[mention]Beaumains[/mention] [mention]Bandit666[/mention] [mention]mrjones2009[/mention] [mention]wolfman[/mention] [mention]banshee[/mention] [mention]slackywacky[/mention] [mention]NotSeen[/mention] [mention]TayDay95[/mention] [mention]TomYi[/mention] [mention]Bigballgag1[/mention] [mention]Mineira1986[/mention] [mention]GreyLord[/mention]
Chapter IV:
Hamburg: Offices of Art. Inc. around 1000 same morning:
Sybille Schmitt, Christine von der Marwitz´ Secretary and uncrowned Queen of all things IT –and Research related worked at her spacious desk with its three large flat screens and sifted through the Data Christine and Company had acquired at Sylt, Heidelberg and Nuremberg.
Crissy Marie as Sybille Schmitt
Her phone signalled an incoming call, from Munich, Number unknown. “Good day, this is Art. Inc., Sybille Schmitt speaking, how can I help you? She asked in her professional voice.
She listened to the Caller. “No”, “Frau von der Marwitz is not at her Office.” “You have to speak to her?” “Okay, Sir” “Would you be so kind to tell me in what matter please?” A short reply and Sybille raised her Eye Brows.
“Please hold the Line Sir. I´ll patch you through at once.”
Munich: Safe House at the Hubertusbrunnen, same time:
The three friends sat around the table in the dining room filing through reports and data banks. The ringing tone of Christine´s Phone, the first movement of Beethoven´s 5th Symphony disturbed them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMHVVeZmm4I
Christine looked at the Screen: “Sybille” she whispered to Anna and Kate, “must be important” – if she calls me here.” “Yes Sybille?” “What´s up?” She listened for a moment, her expression changed to rapt attention: “Patch him through”, she replied.
“Hello, this is Christine von Marwitz speaking”, “to whom do I owe the pleasure?” She listened again, “yes, they are present”, “may I put you on Speaker phone?” “Okay, they can hear you now.”
“Good Day Grand Duchesse Romanova, good day Captain Beckett!” the Caller addressed them in a deep, slow voice dark from too much Single Malt, slightly raspy, Kate guessed.
“Good day to you too Sir”, the two replied in unison.
Christine interrupted: “Herr von Instetten, you wanted to talk to me, to us personally?” “May you tell me why?”
A mirthless chuckle at the other end “Frau von der Marwitz, you already have guessed that, I´m certain: Only the late Hermann Reichenbach could have told you my real name.”
“Then let us talk”, Christine offered.
“Not on the phone, I want to talk to you personally, get to know you, you and your friends.” The anxiety of the man was palpable.
“Where and when?” Christine asked.
“Nymphenburg, Amalienburg, 1500 Hours.”
“Fine and how do we recognize you?”
“I will recognize you, that´ll be all.”
The man hanged up abruptly.
Christine, Anna and Kate looked at each other. Anna spoke first: “Kate what do you make of the call?” The detective pondered the question for a moment: “The caller was anxious, nervous – had had too much Single Malt in the past – by the Sound of it.”
“Educated, cultivated.” Anna added. “Christine, what did he want?”
“He wanted to talk to us.” “Normally Sybille does not patch calls through without a good reason.” “She is my personal firewall” she grinned. Sybille has a Spider Sense: When she thinks that the Caller is genuine than he is genuine. I trust her.”
Kate shrugged: “And how do we play it? You know that “Amalienburg” he talked about?”
“Yes, the Pianist replied. “The Amalienburg is one of the small Park Palaces at Nymphenburg Palace.”
“A good meeting Place for him: He will see us long before we see him.” Kate replied.
“Okay then”, Anna added: “Let us prepare.”
Munich: Odeonsplatz Schumanns Bar am Hofgarten 1000 Hours
The Dark Lady sat outside Schumann´s Bar at the Odeon´s Platz, a hideous expensive but very fine Late Macchiato before her, and scanned a list of addresses a contact of hers had her provided with. Addresses which for one reason or another might be suited as a safe house or flat used by Christine von der Marwitz and her Friends.
So far none of that stood out. She heaved a sigh; she might have to check them all out. Where to start? There was one place located near the Hubertusbrunnen, not too far from Nymphenburg Palace. This would be one place as good as any to start with.
She waived to the waitress, paid her bill and left.
Munich: Hubertusbrunnen, Safe House, 1300 Hours:
Christine, Kate and Anna had agreed on a plan: They would leave for the Amalienburg shortly and doing what every tourist, who visited Nymphenburg Palace, would do: a stroll through the Park, there they would recon the vicinity of the small Park Palace thoroughly and take up positions there. They would be in direct contact via concealed microphones and eye contact.
