The Trail of Four

by Manjiri Prabhu

‘Now he is officially in charge of the search for Justin. But to my huge annoyance, he simply refused to look for him, citing some frivolous reasons! I think he just didn’t try hard enough because—’ she broke off abruptly.

  ‘Because?’ Re persisted, his eyes pinning her down from behind his metal-rimmed glasses.

  Isabel glanced at him and pursed her lips.

  ‘It’s obvious isn’t it? That was his revenge. I had hurt him and he never forgot it nor ever forgave me. This was his chance. By calling off the search for Justin, he was getting even.’ She glanced away. ‘When I accused him of it, he denied it, of course, and it all became very ugly.’

  ‘That wasn’t very diplomatic, non.’

  ‘When your husband has gone missing for more than twenty days and all the police can come up with is marital discord as an excuse for his disappearance, I think I would send diplomacy for a toss!’ Isabel’s voice was dripping with contempt.

  Re nodded, allowing silence to slip between them. He understood her anger and resentment, but he didn’t quite yet understand Stefan’s stance. Plus the shadow he had put on her tail. Did Stefan suspect Isabel? Or was the shadow instead to protect her? The man in the brown cardigan hadn’t commented on that..

  ‘Are we headed in the right direction?’ he asked, finally, to break the silence.

  ‘Yes, if you look straight across, those are the steps that I mentioned, bang opposite the fallen tree, which lead to the gate. And there are Leo and Mo, the two seahorses that guard the lake entrance. Oh, and I never noticed this before—there are four trees right by the terrace arch! They can be seen from this distance too! The grand entrance to the Schloss!’ Isabel announced.

  Re turned to take a look. The reflection of the Schloss, along with the four prominent trees, shimmered on the green water, as clear as the original.

  ‘Let me take an oar, we’ll go faster.’

  ‘Thanks for offering,’ Re accepted readily. ‘My arms are more used to carrying cameras, than rowing.’

  Their progress across the lake was slow but steady. The Schloss stood like a regal presence alongside the lake, surrounded by well-tended gardens and sculptures and tall, richly foliaged green-and-auburn trees. A pale light lay like a delicate sheen on the landscape.

  ‘Max Reinhardt loved his garden. He made elaborate plans for it and went out of his way to secure the best trees. I read that, once, he bought a hundred lemon and orange trees from Schloss Schönbrunn in Vienna. After the revolution in 1918, Schloss Schönbrunn and its gardens belonged to the ministry and it was just by chance that Reinhardt discovered that some of these trees were more than a hundred years old. It didn’t take him long to bring them to Leopoldskron.’

  ‘A man who loved all creation,’ Re commented.

  ‘Yes, he was like a man possessed. The good part is that he saw the best and brought out the best in everything and everyone. Be it the Schloss, his theatre or his friends.’

  Isabel stared at the approaching palace, her oar sliding along for a few moments.

  ‘Re, you meant it, didn’t you? When you offered to help me find Justin?’ she asked suddenly, transferring her gaze to him.

  Re once more read the unspoken appeal in her eyes. Her need to be reassured from time to time revealed how distrustful she had become of people. Re wanted to remove that distrust forever.

  He nodded. ‘I will, once this business is over.’

  ‘Thanks. I am not normally this nervous, but the fact is that I don’t know whom to turn to for help. Everyone’s kind of given up on the search. I think Stefan strongly suspects that Justin got bored in the marriage, found another girl and took off on an impromptu holiday with her.’

  ‘And you don’t agree, non?’ Re asked.

  ‘Impossible! It’s a preposterous idea. Justin and I were crazily in love. I am not saying we didn’t have problems in our marriage of late, we did, but it wasn’t anything unusual. It happens in all marriages. He was a little distracted, sometimes a little weird, too, and I thought he was just getting restless taking care of the B&B. So I suggested that he go on a holiday and he seemed quite excited about the idea of returning to his home, to the States, for a while. So excited, in fact, that he was keen to look up cheap flights on the Net. And the next evening, he went for a walk and never returned.’ She fell silent, her voice tapering off into her memories.

  The sound of duck calls punctuated the air, as did those of the distant traffic, and the occasional dog barking on his walk around the lake. The oars splashed noisily as they hit the water, sunk in and ducked out again, navigating the boat.

