“I want to move the paintings out the same way my old partner, Dan Flaherty, and I moved my father’s gold bullion out of Germany a few years back. We used a barge. A vacation rental barge to be exact. Pure luxury. Top of the line.”
“You sold me at luxury,” said Nora. “But what about flying them out as we planned.”
“Don’t get me wrong. We are still going to fly the paintings to the US, but first we wait until everything cools down. We can treat it like a vacation.” His mood had changed for the better since viewing the barges. Jim searched his cellphones index of numbers. “Got it!” he said excitedly. “I still have the barge salesman’s name and phone number. Let me give him a call and see what’s available.”
CHAPTER 51
Aarburg, Switzerland
The small town of Aarburg lay nestled alongside the Aare River and State Route 22, a route notorious for trucks looking to avoid the expensive Swiss road toll system on vehicles over 3.5 tons. Outside the town, on Route 22, stood a few cheap motels and restaurants frequented by truckers. The motels were definitely not the Ritz; and the restaurants not Michelin starred, but ideal if you were looking to go unnoticed for a few days with the constant comings and goings of people.
Nora and Jim checked into one of the motels located near a restaurant. They booked four rooms in total due to their crew flying in later that same day.
Nora looked around at the room’s décor. “Sure isn’t the Ritz. She pulled at a piece of loose wallpaper near the bathroom. “The room makes me want to take a shower,” she said.
Jim laughed at her. “We are incognito. Nobody will look for us out here. He indicated for her to sit at the table by the room’s window. He opened the curtains, letting in the sunlight. “Any better?”
“Not really. With the extra light, I can categorically say this is a dump,” she said, looking around the room.
Jim joined her at the table. He broke out two plastic cups they had purchased along with two cases of beer and a case of wine from one of the towns liquor store. He uncorked a bottle of a local merlot, pouring some into each cup.
“Isn’t it a little early for the vino?” she said.
“Not after Solomon being killed last night.”
Nora agreed, taking one of the cups from him. “Okay so we rent the barge. Vacation a bit. I like the sound of that but we will still need to move the paintings from the museum in Bern, to where we can rent a river barge in France. Depending on our destination, that could take maybe three to four hours.”
Jim nodded absently, looking deep in thought. After several minutes, he suddenly perked up. “When you and Summer met the museum security guards at the bar, they informed you all of the guards are in one place, one room, playing video games. So if that’s true, we can possibly disable them all at the same time. Possibly for a few hours.”
“Some type of chemical? Maybe something in their coffee?”
“What if they all don’t drink coffee? We need something that would affect them at the same time.”
“I say you call in a favor with Benny. I’m sure they have something available like you are describing.”
He agreed. It was time to call Benny.
“BENNY, JIM HERE. My wife just informed me about Solomon. I still can’t believe it. The two of us were just laughing and enjoying his hospitality last night. So tragic.”
Benny nodded absently before replying. “As I told your wife, whatever you need from me, you will have it. Either you hurt them or we will.”
Jim understood Benny’s definition of hurt. Usually someone, or a few, turn up dead. “That’s most gracious of you, Benny,” he replied. “And you know us Americans, you give us an inch and we take a yard.”
Benny could be heard on the other side of the phone line taking a deep breath. “You already have something in mind don’t you? Did I walk into a trap?”
Jim smiled at Nora before responding. “A great big bear trap.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“Let’s start with a non-toxic gas that can incapacitate and possibly allow no memory of what transpired.”
Benny typed a few keys into his computer. “Give me a second, I’m just checking on something.”
“I’ll wait all day if it has the possibility of helping.”
A few seconds later Benny came back on the line: “Yes, we do. It’s a non-toxic, canister-operated gas that comes in a variety of different sizes. Typically it is connected to a hose for use in an air conditioning intake. The operative just has to wear an oxygen mask to avoid being rendered unconscious.”