Munich: Hubertusbrunnen, in a parked car, outside the Safe House 1315:
Sarah McKenzie had chosen her surveillance post so, that she could comfortably watch the comings and goings of the location, which her contact had named as probable safe house. She watched as the large wooden Entrance Door opened: Three women emerged. “Jackpot”, the Dark Lady grinned. There were they: Christine von der Marwitz, Kate Beckett and Anna Romanova.
All three had opted for casual, which meant jeans, sneakers and blazers, wide enough to hide a gun. The Russian had a large Burberry shoulder bag over her left shoulder.
Christine von der Marwitz stood still for a moment, scanned the Area, looked for a moment in her direction, shook her head slightly then followed her friends, walking along the Südliche Auffahrtsallee purposely walking along the canal.
Obviously, they wanted to make a tour through the Park or the Palace the Dark Lady guessed. She would have to wait then, till they returned.
Munich: Südliche Auffahrtsallee, 15 Minutes later, Amalienburg:
Kate and Anna were chatting amiably, while Christine walked along silently, obviously lost deep in thought. Anna gave her friend a sideways glance: “Chris, something is on your mind, I can tell.”
“Yes”, Christine replied thoughtfully. “When we left the house”, “I had a strange feeling, as if someone watched me, watched us.”
“Did you see anybody?” Kate asked the Pianist. Chris shook her head “No, it was just a feeling.”
Kate nodded: “We know we can trust your feelings Chris”, smiling inwardly and remembering the scene in Uthörn, when Chris had played the Piano and sensed her without seeing her.
“When we return, we make a sweep around the house and check the area and the security Systems. We've had unwanted visitors more than I like.” The Detective proposed.
Anna agreed, “Sounds like a good plan. I hate surprises!” – her mind wandered back to a certain Parking Garage in Nuremberg just days ago …
In the meantime, they had reached the artificial lake in front of Nymphenburg Palace.
They entered the Park through the southern Passage at the Central Pavilion and made their way to the Amalienburg:
The Amalienburg had been built by Elector Karl Albrecht in 1734 as a small pleasure Palace and hunting lodge for his wife Anna Amalia, daughter of Emperor Joseph I.
Christine, Kate and Anna did what every Tourist would do: They made the tour guided through the Amalienburg, went around it, chatting, making selfies, Chris explaining some architectural details, walking around then and left only to take up positions around the place which guaranteed that nobody would came near the Amalienburg unnoticed. Then they waited.
Munich: Nymphenburg Palace, Park, Amalienburg around 1500 Hours:
Kate looked at her watch. So far nobody had showed up, who would fit the bill as von Instetten, the Photographs of him, which they obtained, had been made 20 Years ago though. A man could change a lot in all that time.
Suddenly the hairs in her neck raised, her subconscious had reacted before her. She scanned the area again, carefully: There was a man, thin and tall, walking haltingly, looking around. Definitely not a professional, no trained observer would have acted this way.
She spoke in her Mike: “Chris, Anna – before the Entrance of the Amalienburg look!”
"Got him” Anna responded.
“Me too”, Chris replied. “What do you propose Kate?”
“We give him two more minutes and then you approach him slowly and carefully, do not spook him.” The Detective advised her friend. “He wants to talk to you, so try to put him at ease.”
Michael von Instetten was anxious, nervous – he looked around, searchingly. Then a movement between the trees, he saw a woman striding purposefully at him. He tried to remember Pictures of Christine von der Marwitz from the Internet: Could that be her?
The Woman was tall, blonde, her sunglasses sat casually a top her blonde mane, flowing freely down her back; she wore Jeans, white Sneakers – and a light yellow blazer. She moved gracefully, with the elegance of a large feline.
Then she halted her step, two Meters away from him, appraising him with those clear and deep green eyes, observant but not unfriendly. “Michael von Instetten?” Her Alto Voice sounded melodious and warm.
Christine studied the man before her attentively: Von Instetten was tall, thin, even haggard, his grey eyes sunken deep into his skull. He looked like a man aged early. Von Instetten must be around what? Sixty? He had the appearance and the bearing of man at least 20 years older.
“Christine von der Marwitz?” It was the raspy, papery Voice they had heard at the phone.
“Yes”,
“Are you alone?” He asked scanning his surroundings nervously, like an animal pursued by its hunters.
“No, my friends Anna Romanova and Kate Beckett keep watch around here.” Von der Marwitz gestured at the surrounding trees. “I hate surprises –and we had quite a few in the last weeks. But I think you already know that.”
