The Lions Of Lucerne

65

Forty-five minutes after she left a message on his voice mail, Claudia’s cell phone rang.

“Mueller,” she said.

“Fräulein Mueller, what a delightful surprise it was to get your message,” said Gerhard Miner.

“I doubt that.”

“Why would you doubt that? I’m flattered to have the ardent attentions of such an attractive young woman.”

“Well, then you won’t mind meeting me for lunch today.”

“I’m sorry. I’m much too busy. We’ll do it soon, though.”

“I think that would be a mistake.”

“And why is that?”

“I have some very special information I think you might be interested in.”

“That’s hard to imagine.”

“I can tell you, or the deputy federal attorney, or maybe even the press.”

“Fräulein Mueller, I’m surprised you’re even free to walk the streets. Are you not being brought up on charges by the deputy federal attorney?”

“Well, he’s funny like that. He doesn’t much care for anonymous tips. He says they”-Claudia shot a sideways glance at Scot-“He says they stink.”

“Stink?” The Americanism was lost briefly on Miner.

“Yes, he much prefers firsthand accounts of things. Eyewitness testimony is so much more powerful, especially in court. An anonymous tip versus, say, the testimony of a carpenter from Hochdorf, is so much more effective. Wouldn’t you agree?”

There was absolute silence over the phone.

“Herr Miner? Are you still there?”

Quietly, Miner responded, “Yes. I’m still here.”

“You haven’t called him back yet, have you? You figured his message wasn’t important enough. You’d wait until you felt like it to call him back. It’s funny, but I could almost hear his fingers dialing your number the minute I left his shop.”

“What time?”

“What time did I leave his shop?”

“No, lunch. What time do you want to meet for lunch?”

“I’m quite busy today. Being framed for a major weapons theft creates all sorts of demands. Let me look at my book. Can you hold?”

Claudia held her hand over the mouthpiece and waited several moments. She hoped he was good and pissed off. She enjoyed being in control for once.

“Yes, Herr Miner. Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s say three o’clock where we had our lovely lunch last time, the Hotel des Balances. I’ll see you at three.”

Claudia punched the end button and severed the connection.