Emerald (44 page)

“We should be almost to the Austrian border about now. As much as I like Germany, I’ll be glad to get out of it this time. Too much bad stuff seems to be happening, at least in Munich.”

“Werner agreed and then responded, “What’s that up ahead? It looks like a roadblock of some kind.”

“Probably only an agricultural inspection before the border.”

They slowed down and then realized that it was a type of military blockade and began looking for somewhere to turn around. Suddenly a military jeep drove from the side road they just passed and began following them.

“What do we do now?” Adolph asked, exasperated.

“I don’t know, but let’s stay calm. Our passports are in order and we just have to act like priests or monks or whoever we’re supposed to be.”

As they approached the road block they saw that the military were all holding machine guns.

“My god, those are H &K battle rifles, just like what we got at the compound last month! That’s some impressive fire power! We’ve got to stop and the only thing we can do is bluff our way through.

As soon as the Mercedes stopped at the check point they were surrounded by a dozen of the black suited military and one man walked over to that car and ordered everyone out.

E
mily wiped her wet hands and picked up the ringing phone.

“Klaus, how nice to hear your voice. You’re in Geneva? Are you coming by? Yes I’ll be here all day, and it will be so good to see you. In about an hour, that will be fine. I can hardly wait.

When Emily opened the door she was startled to see a stranger standing in front of her. “Who… You’re not Klaus.”

Pushing his way past Emily, her mouth opened in surprise, Hans replied, “Yes I am, Emily, just let me in and I’ll explain everything,” and slammed the door behind him.

“Now sit down and shut up you little slut while I talk. My name, at the moment is not Klaus, it’s Hans - - - Hans Huber, and I am going to stay with you for a few days - - - least until I can figure how to get my emerald and go home to Argentina.”

“What emerald - - - Argentina - - - what are you talking about?”

Hans walked over to Emily and slapped her across her face. “I told you to shut up and listen.” Emily’s terrified eyes filled with tears and her fingers gripped the arms of her chair like the claws of a bird of prey gripping it’s catch. Pacing back in front of the terrified woman Hans almost shouted, “I am not who you think I am, but that doesn’t matter - - - you are just here to help me get the emerald that Christies has because it belongs to me … nothing more, nothing less. If you continue to do this - - - do just what I say - - - I may let you live. But believe me if you call the police or do anything to screw up me getting my emerald I will squash you like the vermin you are. And one thing more. All that sweet talk, all that love making before was just to mold you into my little helper. I do not love you; I do not even care for you. You’re body is disgusting and I do not want to touch you again except maybe to remind you every once in a while that you belong to me and I control your destiny, your very life.

Hans went over to Emily bewildered and cowering in the chair, her eyes wild with fear.

“Do you understand my little cherub slut?

Emily nodded quickly and tried to cover her face with her arms. Hans pulled her arms down and slapped her again leaving a bright red mark on her cheek.

“OK fine, now that we understand each other, this is what I want you to do. Call your boss at Christies, that Dr. Franz, or whatever his name is, and tell him that you have taken ill and won’t be in for a couple of days. I’ll listen to that call so don’t try anything funny. Then I want you to go to that little market on the corner and get enough food and beer for my little visit. That should take you only about 20 minutes. If you are gone more that it will the end of your life, so enjoy your last twenty minutes. And, if you make any calls or try to tip off anyone that I am here, I will find out, you can be sure, and I will make your prelude to death so painful you will scream for it to end.” He grabbed Emily’s chin and forced her to look at him as he smiled viscously at her. “Now get going and make that phone call. Oh and one more thing. If your phone rings at any time, I’ll answer it, do we understand each other?”

Trembling, she could hardly pink up anything in the small market near her apartment. Near the display of apples, she looked longingly at the telephone on the counter near the cash register.

“Is everything all right Miss Emily?” Startled at the clerk’s words she dropped the box of cereal on the floor.

“Oh yes, all right, I’m just not feeling very well and need a few things before I go to bed.”

“Well let me know if I can help.”

Her shopping basket filled with whatever her troubled brain could envision, she walked over to pay for the groceries. As the clerk started ringing the items up she reached for the telephone. “May I make a quick call, please?” Without waiting for an answer she dialed Dr. Franz’s private number. When Dr. Franz answered Emily whispered loudly, “Call Inspector Servette, Hans is in my apartment and is going to kill me!” She quickly hung up, and trembling, paid for her items to the bewildered clerk, snatched up the two sacks of groceries and ran out of the store.

Emily rushed into her apartment, slammed the door and headed for the kitchen.

“You had just 30 seconds or I would have blown you head off. Well, not really, because you see I rarely use a firearm. I would take much more pleasure in slitting your throat from ear to ear. What took you so long?

“I couldn’t remember what kind of beer you liked,” Emily responded as she opened the refrigerator door and began to put things inside.

Hans walked into the kitchen and leaned against the counter. “I really don’t care, just so long as it will give me a little buzz. What’s wrong with you? You seem a little nervous. Didn’t get any ideas about telling anyone about me did you?”

“No I didn’t Klaus, or Hans, or whoever you are. I just want you out of here and out of my life.”

“Now is that any way to treat your old lover?”

Emily tried to walk back into living room, but Hans caught her arm and twisted it behind her back. He walked her into the living room and threw her down into the green, faded, overstuffed chair. She cowered in that chair afraid to look at him. Hans walked over to a matching chair and sprawled into it.

“Let’s get another thing straight lady - - - I love hurting people and you can be sure I am very good at it, so don’t get any ideas about escaping out that back door either.

Dr. Franz telephoned Inspector Servette and In a low conspiratorial voice, and spoke, “Inspector, this is Dr. Franz, and I have just had a most distressing phone call. It was from Emily, my secretary, and told me in a frantic, loud whisper that someone by the name of Hans was in her apartment and he was going to kill her. That’s all, because she quickly hung up. But she sounded terrified. What can we do?”

“You have done all you can. Thank you for your call. Just leave it to me and I’ll take care of everything. What is her address? Is it a home or an apartment building? OK and her apartment number? Thank you so much for the tip and I will let you know what’s going on when this is all over.”

Servette dialed a number and in a few seconds said, “Josef, Hans is back in town and holding Dr. Franz’s Secretary hostage in her apartment. The address of her apartment building is 75 Rue St. James, #27. Now don’t do anything there until David and Miriam get there. I think the three of you can take Hans out without his hurting Emily. I really want him alive, but don’t take any chances. You know he’s a vicious killer, so if you have to take him out, do it. I think you three have a better chance than if I sent in a whole hostage strike unit there. I don’t think he is aware that we are on to him. I’ll call David and Miriam and have them meet you on Sionnet just around the corner from her apartment building.”

Hearing two clicks on the phone, he knew Josef received his instructions loud and clear.

“David, I’m glad I caught you.” Survette relayed the same message to David that he had with Josef, but added, “I know you would like to kill Hans, but promise me that, if at all possible, you’ll try to take him alive. I think the GSG-9 would like to question him about all the damage he has been causing throughout Germany, especially in Munich. Also I am sure they would like to know what Bruno and his Nazi friends are up to. You can bust Hans up all you want, if that will make you feel any better, but please do not kill him. Will you please promise me that, David? David, David, you silence is deafening. Are you still there?” The loud silence at the other end of the phone made him slam the receiver into the cradle cracking it. “Damn you, David!”