A Price for Balancing the Scales

by W Earl Daniels

  Cedric gave the number of one of the burner phones he had in his pocket. “Again, I cannot overemphasize the importance of his contacting me as quickly as possible. Give him the number that is on your caller ID.”

  “I understand and will call him now.”

  Cedric knew that protocol in intelligence agencies is not to give out one’s personal phone number. Contact had to be made through a controllers of calls.

  “Many thanks. Goodbye.”

  Cedric decided to allow about thirty minutes before left for the Frankfurt airport.

  Within twenty minutes, Cedric’s phone range.

  “Guten Morgen,” said Cedric.

  “Guten Morgen, my old Thunderbolt. What brings you to town?”

  “Well, I’m not in your town now, but I will be soon. I’m doing private detective work now and I’m hoping to call in a favor.”

  “Now why does that not surprise me? When you quit working, you will be dead. You know if I can do you a favor, I will.”

  “Do you still have some of your old contacts from the days when you were working West Berlin?”

  “My friend, like you, I am still in the same line of work but more like a consultant. I’m not trying to catch the bad guys anymore, just trying to help outthink them. What is your favor?”

  “I would like to get the names of any representatives who you believe might be favorable to the benefits they could derive from a lobbyist who might be working the Kaplan Company bid to upgrade your rail system.”

  “Are you working the case that involves the assassination of the Hesse representative?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “You must have found a weakness in the case.”

  “No, but I’m looking very hard for one.”

  “Are you prepared to copy?”

  “Go,” replied Cedric.

  Within a few minutes, Cedric had five names. Sniderhouse told him that all five were suspected of having taken kickbacks in the past.

  Cedric asked, “Are there any who might have taken a payoff from the Kaplan Company?”

  Sniderhouse laughed. “Probably each of them.”

  Cedric asked, “Is there any state that you recommend I place my focus?”

  “Yes. The top three, in my opinion, are Berlin, Hamburg, and Bavaria. I believe that Hamburg may have replaced Hesse for second place.”

  “Is there any particular reason for Hamburg to jump into second place so fast?”

  “I suspect it is their industrial complex. They need better rail capability for moving manufactured goods south, and Bavaria needs the capability for a better linkage with countries to the southwest.”

  “But you think the key to it all lies in Berlin?”

  “That is correct. Be very careful with the Berlin rep. He is known to have some of his own Thunderbolts.”

  Before Cedric could thank Sniderhouse and say goodbye, Sniderhouse said, “Cedric, I am located in Berlin. When you arrive, dial the number you previously called and I will contact you. It would be my honor to give my old friend a read on the lay of the land. Oh, by the way, for your convenience, I will take the liberty to book you in the IntercityHotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof. You will later understand why. Talk to you soon.”

  After a quick goodbye, Cedric left to catch the U-Bahn to the airport.

  Chapter 20

  Surprisingly, Huck’s plane landed on time in Istanbul. From there, he took a taxi to the Kaplan Company. Upon arrival, he discovered a massive manufacturing facility. There were several buildings over the length of two to three football fields in size.

  At the main entrance, the taxi was stopped by the security guard, to whom Huck showed his credentials and announced that he was a detective, from Germany, to see Mr. Kaplan. He intentionally failed to mention that he was a private detective because he did not want Kaplan to think he had any other option but to meet with him.

  A security person escorted Huck to the receptionist, to whom Huck introduced himself. “Detective Huxton Price, here to see Bay Kaplan.”

  The receptionist responded, “Bay Kaplan speaks perfect English, so you may refer to him as ‘mister.’ I will let him know you are here.” Over the intercom she said, “Bayim, there is a Detective Price here to see you.”

  “Send him in,” declared an authoritative voice from the other side of the door.

  “Sir, you may go right in.”

  When Huck entered, Kaplan was walking away from his desk and coming toward Huck. Kaplan’s hair was turning gray in the area of his sideburns and just above his ears. The remainder of his hair, as well as his eyes, was coal black. He wore a dark suit with its jacket open to reveal a matching vest. Huck thought, If I didn’t know differently, I would swear he is a Wall Street banker.

  Huck held up his credentials, which contained his private detective badge. But Kaplan saw only the shield and apparently assumed, based on the security guard’s reference to Huck as a detective, that Huck was a member of German law enforcement.

  “Please, Detective Price, have a seat. How may I help you?” asked Kaplan as he handed Huck one of his business cards.

  “Thank you, Mr. Kaplan. I am investigating the assassination of the German Hesse state representative.”

  “I never personally met him and know only what I have read in the newspapers or heard on our local news television station.”

  “Have you ever heard the names Lester Storey or Empire Enterprises?” Huck knew he was swinging in thin air, but sometimes you have to work with your talent and not the actual evidence.

  From the look on Kaplan’s face, Huck knew that he had hit at least a single because Kaplan appeared to be caught off guard. His face not only lost some of its color but also went blank. It was evident that Kaplan wanted to be very cautious in the selection of the next words that came out of his mouth.

  “No…no, I don’t think I recall ever having heard those names before.”

