by David Nees
“I’ll cripple you and then kill you for saying less. Either way you lose. Your game is over, it’s my game now.”
“You don’t understand. There’s a very dangerous man out there. Aebischer will send him after me.”
“The man who sent those three I killed today?”
Pietro nodded.
“We’ll get to that later. But now I want an answer or I start shooting.
The fight seemed to have gone out of Pietro. He sagged back against the tree.
“Herr Aebischer is an expert at hiding money, where it comes from and where it goes. He is very skilled at this. As a result, certain groups use his services to move large amounts of money. They pay large fees to do so but their anonymity is assured.”
“Who are these groups?”
Pietro shook his head. “You can shoot me, but that’s just it. I don’t get to know. It is all very compartmentalized. I can’t tell you because I don’t know.”
Dan put the pistol up against Pietro’s knee. “I’m going to start at your knee because you tried to fight me.”
“Please, I don’t know. But I do know that he keeps records…in his mansion. He’s meticulous about that.” Dan pulled back to watch Pietro’s bruised and swollen face
“Where is that?”
“Zürich. But you’ll never get in. It’s heavily guarded.”
“But you’ve been inside.”
Pietro nodded.
“You’ll draw me a layout later. What groups is he working with?”
“I don’t know who they are, but there are gun dealers, drug dealers, I think, and possibly terrorist organizations. But as I said, I have no details.”
“Quite a collection of associates. What’s his history? How did he get into this work?”
“I don’t know his background except that his father was a banker and was suspected of being a Nazi sympathizer. He’s very private. And he’s not a person you want to cross.”
“We’ll see. Now who sent those three men? Did you call them?” Dan’s voice had gotten lower, more dangerous. His anger started to well up again. This man had sent men to kill him. Dan wanted to know who operated these men. If it was Pietro, his life was forfeit. If someone else, they were going to receive Dan’s vengeance.
“I placed a call, at Herr Aebischer’s direction, believe me. There’s a man in Munich. He is a book seller. I don’t know his name. I don’t even know where his shop is located, only that it’s in Munich and probably along the Isar River. He calls it “am fluss Alte Bücher”. He arranges everything. He hired the men and sent them.”
“How much did you offer to pay him to kill me?”
Pietro flinched at the tone of Dan’s voice.
“One hundred thousand Euros. Fifty down.”
Dan thought for a moment. He’d gotten what he needed and Pietro was now beaten into submission. He’d let Jane and the others finish milking him for information.
“You’re going back into the trunk, mouth taped. I’m taking you to a place where others will interrogate you further. If they don’t get your cooperation, if they suspect you are trying to deceive them, and they are good at figuring that out, they will turn you over to me again. And I will be very happy to inflict more pain on you. Do you understand?”
Pietro nodded. After stuffing him back into the trunk, Dan settled himself into the driver’s seat and started out for Milan again.
Chapter 33
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D an arrived in the early evening. He pulled into the garage and, after the door was closed, opened the trunk. Two large men pulled Conti out and took him into the house.
“What did you do to him?” Jane asked when she saw Pietro.
“He tried to get away and we had it out. He’ll be all right, but he came close to getting parts of him shot.”
Just then Evangeline walked into the room. She gasped as she saw Pietro and stepped back. Jane left the room to keep her from coming back inside.
“He looks like someone beat him up. What happened?” she asked.
“He tried to get away from Dan…after he tried to have him killed.”
“Oh mein Gott!” she exclaimed. “Is Dan all right?”
Jane nodded her head. “He’s fine. But I don’t want you to go in the room.”
“Don’t worry. I don’t want Pietro to see me. He works for Aebischer. I don’t like him.”
“Did he do anything to you?”
“No, but he supports my father’s business.”
“We’re going to find out more about that. You can help in that area.”
Jane went back into the room where Dan and the others were standing. “Take Conti down to the basement, to the interrogation room. Check his injuries and clean him up”
“May I have some water please?” Pietro asked in Italian. His words were slurred with his broken and swollen jaw.
Jane gave him a stern look. “When I’m ready,” she replied in German. “If you’re cooperative, you’ll be treated well. If you’re not, things will not be good for you. I will personally see to it.”
Pietro looked at her face. It was set hard and uncompromising. He nodded. The two men shuffled him downstairs.
“How are you?” Jane asked Dan when they were gone.
“Sore as hell, but I’ll survive. I could use a large glass of water and a good whiskey.”
“I’ll get it for you.” Jane pointed to the front room. “Go wait in the living room. There’s someone who wants to see you.”
When Dan entered the room, he saw Evangeline sitting in one of the overstuffed chairs. She jumped up when she saw him and ran across the room. She leapt on him wrapping her arms and legs around him like a child. Dan grimaced but didn’t make a sound. He tried to ignore the pain while he held her as she hugged him.
“I’m so happy you’re here. I was worried. Jane told me you were going to meet with Pietro. I told her he could not be trusted. I wanted to call you to warn you but Jane said you knew and would handle the situation. And you did. You’re here!”
She dropped to the ground much to Dan’s relief.
“Are you okay? You look a little pale?”