  Before Re could comment, a sudden whirring sound broke into the atmospheric ambience. Re turned sharply. The blurred shape of a motorboat seemed to head in their direction at full speed. A motorboat on the lake? he wondered fleetingly.

  ‘I thought motorboating on the lake wasn’t allowed anymore,’ he said disapprovingly.

  ‘It isn’t.’ Isabel too turned to stare at the approaching vehicle, whose colour and size were more distinct now.

  Re’s instinct turned into sixth gear all of a sudden.

  ‘Isabel, jump!’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I said jump!’

  It was a spilt-second decision. Both of them dived into the water, just as the motorboat came headlong towards them. It whizzed past them, narrowly missing a crash, but knocking the edge of the boat so sharply that it spun out of control and toppled over. The next instant, the motorboat sped away, vanishing into the afternoon haze.

  Chapter 2

  oanna Screiber, you are from Vienna,’ Stefan glanced at the photo ids. ‘And Perth Viktor, you come from Innsbruck.’

  ‘That’s right.’ Perth nodded.

  He was tall and thin, with a rather serious countenance.

  Stefan felt that he was badly in need of a good hearty laugh. He looked at Joanna, who flashed him a quick uneasy glance. She had a fresh, glowing face with wide eyes which seemed to hold an air of perpetual amazement.

  ‘You’ve known each other before you came to Salzburg?’

  ‘Actually—’ Joanna began but Perth cut in.

  ‘Actually no, we met for the first time over breakfast the day before. But then we realized that we had a lot in common, including some mutual friends. It was great to connect.’

  ‘Interesting.’ Stefan nodded.

  ‘If I may ask, why are you questioning us? Is anything the matter?’ Perth asked, with sudden insight.

  ‘It’s kind of routine,’ Stefan responded evasively. ‘You do know that a very special event will take place at the Schloss from Monday and a lot of important dignitaries begin arriving tomorrow. We thought it necessary to screen the guests as a security measure.’

  ‘That’s logical,’ Joanna accepted.

  ‘So, is this the first time you’ve stayed at the Meierhof?’

  Joanna fidgeted with the scarf around her neck. Her ‘ eyes were cast down but she glanced up with a decisive jerk of her head. ‘Perth, I think we need to tell him.’

  ‘Tell me what?’ Stefan was alert at once, his sharp eyes flashing from one to the other.

  ‘All right,’ Perth sighed. ‘Officer, both of us, we didn’t come here out of choice. I mean, it’s a great place and all, but the fact is that I didn’t reserve a room here.’

  ‘Neither did I,’ Joanna added.

  Stefan appeared a little confused as he studied them with a keen eye. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘A while ago, I received an envelope with a reservation at the Meierhof. It was paid for and made in my name. There was a note which simply said, ‘Have fun.’ I found it very intriguing and rung up the hotel, and the receptionist confirmed that indeed there was a reservation in my name here. At first I decided that I wouldn’t accept it. The anonymity of it all made me suspicious. But then gradually I began to get curious and I thought, why waste the booking? I always wanted to stay at the Meierhof, why miss this chance? What did I have to lose? So I packed a bag and checked into my room on th
e date provided,’

  ‘My story is exactly the same,’ Joanna endorsed.

  ‘So someone, an anonymous person, booked two rooms in your names for four days. And you have no clue who this person is or why he or she did such a thing?’

  ‘No, Officer,’ the two guests chorused.

  ‘And since you’ve arrived here, has anyone got in touch with you?’

  ‘No,’ Joanna affirmed.

  ‘And do you have any idea—any gut feeling—why just the two of you would’ve been singled out and been gifted this holiday?’ Stefan asked.

  ‘Not a clue. But I know that it was the best thing that has happened to me in a long time,’ Joanna added, a small smile on her lips. She glanced shyly at her companion, who returned the smile cordially.

  Stefan intercepted the exchange with some surprise. The two seemed to have really hit it off well—and within no time.

  ‘Well, thank you,’ he told them. ‘If by any chance anyone gets in touch with you, I would really appreciate it if you could immediately revert to me.’

  ‘We will!’

