The Magician's Accomplice

by Michael Genelin

  “When he had his breath back, what did he say?”

  “That there was not enough proof against the man.” He kicked at a small ball of snow, the ball immediately becoming a puff of white powder. “I agreed with him.”

  “So do I, at present. Will he talk to the prime minister?”

  “Not for the moment.”

  “And my other suggestion?”

  “I thought about it.”

  “Yes?”

  “You know if you do what you say you want to, then we are both in for it if it goes bad.”

  “I will take full responsibility.”

  “Naturally, and I will take full credit.”

  “Of course.”

  “Except, this time, I will have to share accountability. I’ve already started. No one would do what I wanted unless I gave them my personal word that it was a matter of state, and that I took absolute responsibility. One of them even demanded a personal letter to that effect.”

  “Which you gave him?”

  “I had to. Of course, when this is over I’m going to ship him to the other side of the country. Revenge will be sweet.”

  “So we’re ready.”

  He checked his watch. “Just to make sure everyone has finished, call the minister of economics in an hour. He’ll want to see you right away.” They walked on in silence; the snow came down even harder. “I keep thinking of accidents in the snow. Don’t be one of the accidents, Jana. We’re both on the line for this.”

  “The Winter Spirits also talked to me. They informed me that they were going to give me a favorable assist on this one.”

  “Don’t trust them. The Spirits are very fickle.”

  “Thank you for the reminder.”

  They finally stopped walking. Trokan signaled to the men following them, and the officers formed a small, irregular circle around them. Trokan saluted her, Jana returned the salute; then Trokan stamped his feet several times trying to clear his soles of the snow.

  “Hard to walk on this damned stuff.”

  He turned and strode away, followed by his bodyguards. Jana watched him go. Seges, feeling the cold, slapped at his arms.

  “Time to go inside,” he suggested.

  “Go home,” she said. “Call your wife and tell her she can come back.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Just do it. Bring my things to the office. I’ll be back there tomorrow.”

  “The colonel said to guard you,” he reminded her.

  “Not any more.”

  Seges stood there; Jana became impatient.

  “I said to go. So, go!”

  Seges wavered, threw her a salute, and walked away without looking back. Jana went to a small café, ordered a hot chocolate, and sat at the table until it was time to make the call, which was patched through only after she had waded through a series of self-important aides determined to display their authority, eventually reaching the minister of economics through sheer tenacity.

  “Minister, thank you for taking my call.” She put the right note of deference in her voice. “But it’s a matter of the utmost importance that we talk in private.”

  He agreed to meet her in his office.

  Chapter 45

  The minister was a tall, obviously once-athletic individual who was still vaguely handsome even though jowls were making their appearance. His hair was receding and had become sparse in back; the once-firm body had begun to bloat from too many noon drinks and nighttime banquets. He gave her his flashing political smile in greeting, gestured for her to take a chair, and waved his aide out. The aide closed the office door behind him.

  “We’ve never had the pleasure of a formal meeting, Commander. All the same, your reputation precedes you, so I’m glad to finally meet you in the flesh.” He flashed her another smile, then leaned back in his chair, putting on his “paying intense attention” look. “You said that it was extremely important that we meet. I’m always all ears when a person of respect says that.”

  “I hate to bother you, Minister. But, for the country’s sake, it’s a matter of the utmost importance for you to maintain your appearance of integrity. That meant that I had to speak to you as quickly as possible.”

  “My ‘appearance’ of integrity?” He moved uneasily in his chair. “I take it that someone has accused me of chicanery, of malfeasance in office?”

  “We try to guard the reputations of high public officials, particularly those whom we see are responsive to the needs of the public and the future of our country. I thought it was necessary that you be apprised of the facts in a case that has developed so that you can marshal your defenses. The media raptors make scurrilous accusations all the time, and will almost assuredly do so again when we are required to file charges against the other defendants.”

  He sat, blinking at her, his ruddy complexion slightly paler now.

  “What ‘other defendants’? What are the charges against them?”

  “Multiple murders, attempted murders, grand theft, corruption, bribery of public officials, conspiracy to commit these acts. We have them rounded up and the cases against them are documented. In one of those cases, perhaps the principal one, several defendants have accused you of being a participant.”

  The minister laughed, a derisive comment on the accusation. “That kind of person will make up all kinds of stories to save himself. If anyone has accused me of any type of corrupt activity, then it’s a huge lie.”

  “That’s just what I said, Minister. I feel that the men accusing you are trying to save themselves by pointing to a bigger fish, trying to make some kind of bargain in order to save themselves. So I thought it advisable to come here to warn you.”

  “Which I appreciate, Commander.” He flashed his smile again. “Perhaps you could tell me what they’re saying?”

  “They claim that there is a plot to fake the presence of oil in Slovakia when there is no oil. They claim that the oil field in the Tatras that we have nationalized—I understand at your urging to the prime minister—never existed.”

  The minister looked frightened; for the first time he betrayed a real emotion.

