’

  Kaiser turned on the unit, then mumbled several words in German. A few seconds later, a short response crackled through the speaker.

  Kaiser nodded in understanding. ‘Okay, we’re clear. It’s just up ahead.’

  But Jones refused to move. ‘That’s okay. I’ll wait.’

  ‘For what?’ Kaiser wondered.

  ‘For a white guy to take the lead.’

  ‘You’re such a racist,’ Payne said as he walked past Jones. For as long as they had been friends, race had never been an issue, so they felt comfortable teasing each other about the subject. In their friendship, very few things were off limits.

  ‘Maybe so,’ Jones mumbled, ‘but my black ass is still alive.’

  ‘Because you’re a coward. A racist coward.’

  ‘A coward?’ Jones hustled to catch up with his best friend. ‘Did you just call me a coward? I swear, if I wasn’t so damn scared of you, I’d punch you in the face.’

  Payne was going to tease him some more when he spotted something in the trees. Instinctively he froze and threw a clenched fist into the air. In the military this meant stop and shut up because a threat had been detected. Jones saw the sign and instantly obeyed. No questions, no debate, no sound of any kind. During his career, the signal had saved his life many times. He wasn’t about to challenge it now.