  Joanna and Perth rose and exited the room. Stefan stared after them, a thoughtful expression on his face. Strange. Very strange.

  Dan dashed into Stefan’s office, a look of distress on his face. ‘Stefan, I just spoke to Karen, my assistant. Richard, one of our rather reclusive hotel guests, who was in Room 205 was supposed to check out this morning. But apparently he cleared his bill last evening itself.’

  Stefan looked startled. ‘Already checked out! You are sure?’

  ‘Positive!’

  Stefan punched his fist into his palm in frustration. ‘He’s our man, Dan! Can you describe him?’

  ‘Pretty ordinary looking—except that he wore sunglasses and a cap all the time, so I never really got to see his eyes. But he had a beard.’

  ‘Oh no! Looks like we narrowly missed him. Can I see his room?’

  Dan nodded.

  ‘And can I also see the booking register? I need to know who booked rooms for Joanna and Perth.’

  The hotelier nodded again, looking extremely worried.

  ***

  Re emerged from the water, spluttering, and instantly looked for Isabel. He saw the top of her head bobbing towards him, as she swam with firm, strong strokes.

  ‘You okay?’ he shouted.

  ‘Yes!’

  ‘Can you help me turn the boat back up? Take the other end.’

  Within minutes, the boat was upright again. Re heaved himself up. The boat rocked but held its balance as he climbed in. Then he offered his hand to Isabel, who climbed in agilely.

  For moments, both didn’t utter a single word. Isabel wrung the hem of her black top and water spilled out. She was gasping and visibly shaken. Re struggled to keep his composure. He was stunned and tightly wound with fury. He clutched his pendant and the cooling touch of metal instantly calmed his anger.

  ‘Mein Gott—what was that!’ she finally burst out. ‘Did that guy genuinely lose control of his boat? Or did someone actually just try to kill us?’

  ‘I think I’ll go with the second one.’

  Isabel’s eyes widened. Her hair clung to her face and a puddle of lake water pooled around her feet.

  ‘You really mean that?’

  ‘Oui, I think so.’

  ‘I can’t believe this!’ Isabel exclaimed.

  Re calmly extracted two wet hankies from his pocket and handed one to her. She accepted it readily, shaking her head in mental confusion and wiped her face. He checked his camera for damage, but luckily the waterproof case had lived up to its reputation.

  ‘Going by the abnormal speed at which he was going—he may not exactly have wanted to kill us, but harm us, yes, indisputably.’

  ‘But why? Why would anyone want to harm us?’

  ‘Because someone knows about us being on the Trail and doesn’t want us to find Max Reinhardt’s gift,’ he replied with conviction.

  Isabel looked disturbed. ‘But, besides Dan and Stefan, no one really knows—’ her voice petered out, as her eyes widened with sudden realization.

  ‘Exactly! Those two are the only people who know we took Dan’s boat to row to the Schloss.’

  Isabel shook her head in confusion. ‘I don’t understand this. It doesn’t make sense. Why would either of them not want us to find the gift?’

  ‘I wish I knew. It’s very hard to believe that they would wish us harm, though,’ Re conceded. ‘But then, who else?’

  He was troubled. Dan was his good friend and he could vouch for his integrity. But Stefan? What did he know about Stefan other than the fact that he was in the police? And that he had set a tail on Isabel…

  ‘Did you get a good look at who was at the helm of the boat?’

  ‘Not really. I could vaguely make out someone in dark trousers and shirt with a cap and sunglasses. But the lake is small. He would have to disembark and park the boat by the bank. If we had time, we could’ve looked for it.’

  Re nodded. She started shivering involuntarily and he immediately took the oars.

  ‘Come on, let’s get going. You’re still game, aren’t you, ma chérie?’

  Isabel smiled, as she rubbed her arms for warmth. ‘Of course! I asked for it and I will live it!’

  Re responded with spontaneous laughter. ‘That’s the spirit!’

  ‘And also because no one’s ever called me “ma chérie” before. It sounds so much lovelier and more affectionate than just “my dear” or “schatz”.’

  ‘C’est dommage—these Austrians, they don’t know how to make a girl feel special!’ Re winked. ‘And like everything else in France, romance too lives in the language.’

