The Secret Crown paj-6

by Chris Kuzneski

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Collins asked.

  Payne shoved the map against Collins’s chest. ‘Where’s the chopper going to land?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Where’s the chopper going to land?’ he asked again.

  ‘By the entrance to the gorge,’ Collins said.

  ‘Really?’ Payne growled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. ‘And how are we going to get there? I’d love for you to show me!’

  Collins knew something was wrong, but he didn’t know how dreadful the situation was until he glanced at the map. There were several photos of area attractions, including a picture of the narrow trail that ran through the gorge. It was barely wide enough for two people; there was no way it could handle an ATV and a trailer. ‘Shit. We won’t fit.’

  ‘Exactly! So why in the hell did you choose the gorge as the rendezvous point?’

  ‘I didn’t,’ Collins argued. ‘It was Kaiser’s plan, not mine. And in his defence, he thought we’d be escaping on foot, not on an ATV.’

  Payne took a deep breath and nodded. It was a valid point. As an apology, he patted Collins on the shoulder and grunted. He knew it wasn’t Collins’s fault. He was simply frustrated by an oversight that could have led to their demise. And since Kaiser was currently unconscious, Payne had lashed out at the first person he encountered. That just happened to be Collins.

  ‘What’d I miss?’ someone said from behind.

  Payne whirled and raised his gun in one fluid motion, like a gunfighter from the Wild West. Thankfully, he didn’t squeeze his trigger or else he would have killed his best friend.

  ‘What the fuck?’ Jones shouted, not the least bit amused. ‘If you want to get rid of me, just say the word. I’ll go to Oktoberfest alone.’

  ‘Sorry,’ Payne said. ‘I’m having a bad day.’

  ‘Not as bad as mine, if you had shot my ass.’

  ‘I wasn’t aiming for your ass. I was aiming for your heart.’

  ‘Oh,’ Jones mocked, ‘now I feel much better.’

  Payne turned and pointed at the map. ‘We have a problem.’

  ‘Yeah, I thought I detected a disturbance in the Force.’

  Payne ignored the Star Wars reference. ‘You know that expression, “You can’t get there from here?” Well, we’re facing it right now.’

  ‘Wonderful,’ said Jones as he snatched the map from Collins’s grasp. ‘It looks like I arrived at the perfect time. I love rescuing damsels.’

  When it came to planning missions, Jones was a brilliant strategist. He had received the highest score in the history of the Air Force Academy’s MSAE (Military Strategy Acumen Examination) and had organized hundreds of operations with the MANIACs. He had a way of seeing things several steps ahead, like a chess master.

  ‘Out of curiosity, who chose the gorge?’ Jones asked.

  Payne moaned. ‘Kaiser.’

  ‘Before or after he was knocked out?’

  Payne wasn’t in the mood for games. ‘Do you see something or not?’

  ‘Relax! Would I be messing with you if I didn’t have a solution?’

  ‘Yes.’

  Jones smiled. ‘You’re probably right. However, as luck should have it, I actually know how we’re going to get this stuff to the rendezvous point.’

  ‘The trailer won’t fit through the gorge,’ Collins volunteered.

  Jones stared at him. ‘Did I say you could speak?’

  Collins dropped his chin to his chest, embarrassed.

  Jones winked at Payne, who tried not to laugh. No matter the gravity of the situation, they liked busting balls. ‘Anyway, what was I talking about?’

  ‘Reaching the rendezvous point.’

  Jones nodded and pointed at their location on the map. ‘Here’s the problem. We’re just east of the Partnach River. According to this, there’s no way to cross the water until we get near the gorge. That means we can’t escape to the west. Unfortunately, the east is out, too, because of the fire I just set. It’s only a matter of time before Johnny Law comes running.’

  ‘That leaves north and south,’ Payne said.

  ‘Obviously the south is out because of the mountains. I mean, this is a sweet-ass ATV, but it’s not climbing the Alps.’

  ‘Agreed.’

  ‘So we have to go north.’

  Payne nodded. ‘I figured as much, but how?’

  Jones moved his finger on the map. ‘We take this into town.’