  “Well, would you explain to me how your business card, like the one you have given me, was found on Storey’s desk, in his office at Empire Enterprises?” Here Huck was on a fishing expedition, as no card was found on the desk at Empire Enterprises.

  Although Kaplan had never met Storey, Huck thought he might have mailed one of his business cards to Empire Enterprises in order for Storey to contact him, should the need arise. For the police to find his business card on Storey’s desk, he could only assume that the German police had made a direct connection between him and Storey.

  Kaplan stumbled in his response, which made it appear that he was making up his explanation as he went along. “It …seems like…there was a lobbyist seeking to help me in the rail bid I am negotiating with the German government.”

  “You are referring to Lester Storey, correct?”

  Huck watched and waited until Kaplan continued. “That’s correct…I may have told my receptionist to send him one of my business cards with a polite note informing him that if he thought I could use him on some future project, he was free to give me a call.”

  “I need to confirm, right now, that you are telling me that you have no knowledge of money ever passing from your company to Storey. I don’t want you to feel under any duress, but I do want you to understand that we can subpoena your bank records if necessary.”

  The realization of being boxed in suddenly hit Kaplan. At that moment, he did not know of any escape route. “Although I can sit here and tell you that I do not recall providing any money to Storey, I don’t think I should make any further comments without consulting with my attorney.”

  “While you’re at it, you might want your attorney to review the extradition agreement between the German and the Turkish governments. I’m not sure this is the best time, nor is it in your best interests, for us to find a connection between you and Mr. Storey, for which you have not previously informed us. The German government ha
s a tendency to frown upon even the appearance of potential conflicts of interest.”

  “Could you give me a second to consult with my receptionist?” Kaplan got up and exited his office straightaway, careful to close the door behind him.

  Kaplan returned after about five minutes. Once seated behind his desk, he said, “My receptionist recalls that we did send Mr. Storey our standard four hundred fifty euros as a six-month retainer. She explained to him that if we didn’t need his assistance over the next six months, we probably would not need him at all.”

  Quickly doing the math in his head, Huck concluded that would have been about $500 US dollars. “Mr. Kaplan, I appreciate you clearing up the relationship between you and Mr. Storey. Is there anything else you wish to add to your statement before we call it a day?”

  Kaplan replied, “I can’t think of anything, but if I do, I will be glad to give you a call.”

  Not wanting to give him one of his business cards because it contained the words “Private Detective,” Huck wrote his telephone number on notepaper he secured from a hand-carved wooden container on Kaplan’s desk.

  Huck concluded with the question, “I suspect you use the Turkish Bank A.S.?”

  Kaplan hesitated before nodding in the affirmative.

  Huck stood up. “Thank you, Mr. Kaplan. I appreciate your taking the time for me, without an appointment. I hope you can understand that this case is causing us to work on a double-time schedule. Our government wants it wrapped up quickly and for it to go to trial as soon as possible. You can imagine that our people are demanding action.”

  “I understand and am glad I was able to help.”

  After a firm handshake, Huck departed. He had what he had come for—confirmation that there was a relationship between Kaplan and Storey. With the proper string pulling, Huck might be able to find out how much money went from Kaplan’s account and to whom, when, and where. For now it was back to Frankfurt.

  Chapter 21

  Cedric arrived in Berlin at Tempelhof Airport in the early afternoon. Using the U-Bahn, he made his way, as instructed by Sniderhouse, to the IntercityHotel Berlin Hauptbahnhof, which not only was right next to the main train station in Berlin but also was in a building next to the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community. This was in the same vicinity as the cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany. Being in the right place may be the easy part, thought Cedric. The hard part is identifying the lobbyist who might have the ear of the Berlin state rep. Hopefully that is where Sniderhouse will be of help.

  After Cedric unpacked his luggage and refreshed himself with a shower, he placed a call to the number Sniderhouse had directed him to use. The communication controller told him that he had been instructed by Sniderhouse to notify him as soon as Cedric had called. Within a matter of minutes, Cedric’s hotel room phone rang.

  Cedric picked up the phone. “Thunderbolt, don’t tell me you have plans for dinner because my wife is preparing your favorite.”

  “I don’t have plans, and I thank you and your wife for your gracious hospitality.”

  “I will pick you up at your hotel around six thirty this evening, if that is convenient for you. We have a lot of catching up to do. Gretchen and I fondly remember when we visited you and Alice at your home, which was way too many years ago.”

  “That sounds great. I’m also looking forward to seeing you and Gretchen. Alice would be envious of me if she knew I was having dinner with the two of you. Do you think we’ll have an opportunity for you to help me lay out my plan of action for tomorrow?”

  “Certainly we will. I plan to give you my day tomorrow and to introduce you to a few folks who, like most politicians, like to talk.”

  “Leo, again, I thank you. I will anxiously await your arrival at six thirty. I’ll be in the lobby.” When Cedric first met Leonardo, during the Cold War days, he had insisted that Cedric call him Leo. He claimed that the only reason his mother named him Leonardo was because, at the time she was pregnant with him, she was impressed by the paintings of Leonardo da Vinci. Leo then laughingly said, “She never asked me what I thought.”