“It’s a pretty big museum. We might require a large canister. And how long after discharge does it take before we can safely enter the building?”
“Hold on, hold on. One question at a time, my friend. Yes, you find the museums air intake and discharge it. Remember, you are only looking to remove and replace paintings in the Gurlitt collection. The other 75% of the building is not on your agenda. We can build a gas canister to handle that one particular section. Possibly a liter sized canister will do. As far as when you can enter, well, maybe five to ten minutes after discharge. It’s a heavy gas that sinks to the floor where it dissipates very quickly when it interacts with common floor wax. That’s what makes it ideal.”
“Sounds exactly like what we need. Now, the million dollar question: how soon can you get it here?”
“You Americans. Always so rush, rush.” He typed in a few more keys, observing his computer screen. “We have a diplomatic pouch going to Zurich tomorrow. I can have the chemicals in the pouch. Once in Zurich I have a man at our Embassy who can assemble what you will need from local manufacturers and build the actual device. I can then have him deliver it to you by 3pm. Is that convenient enough for you?”
Jim laughed aloud before responding. “I think we owe you some more drinks for this one.”
Benny wouldn’t hear of it. “You owe me nothing. Let’s just say we are doing this for an old friend.”
“For Solomon’s sake.”
CHAPTER 52
Bern
Misha sat in the Hotel’s lobby reading the Berner Zeitung morning newspaper, having ignored Sergei Liugo’s advice of a leisurely breakfast before driving to Bern. He arrived five minutes earlier. Luckily for him he had timed his arrival perfectly with Lana and Yuri’s departure.
Misha eyed Lana as she departed the front desk area. He tossed aside his newspaper and, at a quick pace, caught up to her from behind. “Sergei Liugo says hello,” he said in a low voice, now walking in step beside her.
“What?” she said, half turning to see Misha, a look of surprise on her face. “What are you doing here?” she demanded. “This was supposed to be our job.”
Misha shook his head. “Keep walking towards your husband,” he commanded. “At least you can do that without losing him. Can’t you?”
Lana eyed him with contempt.
“I’m here on Sergei’s orders. I have to baby sit you two.”
Yuri was sitting in their car out front waiting on Lana when he saw Misha suddenly appear beside Lana. “Son of a bitch,” he said to himself, instantly recognizing Sergei’s pit bull. He withdrew his weapon and placed it in the doors pocket. He wanted it within easy reach as Misha drew near. Their distrust of each other first formed in Syria while Misha was his senior non-com. When, against Yuri’s orders, Misha executed five Kurdish prisoners in cold blood. Yuri pushed for a court martial. Their superiors agreed and soon recommended a dishonorable discharge from the army. Misha next found a new employer in Sergei. But he never forgave Yuri for turning him in.
Lana’s smile had long disappeared. Misha now held her arm as he steered her towards the car. “Get in the front seat with your husband,” he said in a voice tinged with anger. “I will sit in the back and watch over you two.”
He opened the door for Lana, acting all the gentlemen. After she sat down, he slammed the door shut. He then opened the rear door and quickly sat down. “Did you miss me, Yuri?”
Yuri adjusted his rear view mirror so he would have a better view of Misha. “What are you doing here?” he said in disgust. “Prison not good enough for you?” he was alluding to Misha’s stretch in a Moscow prison for beating two suspects to death with his bare hands for his new employer. Of course Sergei had him freed after two weeks, the charges dropped.
“So you heard about that little incident?” Misha replied. “I didn’t think you could read.”
Lana reached out for his hand to calm him. He pointed to the doors pocket. Lana smiled in understanding.
“Drive,” ordered Misha, pointing forward. “We don’t have all day to find the Dieters.”
“Anywhere in particular?” said Yuri.
“Go to the airport,” he commanded. “When we get there head towards the rental car area.”
Yuri didn’t want to argue with his bosses pet, so he drove off.