  Payne leaned closer and studied the yellow icon, which looked like a tiny train. ‘What the hell is that?’

  ‘The Eckbauerbahn.’

  ‘Which is?’

  ‘A cableway. It runs from the peak of Eckbauer to the Olympic stadium. Which, from the looks of things, is right next to the rendezvous point.’

  Payne rolled his eyes. ‘You want to take a ski lift into town?’

  ‘It’s not a ski lift. It’s a cableway. Big difference.’

  ‘Really? How so?’

  Jones smiled. ‘We don’t have to wear skis.’

  36

  Krueger realized this was the opportunity he had been waiting for since he had joined Mueller’s organization three years earlier. It was his chance to prove that he was a major player, not a two-bit thug who couldn’t be trusted with big-money deals or serious projects.

  This was his chance to make an impression.

  Realizing the importance of the situation, Krueger decided to cash in a favour he had been holding onto since he had left the 10th Armoured Division of the German Army. One of his best friends in the division, a violent man named Krause, had been accused of a brutal armed robbery, a crime he had committed. However, due to Krueger’s sworn testimony that the two of them had been together at the time of the crime (and because of a lack of physical evidence), charges against Krause were eventually dropped. As a show of appreciation, Krause told Krueger that he owed him a gigantic favour – no matter what it was or when he needed it.

  Well, that time was now.

  From his hiding place near the southern end of the gorge, Krueger called Krause, who lived in the small town of Griesen, which was approximately ten miles to the west of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The two areas were connected by the Bundesstrasse 23, a scenic German highway that was known as the B 23.

  Krause answered the phone. ‘How are you, my friend?’

  Krueger didn’t have time for small talk. ‘Where are you?’

  ‘I’m at home. Why?’

  ‘It’s time.’

  ‘For what?’

  ‘The favour.’

  Krause nodded. He had known this day would eventually come, and he was fully prepared to pay his debt. After all, his friend had kept him from spending the majority of his life in jail. ‘What do you need me to do?’

  Krueger explained the situation, colouring the facts to suit his needs. ‘A group of armed men just attacked my crew in the woods above Garmisch. Two of my friends are dead, and the others are missing. I overheard some of the gunmen. They said a chopper will be meeting them on the northern side of the Partnach Gorge, somewhere close to the ski stadium. I’m heading there now, but they have a head start. I need someone to run interference until I arrive.’

  ‘What kind of interference?’

  ‘The kind you’re good at.’

  ‘Let me see if I’ve got this straight. If I drive to Garmisch and stop that chopper, my debt is completely forgiven? No more holding it over my head?’

  Krueger promised. ‘If you stop the chopper, we’re finally square.’

  Krause smiled. ‘In that case, I’ll be there in ten minutes.’

  Prior to reaching a fork in the path, Payne and Jones reconnected with three of Kaiser’s men, who were waiting near the southern end of the gorge. For the past thirty minutes they had been running through the woods, hunting for the gunmen who had killed Schneider. Unfortunately, their effort had been unsuccessful, which left two goons (or more) unaccounted for.

  With so much at stake, Payne took a few minutes to address their
situation, using the map to highlight a few trouble spots and to pinpoint where the chopper would be landing. Now that they were talking face-to-face, he could discuss every aspect of their mission without risk.

  Payne said, ‘The instant we hit the main path, we’re going to start encountering tourists, and it’s only going to get worse as we get closer to town. With that in mind, we need something to quell potential panic. Personally, I like the cover story that you guys have been using – we’re German soldiers who have been conducting military drills in the mountains. That would explain our weapons, equipment and Kaiser’s condition. He simply got hurt during a training exercise. Out of curiosity, how many of you guys speak German?’

  All four of Kaiser’s men – Collins, Huber, Lange and Richter – raised their hands. Unbeknown to Payne, it was a requirement for Kaiser’s security detail.

  ‘Really?’ Payne said. ‘Well, I guess that makes me the class idiot because I can’t.’

  ‘You’ll get no argument from me,’ Jones cracked.