  Just as Cedric was preparing to take a short power nap before his evening visit with Sniderhouse, his phone rang. This time it was Huck.

  Huck said that although he did not have the time to go into any detail, he had wanted Cedric to know that there was a connection between Kaplan and Storey. The quick and short of it was that Kaplan alleged to believe Storey to be a lobbyist and had paid him, in euros, an equivalent of approximately $500 as a retainer for six months. Huck wanted Cedric to have that information in the event that it could be helpful to him.

  Cedric said that he would keep the information in mind and told Huck that he was having dinner with an old friend who could be helpful in explaining some of the nuances of the lobbyist business.

  Huck had arrived back in Frankfurt from Istanbul as scheduled. As he made his way to the U-Bahn station for the trip to his hotel, his phone rang. A panicked voice said, “Herr Price, I need to see you immediately.”

  “Is this Fräulein Walker?”

  “Ya. How soon can I see you?”

  “Currently I am at the airport U-Bahn station just before boarding a train to my hotel. But I can divert to any place you name.”

  “Can you come directly to my apartment?”

  “Yes. Let me get a pen and paper to write your address.”

  Walker gave Huck her address and said, “Please hurry. I am very frightened.”

  “I’ll be there as quickly as I can get a train to take me. See you shortly. Auf Wiedersehen.”

  Within thirty minutes, Huck was ringing the doorbell to the outside entrance to the apartment building address Walker had given him.

  A shaky voice said, “Who is this, please?”

  Huck thought, What has her so frightened? I wonder if she is having second thoughts about having worked with the artist to do the composite sketch of Mr. S.? He said, “It’s Herr Price.”

  Huck heard the latch unlock, and he pushed the door open. Her apartment was on the third floor. Soon he was in front of her door, standing in full view of the peep-through lens where she could see it was him. He rang her doorbell.

  She opened the door quickly, pulled him inside, and then doubled latched the door.

  Huck had stepped inside with his luggage.

  “I’m so sorry. Please, let me take your luggage.”

  “I’ll just set it here for now. Why don’t we get something to drink and you can tell me what’s going on?”

  Somewhat calmer, Walker said, “Will tea be OK?”

  “That will be fine,” replied Huck.

  Huck took a seat on the sofa in the neatly decorated apartment. Everything was traditionally German, to include a very old grandfather clock against the far wall, ticking away with its pendulum swinging back and forth. Huck also noted that the blinds to all the outside windows were pulled closed.

  When Walker returned, she was carrying two cups of tea. One she placed in front of Huck, the other she sat on the table across from Huck and took a seat in a small stuffed chair.

  Taking a deep breath, Walker said, “I believe I am being stalked, and last evening someone tried to push me in front of a bus.”

  Puzzled, Huck asked, “Why do you believe that to be the case?”

  “Well, for the last couple of days, I have had an uncomfortable feeling that I was being followed. There were times when I could hear footsteps behind me, but when I turned around, there would be no one there. Other times when I turned around quickly, I caught a glimpse of a man wearing what appeared to be a jogging jacket step into the doorway of the nearest shop. On one occasion it was a woman’s dress shop.

  “Then last evening when I was at my bus stop, waiting for my bus to arrive, which is the second bus of the two that arrive at the same time, I felt a han
d in the middle of my back attempt to push me in front of the first bus. Had a gentleman not seen me fall off the curb and grabbed my left arm to pull me back, I am certain I would have fallen under the front wheels of the first bus.”

  “Was this before or after you provided the composite drawing of Mr. S.?”

  “It was after, but I don’t think the two incidents are related.”

  “Why not?”

  “The artist and I met in a public square where other artists sketch pictures, mostly of tourists, in cartoon fashion. I did not get the feeling that I was being stalked until a couple of days later.”

  Huck sat quietly, trying to think of a scenario whereby someone would feel it necessary to kill Walker. Could Walker have become a little paranoid after completing the composite sketch and so have imagined the stalking and pushing? Could there be a case of mistaken identity? Or could it be that Walker is the only one, other than Carl, who could support Carl’s claim of there being a Mr. S. and who could also identify Mr. S.?

  Huck said, “Until we can prove any different, we are going to trust that you are right. However, to confirm or eliminate your concerns will require some help from you. Know that from this point forward, you will be under my constant surveillance. You will have to do what I ask of you, but more importantly, you must go about your daily activities as if you suspect nothing. I want you to prepare for me a copy of your daily schedule. Once I have that, you are not to leave this apartment until I say it is OK to do so. When you do leave, you must do so in the same manner and in which you normally would go about your day. For example, if you like to stop to look in shops on your way to work, continue to do so. Don’t make any changes to your routine. You can be assured that I will be close to you at all times. You may not see me, and I caution you not to look for me. If you are being stalked, I will identify the individual sooner or later, and you can rest assured that it will end.”

  “Herr Price, why do you think someone would want to stalk or try to kill me?”