  “Why would I ask that we nationalize an oil field that doesn’t exist? Incredible, to claim a field doesn’t exist when we know it does.”

  “It doesn’t exist.”

  Jana placed the Romanian report on the desk in front of him. He made no effort to read it.

  “The Nazis and the Soviets both explored the area, concluding that there was no oil there. It’s the same area that the American oil company leased, the same area that was nationalized. The criminals claim that the oil company used false data as the basis for beginning its fraud on the public. After they had gone through some initial steps to create the illusion of development of the project, they wanted the government to nationalize the field.”

  The minister slapped the top of his desk to emphasize his disbelief. “This is absurd. What would they have to gain? What would I have to gain?”

  “Gain? A share in the 185,000,000 euros the oil company is going to collect from the insurance companies that underwrote the project. The companies will indemnify them for the company’s losses: all their exploratory activities, all the tanks they set up, their rigs, the hugely expensive drilling bits, the operating machinery, the man-hours involved, the power lines they laid but which the state paid for, et cetera, et cetera. As for their claim about you, a share in that kind of pot is going to tempt even the most scrupulous of men. Of course, I realize you had no knowledge of this.”

  “I’m shocked and bewildered,” he said. His face was now extremely pale and there was a line of sweat on his forehead. “Of course, there’s no truth to any of this.”

  “I’m sure there is none. Once more, I believe you. I just wanted to warn you of what was coming, to make sure that you were not overwhelmed by the media frenzy that we expect. The news will probably go out to the public in the morning, so if you … well, I’m sure the oil company didn’t pay you any money, so you hav
e nothing to worry about when the search begins of the accounts of everyone concerned.”

  She stood.

  “Odd how we catch up with these people. Just a little event triggered the whole investigation. The company brought in used equipment from outside the country. Obsolete stuff. Useless, really. Customs wanted to levy an import tax on the equipment. The company initially fought it, and won. Then, even though they probably had the right to bring the equipment into the country free of any tariff, they backed down. Why? Because they didn’t want to spotlight the fact that they were bringing old equipment into the country. When they claimed their insurance compensation, they wanted to be paid for new equipment.

  “It caught the attention of a lawyer in the prosecutor’s office. You know, the one who was murdered. I wonder who ordered his killing? Whoever he is, he is at the top of the list for retribution, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “I certainly would.”

  Jana walked to the door.

  “I’m so sorry that the days ahead may be somewhat rocky for you. You’ll pull through. You’re one of the most promising political lights of this country.” She paused just before she opened the door. “And perhaps you will remember to put in a good word for me when a colonel’s slot comes vacant. Maybe even the head of the police. I’m thinking of applying for it.”

  “I certainly will, Commander; and many thanks.”

  “Good-bye, Minister.”

  Jana walked out.

  An hour later, she called Trokan.

  “What happened when I left?”

  “As predicted, he began making telephone calls. The taps worked perfectly. The Americans loaned us wonderful equipment; good sound recordings. He’s still making calls as we speak. We have his bank accounts now. Several are in his wife’s name. And his lawyer’s, as well as his. Stupid, scared men. Lots of incriminating statements. We even have him calling the oil company president. So we have the head of the company in the mix, too.”

  “Panicked people do stupid things.”

  “You did a good job.”

  “It wasn’t hard.”

  “They thought they were going to make a huge profit. Small outlay; big return.”

  “Anything else?”

  “The bug in his office worked so well that I could swear you said you wanted to be the next head of police.”

  “Not a bad thought.”

  “I’d better keep a closer watch on you.”

  “No need.” She paused, hesitating. “Peter thanks you.”

  “He should thank you.”

  “A kiss from him would be better.”

  “… Sorry, Jana.”

  “It can’t be helped.”

  They hung up.

  Chapter 46

  It didn’t take Jana long to get to the Carleton Savoy. She walked into the lobby, then looked through the entrance of the restaurant to her right, observing the maitre d’, who recognized her at the same time, giving her a curt nod in greeting. She swiveled around to check the desk. The manager was talking to a guest. Maria handed a guest a note that had been left with the hotel’s answering service. Jana walked to the desk, first nodding at Maria, then greeting the manager. The manager finished with the guest, then came over to Jana.

  “Hello, Commander.”

  “Good afternoon. I see that everything is back to normal. Your dining room is busy. You have guests filling the lobby. Everyone has forgotten about the murder, as I predicted they would.”

  The manager tried to smile, but the ends of her mouth barely twitched. “It took us a while, but everything seems to be normal again.”

  “Excellent. I thought I might talk to you for a few minutes, just to straighten out a loose end.”

  The manager lost even the semblance of a smile.

  “I’m very busy, Commander.”

  “You have Maria on the desk, and we both know how competent she is, so I’m sure she can handle the traffic.” Jana glanced at Maria, who was looking concerned.

  “You can handle the desk for a minute or two, can’t you, Maria?”