  Payne ignored him. ‘To make our cover story believable, one of you will have to take charge if we’re stopped along the way – whether that’s by a tourist, a tour guide or a cop. Simply tell them there was a training accident, and we’re rushing our man to a medevac chopper that is waiting for us. That should prevent them from summoning the authorities.’

  Jones continued from there, ‘It will also help us at the Eckbauerbahn. In order to load these crates into the gondolas, we’ll need the operators to stop the cableway for a few minutes. If they want to know why we can’t leave the crates behind, tell them they’re filled with explosives. That should spook them enough to get their full cooperation.’

  Payne smiled. ‘We’ll also need them to stop the cableway at the bottom so we can unload the payload before it gets whisked back up the mountain. To make sure that doesn’t happen, we’ll put someone in the first gondola who can hop out and explain the situation. Obviously, it would be great if there’s a cart or truck for us to borrow, but we can’t count on that, which means there’s a chance we’ll have to carry everything to the choppers ourselves.’

  Jones pointed at the trailer. ‘I’ve labelled the crates two through five, based on priority. If we’re forced to carry our payload, that’s the order of importance. Two goes first; five goes last. Understand?’

  Huber shook his head. ‘Why two through five? Why not one through four?’

  ‘Why?’ Jones asked. ‘Because Kaiser is priority number one. Not the crates, not your guns, not even yourselves. If Kaiser dies, this mission is a failure. Is that clear?’

  They grunted and nodded tentatively.

  But that wasn’t good enough for Payne. Hoping to drive home the point, he used the same motivational technique he had used when he had recruited Collins. ‘Guys, it’s pretty simple: if Kaiser dies, none of you will get paid. That means a week of hauling, guarding and sleeping in the woods for nothing. On the other hand, if you help him survive, I see a shitload of money headed your way. I’m talking about a one followed by a bunch of zeroes, just for doing your job. Is there some risk involved? Of course there is. But you knew that going in.’

  Payne took a moment to meet the gaze of every man, making each of them feel they were the most important part of the team. ‘Before we proceed any further, I want you to answer a simple question for me. Your response will help me decide if you want to continue with this mission or if you want to quit here and now.’ He paused for effect. ‘Which sounds better to you: a huge pile of cash or unemployment? I know that sounds cold, but let’s be honest, that’s the choice you have to make.’

  Not surprisingly, everyone voted for the money.

  ‘Good!’ Payne applauded. ‘Now that everyone’s on board, let’s hand out some duties. Collins, you’re in charge of the ATV. Your job is to get to the cableway as quickly as possible. That doesn’t mean I want you to run over tourists. It simply means I want you to keep moving if you have the opportunity. If you’re forced to stop, do not abandon the vehicle. You’re the driver, not a foot soldier. We’ll clear the path for you. Understand?’

  Collins nodded. ‘Yes, sir.’

  Payne studied the other three men. Based on body language alone, he could tell Huber was higher on the totem pole than Lange or Richter. He pointed at him. ‘How’s your German?’

  ‘Flawless,’ Huber answered.

  ‘Then you’re our lead dog. You’re setting the pace. If we come across a situation – tourists, guides, whatever – I want you to handle it peacefully. Is that clear?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Payne looked at Lange. ‘You’re his understudy. If he gets delayed, you become the lead dog until he’s able to resume his post. Our goal is to keep moving. Our excuse is Kaiser’s health. If anyone questions our urgency, that’s what you need to stress. He’s our ticket to freedom.’

  ‘What about me?’ Richter demanded. He was the largest of Kaiser’s men, but looked the dumbest. For some reason, he perpetually had a look of puzzlement on his face.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Payne assured him. ‘I have a special job for you. Probably the most important job of all. You’re in charge of the trailer. If it gets stuck, I want you to free it. If the crates start to slide off, I want you to fix the straps. And if someone tries to examine the cargo, I want you to growl at them like a junkyard dog. Do you think you can handle that?’

  Richter started barking. ‘I can do that like a champ!’

  Payne fought the urge to smile. ‘Glad to hear it. Any questions?’

  Huber raised his hand again. ‘What’s your job?’