She looked at him “Why don´t we walk a little while we talk. My friends will take care that we are not disturbed.”
Von Instetten hesitated then nodded. They walked in silence for a moment. Chris knew that Kate and Anna would shadow them. At last she broke the silence: “What do you want to tell me and my friends Herr von Instetten?”
The Architect stared straight ahead, as seeing something other people didn´t: “I sold my soul to the devil, and the devil drove a hard bargain, I have paid the price for my vanity.”
“Your work for Carl von Winterfeldt, you mean?” Chris returned.
“Yes. For my shame, that is true.” the broken man sighed.
“And why do you want to talk to me now? What has changed?” Chris pressed him – carefully.
Von Instetten looked at her, incredibly tired.
“You know, I´m tired of running, of looking over my shoulder and of waiting to feel the knife in my back.” He replied, sounding weary.
“Then do not run anymore”, Christine said simply.
“Easier said than done” von Instetten said bitterly “You have no idea how dangerous Carl von Winterfeldt really is!”
“Believe me, when I say, we do by now.” Christine´s voice had sounded even, but von Instetten registered that a shadow crossed the features of the Artist for a fleeting moment.”
Agitated he continued: “That Journalist in Hamburg, Peter Riefenstahl? He was shot in broad daylight.”
“I know I sat across him when he was shot." She said remembering crystal clear the moment when blood and brain had sprayed in her face in a fine mist and Peter´s head had dissolved into a bloody mass.
Unabashed von Instetten followed through: “And Peter Stromberg? He was shot too in his well secured Villa.”
“Yes, he was”, Christine responded evenly: “Peter Stromberg was aware of the danger, we warned him, but Stromberg decided that he would aid us, despite his life at stake, because he believed that we would bring von Winterfeldt down in the end. And we intend to honour his memory.”
“How very noble”, von Instetten added sarcastically. “You know I´m no hero.”
“Most people aren't, but they do the right thing in the end” Christine replied unmoved.
“What if von Winterfeldt had tortured Reichenbach to get the information that I'm still alive?” Von Instetten sounded desperate now.
Christine looked him straight in the eye: “He doesn't know; if von Winterfeldt knew, we wouldn't be having this conversation now and Reichenbach was not tortured by Carl von Winterfeldt: I did.”
That gave the Architect pause; he stared in open disbelief in those clear green eyes.
“Reichenbach had Anna abducted and tortured in his dungeons” she made a gesture at Anna, who followed them with Kate 20 Meters behind them.
“I shot his left thumb off to persuade him, releasing Anna unharmed. I cut his right little finger off to remind him, what would be in store for him, if he ever laid a finger on his Daughter in Law ever again.”
“And yes, von Winterfeldt is most likely responsible for assassinating Reichenbach and the abduction of Sophie Reichenbach and we will save her! The question is: What will you do? Will you help us? Or will you wait for von Winterfeldt´s Valkyrie´s to come for you?"
Von Instetten regarded her, as if he saw really saw Christine for the first time, “You are really committed to this, aren't you?”
“Yes, we all are”, Christine said simply.
“I need time to think things through”, von Instetten spoke at last.
“Come with us” Christine urged him.
“No, you are safer, when I´m not with you. I will come to you!”
“You can call me anytime” Christine replied and gave von Instetten her card.
Von Instetten took the card, turned abruptly on his heel and vanished between the surrounding trees. Christine looked after him thoughtfully. Kate and Anna approached her:
“What did he say?” Anna prodded Christine. “He says he needs time to think things through; I could not persuade him to come with us. Von Instetten wants to talk but he is holding back.”
“So we are none the wiser”, Kate stated flatly, “Yes?”
"Yes and no." Christine paused a moment before she spoke again, “I think, I got him to consider helping us. The man is a nervous wreck, consumed by fear and guilt. Let us get back to HQ and listen yourself, I recorded our conversation.”
30 Minutes later inside the Safe House:
Chris, Anna and Kate sat around the table and listened intently to the recorded conversation between Christine and von Instetten. Kate concluded: “I think, you got through to him, but he is paralyzed by fear – we will just have to wait.”
“I'm not comfortable with letting him go” Anna mused.
“Me neither”, Christine responded. “But we must build up trust first – and if he decides not help us …." The sound of the melodious doorbell interrupted her midsentence.
They looked curiously at each other: “Are we expecting any guests, Chris?” Kate wondered.
“No … Kate, we don´t, take a look please!”
Kate went to the Security console and stared at the woman standing before the front door:
The visitor looked directly in the Camera and smiled.
“I'll be damned." The American muttered under her breath.