  Maria checked with the manager before she answered; the manager reluctantly nodded.

  “I guess I can.”

  “Good.” Jana smiled.

  The manager joined Jana, who gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll make sure upper management hears about it.” She began walking toward the restaurant. “A cup of coffee with conversation is always more pleasant, don’t you think?” She ambled into the restaurant, followed by the manager. The maitre d’ again nodded at Jana, then at the manager, escorting them to an empty table. Jana noticed that the table at the window where Denis Macek had been killed was vacant.

  “How about over there? I prefer a window seat.”

  “As you wish,” the maitre d’ murmured.

  “Coffee for us both, please,” the manager requested.

  As the maitre d’ started to leave, Jana put her hand on his arm, stopping him.

  “Join us.”

  “I’m on duty, Commander.”

  “I said, ‘Join us.’ It’s not a request: it’s an order.”

  He hesitated, looked to the manager for guidance, then sat next to her, calling for coffee from a passing waiter.

  Jana ran her hand over the window glass. “No more bullet holes.” She looked at the two sitting across from her. “Everything repaired. It is as if it never happened. Humanity just goes on, forgetting what came before … except for police officers. We’re required to remember.”

  The waiter placed three cups in front of them, pouring coffee from a silver pitcher.

  “Take the front while I’m here,” the maitre d’ ordered him. The waiter nodded and moved away.

  “A good staff here. Experienced. Always ready, no matter what they’re called on to do.” Jana voiced approvingly. “The hotel deserves the reputation it has as the best in Bratislava.”

  “Thank you,” the manager said grudgingly.

  “I wanted to talk to you together, because my conversation with you after the young student was killed left questions that won’t go away.” Jana’s voice took on a note of steel. “Not that I believe you were knowing conspirators in a murder, but because I’m aware that you were unwittingly complicit by not telling me everything that you knew. That’s your sin, one of omission. That’s the sin I’m here to face you with.”

  “I … don’t … know … how you can say that. We’ve been completely cooperative,” the manager said. “We have done everything we’ve been told to do, readily answered each and every question.”

  The maitre d’ just gaped.

  Jana continued as if she had not heard the manager.

  “I kept asking myself, after looking at the body of Denis Macek, seeing his young face, how anyone could have believed he was a hotel guest arriving on a Friday morning to have the Royal Breakfast.” Jana focused on the maitre d’. “An experienced maitre d’ would have spotted him immediately as a fraud, no matter how dressed-up he was. His suit, which he had worn for the occasion so he could pass muster, was clean and pressed, but old, not to speak of his worn tie and ineptly ironed white shirt.” Each of Jana’s words was now very distinct, hard-edged. Jana let her words sink in. The maitre d’ looked down at the table, frightened at what he saw in Jana’s eyes.

  “I didn’t like a young student being killed. I’ve always felt that you don’t just murder one young person when you kill. You also destroy all the children they might have had in the future, and their children’s children. I have to say good-bye to all of them. I don’t like it. So I’m impelled by all those deaths to press on, to get all the answers to his murder. And I want those answers now, do you understand?”

  Jana waited, the maitre d’ finally looking up.

  “Yes.”

  “Maria, the desk girl, talked to you, didn’t she? About the student?”

  “Yes. She asked me to let him into the dining room if he gave me Fico’s name. She knew Fico rarely had breakf
ast when he was a guest at the hotel. She wanted to make sure there were no problems when he came in, so she told me he was a starving student … and I agreed to let him have breakfast.”

  “If you allowed anyone into the dining area who was not entitled to the Royal Breakfast, you’d be jeopardizing your job, wouldn’t you?”

  “I guess so.”

  “That would be a big risk for you to take. You are well respected and have a well-paying lifetime job in the best hotel in Slovakia. Would you risk your livelihood to help a young woman and her student friend? I don’t think so. You had your family to take care of, after all, didn’t you?”

  “It was a big risk,” he acknowledged.

  “There was a way. You went to your friend, the lady sitting next to you here. And you said, Madam Manager, we throw out lots of food that hasn’t even been touched at the end of the day. That is a sin against heaven. We both remember the food we didn’t get to eat, because our parents couldn’t afford it, when we were children. Madam Manager, Maria has asked me to let a student into the breakfast area. It will never be discovered by higher management. He’s going to use the name of one of our guests, Fico. So, can I do it? And, surprise of surprises, she agreed. Right?”

  “Not true!” the manager yelped. “I would never agree to such a thing!”

  The maitre d’ gave the manager a quick look, his lips suddenly tight with anger.

  “It’s the truth,” the maitre d’ confirmed.

  “It’s a lie,” the manager insisted.

  Jana turned her focus to the manager.

  “Have you heard of the crime in the Penal Code called ‘Lying to a Police Officer,’ Madam Manager? If you persist in lying, I will have the pleasure of arresting you in front of your entire staff, cuffing you with your hands behind your back, and marching you off to jail. Understood?”

  The manager was breathing hard, her eyes blinking.