  ‘You said it,’ Isabel agreed, her eyes twinkling. ‘What about in India?’

  ‘Oh India is synonymous with passion. They do everything passionately!’

  ‘They?’ She raised an eyebrow.

  ‘We, if you must. But I’ve lived in France almost all my teen-plus years. My mother is a strong influence in my life and I think and speak in French. Being Indian comes as an afterthought sometimes. I was hoping to change this feeling but instead I changed plans and came here.’ He grinned.

  ‘Oh, we’ve almost reached the terrace.’

  As they rowed steadily, the terrace glided into view.

  The two seahorses flanked either side of a curved metal gate which served more as an artistic representation of an entrance than a barrier. The steps under the water became visible and almost took on a fluid life of their own.

  ‘Exactly four!’ Isabel exclaimed. ‘Four steps, I am so proud of my memory.’

  The boat gently swayed against the stone sculpture and Re swung the rope round a seahorse’s neck, securing the boat. They stepped out of the boat and on to the steps.

  ‘I feel like an explorer, stepping on Schloss land for the first time,’ Isabel’s voice was filled with anticipation.

  ‘From Max Reinhardt’s viewpoint, perhaps it is for the first time,’ Re agreed.

  Isabel nodded. ‘These seahorses are called Leo and Mo, named after Leopold and Mozart, by a guest. Max Reinhardt got them made by a local craftsman. I love them. To me they represent an era of glory and aesthetics, more accessible in history than anything I’ve read. They just need a little restoring and they’ll be grand and good to go again.’ Isabel patted a seahorse affectionately.

  ‘I remember seeing them in the film, in the scene where the Von Trapp kids and Julie Andrews fall into the lake. It’s strange how we sometimes undervalue the strength of popular films in keeping history alive.’

  ‘Ah, you are a filmmaker. I forgot!’

  ‘And you are a historian in love with the Schloss Leopoldskron. A dangerous kind of love,’ Re returned gravely.

  Isabel chuckled, but the smile did not reach her eyes. ‘I agree. Now to the Marble Hall.’

  They walked in through the terrace door into the Great Hall where the Brothel Madonna hung high on the wall. Isabel led the way up the grand stai
rcase to the first floor and into the Marble Hall. Preparations for the evening’s buffet were in full swing and the big round tables were laid with pristine white damask napkins and delicate wine glasses. On either side of the hall, the two exquisite chandeliers shone down on the two massive portraits of Firmian on the long walls.

  ‘This hall never fails to amaze me. It’s magnificent yet warm, huge but cosy and the beautiful stucco on the walls—’. She gasped with a sudden realization. ‘Our “Cat’s Meow where the fours play!”’ Isabel said excitedly.

  ‘All the four that you told me of are here—the paintings representing the seasons, the four elements, the four careers up in the corners and the four continents. But we have to look for “the one that inclines the way”.’

  ‘How about that painting? If you take a close look at the paintings of life, those three paintings show a woman, growing older over the seasons. But this last painting, which hangs right above the entrance to the Marble Hall, depicts an old man teaching a young student. Doesn’t fit in, does it?’

  ‘No, it doesn’t.’ Re thought for a while. ‘We’ve also forgotten an important detail. There’s a last line in the clue, which we haven’t considered.’

  He referred to the clue sheet again.

  ‘Here’s the whole clue again: “Off the rocking path, to the step from where the fours play, Sucked into the Cat’s Meow with the one that inclines the way, As I look on…”’

  ‘I’m going to have some coffee first,’ Isabel interrupted, shivering. ‘Not yet dry, so the brain’s still soggy.’

  ‘I’ll get it,’ he offered at once.

  She settled herself at the table as Re filled two cups from the machine. When he returned, Isabel was drawing lines with a fork on the white tablecloth. He placed her cup before her, observing her minutely as he drew a chair and seated himself.

  ‘Something’s not right about the Marble Hall,’ she said, at length.

  ‘Exactly my thought. Is there any other place where the Fours play?’

  She shook her head and took a sip of the coffee. ‘Even a child will tell you that the fours play in the Marble Hall. This hall is the tour guide’s favourite halt—Leopold Firmian’s hall, exactly as it looked in the eighteenth century. His tour de force. So much to show, so much of interest to see!’