He smiled. “I’m okay. I had some trouble which made my ribs hurt some more. I’ll be fine though. I’m glad to see you are doing well.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have jumped up on you, but I’m so glad to see you. I’ve worried so much for the past three days.” She stepped back. “Sit down, here on the couch. I want to sit next to you. I won’t hurt you I promise.”
Jane came in with a tray and glasses. She had water, two whiskeys and a lemonade for Evangeline. Dan took the water glass and drained it. Then he picked up the whiskey and took a large sip.
“Ahh. That makes the day better.”
“Don’t I get something to drink?” Evangeline asked.
Jane pointed to the lemonade. “No alcohol now but we’ll have wine for dinner.”
Evangeline pouted for a moment and then smiled again. She seemed happy that Dan was back. They spent a half hour in casual conversation which included Dan complimenting Evangeline on her new clothes and asking how everyone was getting along. Fred and Warren came in and greeted Dan.
“You took these guys into the field with you? You must like living dangerously,” Dan said with a smile.
“Don’t be mean. They’re doing a great job and we’re going to need their skills. Evangeline has helped us fill in some gaps about Aebischer, but we’ll need these guys to give us a more complete picture.”
Jane got up to prepare something for the group to eat. “Evangeline, show Dan his bedroom. He needs to clean up and there’s a change of clothes for him. Dinner in a half hour.”
In Dan’s bedroom, Evangeline reached up and kissed him full on the lips.
“Easy girl,” he said. “I’m pretty sore and we’re still just close friends.”
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with longing, “I’m going to change your mind about t
hat. Once we’ve taken care of Aebischer, things will be different.”
“Who said anything about ‘we’ taking care of him?”
“Well, I can’t live a normal life until he’s out of the picture, so I should help.”
“Evangeline, just help Jane with information and leave the rest to me…and the others on this team. It’s what we do and I don’t want you to be a part of it. It’s not part of your life or your world.”
“But you’re part of my life and world…and I know more about dangerous people than you might imagine.”
Dan smiled at her. “You may, but I must insist you leave this to me. You help with the information. Help Jane and the others find out everything they can. Now let me get a shower and change. I’ll see you downstairs.”
Evangeline gave him a pouty look and left the room.
In addition to Fred, and Warren, Jane had brought two field agents with her. When they came upstairs after locking Conti in room in the basement, Jane introduced them to Dan.
“This is Marcus and Roland. I brought them over to help us.”
The two men nodded to Dan. They were both big, each over six feet tall and burly. They moved with an athlete’s grace, showing an economy of motion for such large bodies. Even under loose clothing, one could see their strength. They were polite but could not hide the clues that they were tough men, men who did not shrink from doing hard things.
“Where did you guys serve?” Dan asked.
“Delta Force,” Marcus said. “Does it show?”
“Like a billboard,” Dan replied.
Roland just stared at Dan.
“How ‘bout yourself?” Marcus asked.
“Army sniper.”
“The guys that get to hang out on rooftops while the rest of us do the real fighting,” Roland said.
Dan looked at the man, who stared back at him, giving no hint of his thoughts.
“The guys that cover your ass while you’re down in the street,” Dan said.
“Be nice boys,” Jane said. “We all have different parts to play.”
“You’re right,” Dan said. He got up with a smile and went over to shake hands with the two men. “Glad to have any help I can get.” The last was said without much conviction.
“Are you going to feed Pietro?” Dan asked after dinner. They were relaxing in the living room. Dan was on the couch with Evangeline snuggled up against him. She would not be denied a prime spot close to his side. Jane sat on one of the chairs, with Fred and Warren across from her. The latter two didn’t contribute to the conversation, knowing it was out of their area of expertise. They just wanted to absorb and learn.
“He can wait. I know you softened him up, that he capitulated, but I don’t want him to get a second wind and try being a tough guy again. It’s better not to have to break him a twice. It just wears down the body.”
She put her drink down on the coffee table. “He can sit the night and get very uncomfortable. I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”
“He’s probably got this macho idea that a woman isn’t to be considered a threat. He may not react to you like he did me.”
“Marcus and Roland will take care of any attitude that comes up.”
“So, what’s the plan for Aebischer? I’m sure he’s the one the Watcher was talking about.”
“Kill him,” Evangeline said. Everyone looked at her. Warren’s mouth dropped open. She looked around. “He’s a monster.” Looking back at Dan she said, “I told Jane what happened. He deserves to die. He killed family and who knows who else.”
Dan looked back at Jane. “She has a point. He must not get off.”
“I agree,” Jane responded. “But we need to know what he knows. I want to capture him and take him somewhere, not here, but somewhere more private and get everything he knows.”
“What’s Henry say?”
“That’s what Henry wants as well.”
Chapter 34
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J an Luis Aebischer sat in his study. Pietro had not called in. He had arranged to meet Evangeline’s rescuer yesterday to exchange the money for her. He should have reported back by now. Aebischer knew Conti had used the services of the book seller from Munich. The man had access to the best in the business. With his services it should have been easy to take this man down. He wanted the additional money; he would hope the other attack had not been orchestrated by Conti. Aebischer had confidence the man’s greed would overcome his sense of caution. It would only take one shot when he stepped out of his vehicle and it would be all over. Yet, no phone call.
