By the time David awoke, Miriam had drawn a tub of water. He saw her step through the bathroom door and get into the tub. Groggily, he walked into the bathroom and sat down on the toilet paying no attention to the fact that she was bathing. He asked how the couple in Buenos Aires could listen to all those bugs at the same time. He had a nightmare about it. All those bugs they had so tediously planted, they would all be talking at once. It would be gibberish. Miriam saw that David was occupied in thought and he was not leering at her. She ventured that each listening device had its own recorder, so each bug could be listened to separately. Also each listening device had a small red light that went on, telling that it was being used.
He glanced at Miriam then, down over her full breasts past her belly, on down to her dark patch under the water and lingered there. He knew he should just get up and walk out, but he was transfixed. Miriam said nothing and didn’t move either.
All their past feelings stirred, but they both remained still, afraid of breaking a moment they knew could not last. As the moment extended they became afraid to look in one another’s eyes, like statues fixed in time and place. Neither wanted it to end: the magic had no illusion behind it.
“Miriam…I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For everything…for nothing… I want you right this minute…”
“David…”
“I’m sorry… I’m not going to touch you.”
“Okay,” Miriam replied, then proceeded to soap up her breasts as if he wasn’t there. She stood up in the tub, rinsed off and reached for her towel. When she stepped onto the bath mat, David got her another towel and laid it gently around her shoulders. She didn’t resist while he continued to dry her, softly kneading her shoulders then sliding the towel down her back patting every inch along the way. When he wrapped the towel under her arms around her breasts he clung to them holding her for a full minute before kissing her gently at the base of her neck. Not a word was spoken, no resistance felt, but there was no reciprocation either. Silently he turned and walked from the bathroom and sat on the edge of his bed. Miriam stood in the bathroom for a minute then walked out and stood in front of him the towel wrapped around her waist. David stared straight ahead at the towel. She loosened it and let it fall, standing in front of him for a long moment.
He bent forward and kissed her belly as tenderly as a butterfly. Then he put his hands around her ass and pulled her to him, his face buried in the softness of her skin so that she fell on top of him on the bed. They lay together, afraid to move and break the spell. Miriam lips brushed David’s, softly at first, then more deeply until their kisses made the world go away.
Levi was glad when his six agents proudly walked into his office. He announced a generous bonus for their successful work after listening to all the details.
Then he told them the news he had heard just that morning. Those bugs you planted are already paying off. Ringo woke me in the middle of the night and told me that evidently three men identified as ‘The Three Stingers’ are going to Munich --- a week from Monday.”
“The Three Stingers? Who are they? What for? Why does that bother us?” The questions flew from those sitting in the Mossad conference room.
Ringo said their names are Korloff, Werner and Adolf.”
“Okay, Levi. So who are they, really?” David asked.
“Karlene Klement’s three sons. They’re the grandsons of Adolf Eichmann!
“Oh my God! Yahweh protect us.” Marla exclaimed. First “The Dagger” and now them!”
After a pause Levi said, “So far, we’ve heard nothing about Hans from our bugs at the compound, but I’m sure he will be made aware of their visit. Ringo said there’s some indication that the reason for their visit to Munich have something to do with our old friend the Terrorist Chief. Ringo is sending us the transcriptions for Malcolm to stay on top of. Again I want to tell you how pleased I am for your successful adventure in Argentina. But, from the yawns around the room I suspect yesterday was a long day with a long flight. So let’s call it a day. Go on for dinner tonight…company treat. How about the Blue Goose? Let me know and I’ll make a reservation. Now leave me so, at least I can smoke my pipe in peace.”
When the next Argentinean messages came up from Research later in the day, Levi called David, Miriam into his office and told them the next saga from the Klement Compound.
“Evidently three men are being sent to Munich to kill you both! And, Beinschmidt did ask the Klement Compound to come and help his, so called GRS group, for this assistance. They plan to complete their murderous work within three weeks so when you go back to Munich to get Hans, we will keep you in a safe house until they have left.
David broke in, “What do you mean, stay in the safe house? Miriam and I can handle them, if needed, without being baby-sited.” Miriam nodded strongly in agreement.
Levi continued, “The problem is we don’t even know what they look like any more than you don’t know exactly what Hans looks like, and I’m sure they will be in disguise with fake passports. We do know from the conversations within the Compound they will arrive on Brazilian Airlines, coming from Buenos Aries to Paris. When we hear the date and flight times, we will be at Orly to try and get a fix on them. I will send Forbes and Lenny, to Paris to get the airline security videos of everyone coming off that plane, and see that they are sent back here to see what Malcolm and his crew can find for us. Then they will fly on to Munich to assist in the strangeness there”
“When the stingers get identified, what next, Levi,” Miriam asked.
Then we will be able to track them to Munich where Forbes and Lenny along with Simon will be able to work that angle, leaving you two to catch up with Hans again. I’ll stay in touch with all of you and make sure each is aware what the others are doing.”