EIAN STEERED THE JET onto the taxiway while following a yellow airport vehicle with a large Follow Me sign attached to its rear.
Luckily for Eian it was a small airport. After several minutes he found himself deposited in the ramp area reserved for Swiss Customs. Eian waved his thanks to the airport workers in the yellow vehicle before they sped off. His attention now returned to his aircraft and its passengers, Chuck and Summer, still asleep in the rear of the aircraft.
“Rise and shine my fellow compatriots,” he said over the cockpits intercom, still sounding jovial after 10 hours in the air and one hasty refueling stop in Ireland. “Time to break out the passports.”
Eian shut down one of the aircrafts two engines, leaving one at idle to supply power for the aircraft. He then exited the cockpit and walked to the aircrafts emergency door, pulling in on the doors handle to open it and activating the aircrafts stairs, allowing them to automatically drop into place on the tarmac.
“Is he always this much fun?” said Chuck after Eian now passed them by on the way to the planes galley for some well-deserved coffee.
“From what Jim tells me, only when a bit of danger is involved,” replied Summer. “Evidently he’s a bit of an adrenaline junkie.”
Chuck looked out one of the aircrafts windows to gauge the weather and noticed the Swiss customs agent approaching. “Well hopefully Jim was able to get his friend to contact Swiss customs,” he said, pointing out the window, “because here she comes.”
The agent came aboard as Eian was pouring his coffee in the small galley in the rear of the aircraft.
“Bonjour,” she said upon entering.
Chuck waved.
Summer smiled politely. “Parlez-vous anglais ?” she said. Do you speak English?
“But of course,” she replied. “I speak English, French and German. May I please see your passports?”
Eian came out of the galley with his passport in one hand, coffee cup in the other. Summer and Chuck handed theirs to Eian, who in turn handed all three to the customs agent.
“Thank-you,” she replied. “Where are you coming from?”
“Philadelphia, of the good old USA,” he replied.
“Oh, I am familiar with this place. The Rocky statue. Liberty Bell.”
Eian nodded. “The same.”
Another agent came on board. He said something in French to the agent with the passports. She smiled at Eian as she handed the passports back to him. “Enjoy your stay in Switzerland,” she said, swiftly departing.
Eian in turn handed the passports back to Summer and Chuck. “All right,” he said, “we have to get this aircraft over to the transient ramp so we can unload our goods. Summer I need you to call Jim and tell him we just cleared customs. And we need that lift he promised us.” He quickly pulled up the stairs and then locked the door. In a matter of minutes, they were taxiing over to the transient ramp. Another five and they were offloading their cargo to the concrete ramp as they patiently waited for Jim and Nora to show.
YURI, LANA, AND MISHA were sitting in their car outside of Bern Airports three rental car companies, all jointly located under one roof. Common for small European airports.
“Wait here,” said Misha, “while I do your work for you.” He exited the car and disappeared into the rental car building.
In ten minutes he was back, a smile on his weathered face. “They are now driving a white Transit van,” he said. “They just rented the van within the past hour and a half.”
Lana half-turned in her seat. “And how did you come across that information so quickly?”
“Easy,” he replied, “I bribed the woman behind the counter two hundred francs. Now we have the license plate, make and model. And that’s how it’s done.”
Lana rolled her eyes.
Yuri spoke up. “Now where do you want to go with your new found information?”
He held up a new set of car keys. “First, we are driving a new rental car. This one stays here. Evidently your Dieters are already acquainted with the embassy car. Our new car is that white Opel parked beside us.” They quickly transferred their bags and the Embassy bag to the new rental before Misha spoke up once more. “Let’s start looking for the Dieters right here at the airport. It’s as good a place as any.”
“He’s probably right,” said Lana. “If James Dieter was in Salzburg last night, he is probably flying in this morning. Either that or the rest of their crew is flying in.”
“Even your wife agrees with me, Yuri,” said Misha, laughing as he spoke. “Smart woman you married.”