Finally, Aebischer called Pietro. His phone rang and then went to voice mail. He hung up. Something was very wrong. He punched in the number for the book seller. He loathed making direct contacts with the operatives he had to use. It could create dangerous trails back to him. But he needed information and Pietro was out of communication…or worse.
“Am fluss Alte Bücher,” a man said upon answering the phone.
“Have you heard back from the work Signore Conti assigned you?” Aebischer asked.
There was a long pause on the other end. “This is highly irregular. I do not speak about client’s work to others.”
“Signore Conti works for me and I haven’t heard back from him about the cleaning project.”
“Neither have I. Don’t call me about this again.”
The phone went dead. Herr Aebischer looked across the room. Rarely did anyone talk to him that way. The book seller’s name was Manfred Fraczek but Aebischer suspected that was not his real name. He knew where his shop was located, near the Isar River, but that was all. He forced himself to remain calm and think through the problem. That’s what it was in the end, a problem, one to be solved.
Fraczek hadn’t heard back either which was unusual. Aebischer assumed the book seller would be informed about the job when it was completed. And now that Aebischer had called, the man was sure to be worried.
He took inventory of the recent past events. Two hit men were dead in Austria, the authorities wondering who they were and asking questions. They wouldn’t find anything. The men couldn’t be linked back to him…except for Conti? That might be a problem. Now Conti was missing and, presumably, the men sent to kill the assassin were dead. Was Conti dead? If not was he in the hands of the assassin? That would lead the killer back to him. Aebischer did not like the prospect of that.
Events had gotten complicated. Even if he could stay insulated from any investigation, there was an assassin loose, a man who probably wanted revenge and who probably knew where to go to get it.
And in the middle of this mess, Evangeline was still not under his control. He recalled her image, long blonde hair, beautiful blue eyes, well developed even as a teenager. She had grown into such a beautiful young woman. He wanted her back. He wanted her, like he had wanted her sister. If he could get her back, she could be such a pleasure to him in his old age. He felt a stirring in his loins, something that had been lacking since her sister died and she ran away. The child knew too many secrets as well. Getting her back solved so many issues for him.
He shook his head. Time for day dreaming later. Now he had to deal with Rashid as well as an assassin. Unfortunately, he couldn’t just disappear for a while. He had to wait for Rashid’s funds to be transferred and then go to work to split it up and move it around. Then the funds had to be paid out at the right moment, before his work was fully complete. It was too rich a deal to let it go; and his reputation would be badly damaged.
No, he had to wait for now.
He picked up his phone again and called Conti. It went to voice mail again. Next, he called the captain of his yacht in Villefranche-sur-Mer.
“How soon can the Nordstern be ready to depart?”
“I am installing a new generator. It will be a week before she’s ready to go. Do you have a destination?”
“No. I will contact you later. A week is just about right. Then I want to go off on a long cruise. I’ll tell you
where later.”
The next day, Jane spent hours downstairs accompanied by Marcus and Roland. Pietro was not resistant, now looking to save himself from what he suspected could be his death. His details about Aebischer’s mansion and work habits corroborated what Evangeline had told them. He confirmed a journal that chronicled the various clients Aebischer dealt with over the years and promoted himself as one who could interpret the meaning of the coded entries, a reason for Jane to keep him alive. Still it was surprising to Jane how many gaps there were in Pietro’s information. Aebischer kept his life very private, even from his closest assistant.
Jane made copious notes on the transactions and activities which Conti could remember. The yacht and its location were confirmed. Jane called James Springhouse, the Station Chief, and asked him to have someone keep an eye on the yacht. She didn’t want Aebischer sailing off one night, never to be found.
After a grinding day of grilling Pietro, Jane came upstairs. Dan had started making dinner for everyone. Evangeline was trying to help out. She was happy to do anything if it kept her close to Dan. Jane smiled and poured herself a whiskey.
Dan put the large pan in the oven and wiped his forehead. Both he and Evangeline looked frazzled but satisfied. Dan grabbed a beer from the fridge and popped the cap. He took a long swig.
“How did it go?” He asked. “You really put in some hours downstairs.”
“It was productive. That’s what it takes. Grind it out. Get all the information while the client is cooperative. When they’re fatigued, you sometimes get more insights. Their guard is down.”
“I’m not sure I’ve got the patience for that.”
Jane smiled and lifted her glass to Dan. “That’s why we do different jobs.”
“Okay, what’s the plan?” Dan asked.
Evangeline stopped what she was doing to listen to the answer.
“Later, after dinner. We’ll discuss it and then I’ll call Henry and wake him up.” Jane looked at the stove. “Smells good, what are you making?”
“Lasagna alla Bolognese. It’s genuine, with ground beef and pork, good pasta, a ragù I’ve been cooking for most of the day, and a besciamella that Evangeline helped with.” Both Dan and Evangeline beamed at Jane.