Inspector Semmel was waiting outside the Schellen building, a restless eye scanning the area as they emerged. The drive to the safe hotel was uneventful, and there was little conversation.
Helen found herself surprised at Schellen´s offer of an interest in his closely-held Swiss company. ‘That´s one for the books,´ she thought, ‘a Swiss businessman asking a woman to take an interest. I know it´s not that unusual, and I´m flattered, I guess.´ She looked across the esplanade at the Jet d´Eau that rises 50 meters into the sky from Lake Leman. ‘Or, maybe I will be when I figure all this out.´
At the hotel, they went into the bar, again conveniently deserted. Johannes lagged behind briefly to speak with the Maître, then came and settled into an armchair.
“I´ve ordered some champagne. I think we can safely celebrate some progress in this case.”
“Where´s Ferrol?” Rummy asked.
“Headed back to the office,” Johannes said. “Not a very sociable fellow, but he´s capable. He told me he´s satisfied with what Schellen said, unless we find out to the contrary.”
“Oh?” Helen said. “I´m not so sure.” She looked at Johannes. “When I came here to meet with him and get him to accept my revisions of the project, he made a big play for having Sauter be the contractor. Well, to be honest, he said he had an associate he wanted to propose. I told him flat out NO because my proposal was design and build. I really think he might have built the thing with Sauter if I hadn´t shown him how to make it pay.”
“You never know, and I´ll be looking into that, as well. Thank you,” Johannes said.
“The thing is, Johannes, Schellen never stopped pushing Sauter at me, one way or another but without using his name. I know he´s handled Dumont´s situation pretty well, but I´m really concerned that there´s more to it.” She thought for a moment and went on. “And today, after you left us, Schellen offered me a share in his company and a seat on the supervisory board. I can´t decide if that´s a way to get me on his side – make an insider of me – or a signal that he´s turned over a new leaf. Anyway, I turned him down.”
Johannes made a note in his book. “I think it was wise to refuse. I´m certainly going to keep an eye on that aspect.” He turned several pages in his book and looked up at Helen. “But we do have some new information that came in this morning. I didn´t see you at breakfast – I was at the office – so I´ll pass it on now.”
The champagne arrived and Johannes waited while it was served. Everyone touched glasses and sipped. Helen set her glass down on the low table in front of the sofa where she sat next to Rummy.
“Out with it, Johannes,” she said, her hands braced on her knees. She took another deep breath and looked at Johannes. “Is it about those two men who tried to kill me – us?”
“We already know they were paid and instructed by Sauter. They have now told us they had been ordered to kill you that last day in Freiburg, in addition to Dumont.”
Rummy stood leaning against the bar, his champagne flute in his massive hand. “Why, Johannes? Do we have a motive?” Helen looked up at him from the sofa and nodded, then turned to look at Johannes.
“All we have at the moment is that one of them was told by Sauter – in person – to ‘get that vicious bitch´.” Johannes smiled gently at Helen. “We´ve assumed he referred to you.”
Helen shrugged, shook her head.
Rummy said, “So, they´re willing to tie Sauter to the attempts to kill us?”
“Yes. They identified Sauter, by name, and visually. He apparently didn´t even use a cover name.”
Helen challenged Johannes, “So, are we safe, now, or what?”
Johannes looked grave, and professional. “Yes, Helen, I think so. I´d be careful for a while – don´t give away your vest. But I don´t think you need to wear it all the time.”
“Well, I´ve got it with me.” She smiled, thumping with her fist on her Kevlar-coated breast. “So, I think Rummy and I will go up to Freiburg and have a heart-to-heart talk with Werner Siegmann and the other contractors.” She turned to Rummy. “Would you call Werner and set something up for tomorrow? We´ll fly up to Strasbourg this afternoon, stay at the Maison Rouge.” She looked at Johannes, her eyebrows raised.
“Good. Break the pattern,” he said.
“We´ll meet with them tomorrow, do a really good survey and we should be able to get out of there tomorrow night,” she mused. “Rummy and I probably should go to Paris Thursday.” Her face brightened, and she turned to Johannes.
“I´m sure we´re not done with you and your investigation, Johannes.” He nodded. “Well, why don´t we all plan to meet at my place over the weekend?” She looked at Rummy. “Can you talk Doris into that?”
“If I suggest it, she´ll beat us there.”
“Then, tell her to meet us. You come down with me Thursday. She can join us whenever she can get there.
“Johannes?” She looked back at him. He was leafing through his diary. He looked up with a smile
“I can be there Friday afternoon.”
“We´ll have a party.”