It was Lana’s turn to cringe.
He continued. “Now when I stopped at our Embassy last night they informed me that they provided you with a host of gear. So let’s start with binoculars.”
Yuri pointed to the trunk. “Help yourself,” he said, “You have the car keys. Everything is in the black duffel bag.”
Misha popped the truck open. In seconds he found what he was looking for, taking the binoculars out of their green plastic case. He strolled to the airport fence line in order to scan the entire complex. He soon turned to them, an expression of satisfaction upon his face. “Come over here,” he said to both Lana and Yuri. “Look over in that direction,” pointing to the southwest towards a private jet.
Lana took the binoculars from Misha, adjusting them to suit her vision. “It’s them,” she said aloud before offering them to Yuri.
Yuri declined to look. “Damn it,” he was heard to say aloud.
“Let’s go,” said Misha, tossing the keys to Yuri. “Use the basics. You two are nothing but a bunch of idiots. Wait until I report this back to Sergei.”
In seconds, they sped off.
EIAN, CHUCK, AND SUMMER watched as Nora drove the rental van onto the ramp and right up to where they had already offloaded their cargo and luggage.
“My apologies for our tardiness,” said Jim as he jumped out to greet them. “Long story, short. We had to check out of our hotel and into a motel. We can tell you more about that along the way.”
Nora followed up behind him. “How was your trip?”
Summer looked over to Chuck. “What do you say partner?”
Chuck pointed over to Eian. “That man is a raving loon. He took us down to wave height. Isn’t that what he called it?”
“You have it right,” she replied. “Wave height.”
Eian smiled at Jim and Nora. “Just giving the plane a salt wash.”
Nora busted out laughing. “Welcome to the club. He indoctrinated me a few months ago.”
“And me a few years ago,” chimed in Jim.
“I’m flying home commercial,” said Chuck dryly.
Eian came up behind Chuck and jokingly punched him in the back. “Just testing you both. You’ll be glad to know, you both passed with flying colors.”
“Why? Because we didn’t grab a parachute?” countered Summer.
Eian looked to Jim. “Help me, my man,” he pleaded.
“Okay,” Jim said. “Everybody help load. Then on the way to the motel, Nora and I will explain what transpired over the course of the past
few days.”
“No problem,” said Chuck. “As long as he,” pointing over to Eian, “isn’t driving.”
They all laughed aloud.
“All right you two. Let’s concentrate on loading and getting out of here,” said Jim. “Too many prying eyes.”
YURI MANUVERED THE CAR as close as possible to the Swiss Customs building, 200 feet from the aircraft. From the safety of their car, they watched their targets load luggage and cardboards tubes into the white Transit van.
“Now we simply follow them to their new destination,” said Misha assuredly.
“Easy as one, two, three.”
CHAPTER 53
After checking into their respective rooms and dropping off their gear, the team gathered in Jim and Nora’s motel room.
Chuck reflected on their room, taking it all in. “I didn’t think this motel had a crappier room than mine. I was wrong.” He paused for a few seconds before continuing: “I didn’t think they had anything this crappy in all of Europe, especially Switzerland.”
Summer playfully punched him on the arm. “You of all people should know we are trying to lay low for a few days. And it’s a motel, not a hotel.”
“There is laying low, and then there is this place,” he replied.
“All right,” countered Jim. “Let’s just bite the bullet for a few days and then you can each buy your own hotel with your share if you want.”
That comment caught their attention. Eian grabbed another beer from where Jim and Nora had set up a temporary bar. “Don’t let them bother you, Jim. Just provide us with the rest of the plan.”
Jim continued. “Okay. Obviously we had to modify our plans due to the paintings impending movement. What we have, courtesy of Solomon before he passed on, is the time and date the Gurlitt collection will be shut down for viewing and prepared for shipment.”
Long Buried Secrets: James Dieter Book 4 Page 16