  ‘I’m in charge of security. I’ll keep an eye on the woods from the back. If I see any problems, I’ll let you know asap.’

  Huber pointed at Jones. ‘And what about you?’

  Jones wiped his nose with his sleeve. ‘I’m the token black guy. If the cops show up, I’ll make sure they chase me instead of you.’

  ‘Are you serious?’ asked Richter.

  Jones rolled his eyes. Some people had no sense of humour.

  37

  Heidi didn’t know what was going on, but she knew Ulster was hiding something. She could tell from the way he stammered every time she asked him a question about his visit to the King’s House on Schachen. He had the same reaction when she asked him about Ludwig; even simple questions about his interest in the subject matter seemed to cause him a great deal of stress. First Ulster would blush, then he would stumble around like a politician trying to evade a scandal, then he would try to change the subject.

  In many ways, she found his behaviour endearing. He simply refused to lie and was willing to do just about anything to avoid it, including locking himself in Ludwig’s private bathroom where he had remained for nearly fifteen minutes. After a while, she realized she needed to change her approach. If Ulster wasn’t willing to talk about his visit, maybe she could convince him to talk about something else that would eventually get him to reveal small pieces of the puzzle.

  But first, she had to lure him out.

  ‘Take as long as you need,’ she said through the bathroom door. ‘I’m pretty tired, so I’m heading upstairs to the Turkish Hall. I’ll be resting on one of the couches if you want to find me.’

  Ulster replied a few seconds later. ‘Is that permitted?’

  ‘Is what permitted?’

  ‘Sitting on Ludwig’s furniture.’

  She fought her urge to smile. ‘I won’t tell if you won’t tell.’

  He opened the door a crack, just wide enough to make eye contact. ‘Rest assured, my dear. Your secret is safe with me.’

  A few minutes later, the two of them were reclining on the lavish couches that lined the walls of the opulent room. Ulster stared at the gold fountain in the middle of the hall, admiring its handcrafted beauty as water trickled from one level to the next until it splashed into the tiny pool on the bottom. The relaxing sound took him to another place, one far from the stress of his everyday life, which was why it had been
installed there to begin with.

  ‘I feel like a king,’ he said playfully.

  ‘And I your queen,’ she replied.

  Ulster laughed loudly. Even though he housed some of the most spectacular artefacts ever discovered, he never got to enjoy them in this fashion. He could touch them, and study them, and admire them all he wanted, but he couldn’t lounge on them. To a historian, this was an extra-special treat – tasting the life of the man he was researching. It gave him the context he normally lacked when he delved into the mysteries of the past.

  Heidi noticed the satisfied smile on his face. She hoped that meant his guard was slipping. ‘Tell me more about yourself. What do you do for a living?’

  Ulster put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. ‘I run a small research facility in the mountains of Switzerland. It’s called the Ulster Archives.’

  ‘Are you serious?’

  ‘I never joke about research.’

  She slid closer to him on the couch. ‘Wait a minute! Are you Petr Ulster?’

  He opened one eye. ‘I am indeed. Have you heard of me?’

  She nodded enthusiastically. ‘I read a piece you wrote for The Times.’

  He opened his other eye. ‘Which one?’

  ‘The London Times.’

  ‘No, my dear, I meant which piece. I’ve written several.’

  She smiled warmly. ‘It chronicled your recent trip to Greece, and all the obstacles you were forced to overcome. I never knew so much had to be done after a treasure was discovered.’

  He leaned forward and met her gaze. She seemed truly interested in the subject matter, which was a rarity for him. He hardly ever met fans outside the world of academia. ‘It wasn’t easy, I can assure you of that. Then again, certain problems were expected before I made my trip. Gold brings out the worst in people. Always has, always will.’

  ‘I bet you have thousands of stories.’

  ‘I certainly do, but most of them are boring.’

  She laughed. ‘I find that hard to believe.’

  He shook his head. ‘Trust me, my dear, my stories have put more people to sleep than late-night television. If you want excitement, you should talk to Jonathon and David. They are the real heroes of Greece. After all, they were the ones who found the treasure.’