Levi moved away from his desk and sat down in a chair opposite the couch. Miriam remained in the other chair, her long legs stretched out, ankles crossed. David noticed the way her khaki blouse was tucked under her left breast, how her lower lip pouted slightly as she turned, her big eyes alert, toward Levi.
“I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want anyone to know where you are even if you are capable of handling most any situation. My decision isn’t based on your abilities or anything in the past, but I’m sending you two to Rome. Think of it as a well deserved vacation on Company’s expense We’ll talk more about this later, but I just want you to know and be prepared to travel the day the stingers arrive in Paris. That’s all for now. See if you can’t get a plan together to have some fun.” Levi suddenly rose, signaling the end of the meeting.
David looked at Miriam who raised her eyebrows. “Thanks, that will be a treat - - - but you don’t need to be so protective of us.”
“There will be no discussion on this, David,” Levi responded and walked behind his desk, lowering his bulky frame to the chair with a huge sigh.
“See you tomorrow, Levi,” Miriam said and, ignoring David, walked out.
David caught up with her in the hall. “Why should we be scuttled completely from the scene? Does he really think those guys could get us? I don’t like it.”
“He’s looking out for his best team, remember? Do you blame him? I’d do the same, too. Just think of it as another vacation. What the hell?”
“But how can you be so casual, Miriam? We need to be on this case! We stand to get Hans along with the other three. I want to personally blast that fiend. I’ll go nuts being in Rome while all this is going on.”
“Look, Levi isn’t going to listen to us now - - - it’s obvious he’s thought this through. And remember Hans hasn’t been doing any killing for a number of months now, and we don’t know why or for that matter where he is. For all we know he’s maybe back in Argentina. Where do you want to eat?”
But all during dinner David complained and fumed. Then when they left the restaurant, David asked Miriam to come back to his apartment.
“David, I don’t think that’s a good idea. We can’t just jump
back into what didn’t work before, now that I don’t want to get married anymore.”
Standing there on the sidewalk outside the restaurant David grabbed Miriam and turned her around to face him. “Damn it, Miriam. You’re so … hell…look at me! This may not be the time or place, but it’s very simple. I love you! Don’t you know that by now?”
“David…”
“I almost went crazy when you left for Rome. I thought I’d never see you again. All those girls I told you about? They meant nothing to me. I love you. Isn’t that enough?”
“David! Enough! I love you, too…and that is definitely enough. Damn you! I love you too, David…it feels so good, just to say it and to say it again at last. Come on, let’s go!”
Gottschlag and Neuschondorf met Bruno for lunch at the station and told him about the ‘Three Stingers’ set to arrive from Buenos Aires, later in the week.
“They will be coming disguised as priests on a sabbatical - - - Fathers John, Joseph and James. They’ll fly into Paris and rent a car to drive from down to Munich. All you need to do is make sure David and Miriam came back to Munich. Then the Mossad’s top team will be extinguished forever and the Klement clan can gradually start moving back to Munich for the revolution that will change the world again. Since three bullets hadn’t killed David before, surely three firing at the pair will be sure to succeed. Might as well take care of that Mossad woman as well while they are at it. We can’t be sure whether Hans did any of those killings in their fair city, but it didn’t matter. ‘The Stingers’ can get rid of Hans as well as the Mossad duo and no one would have the slightest idea who they are or where they came from. We think things were finally falling into place. We have to get our hands on Hans and bring him under control and killing him will do just that.”
Bruno was pissed off by Hans’ cavalier attitude. And he was sure he had stolen the Huber family papers. Gottschlag and Neuschondorf could not locate him either. Bruno was beginning to feel all the work rested on his shoulders again. Maybe the stingers could locate Hans and eliminate him. He would hope and wait.
Levi flew to Geneva to meet with Servette after Bruno’s call inviting David and Miriam to Munich because they located Han’s base of operation. Levi asked Servette’s advice. Should he allow the Mossad duo to go to Munich rather than into hiding in Rome?
CHAPTER 31
Geneva
Peit, yawning, hair sticking out like a disheveled haystack, walked into his kitchen looking for a cup of coffee to open his eyes, he found Josef reading the morning paper. Josef looked up and with a smile from ear to ear that stretching his scared face, shook the front page at the Inspector and pointed to the lead article. Peit took the paper, spread it out on the counter and began reading. He did not even looking up when Josef placed a steaming cup of coffee beside the paper. The silence in the kitchen was audible.
A loud slap on the counter accompanied by a loud, “WELL, I’LL BE DAMNED” broke the early morning silence and he looked at his dark-skinned warrior friend and exclaimed again, “I’ll be dammed!” Returning to the paper he continued reading the article about an investigation by the Grenzschutzgruppe 9 of corruption within the Police department of Munich.
“Did you read this, Josef?”
Josef, sitting at the counter turned to Peit and still grinning, nodded his head in the affirmative.
“I can’t believe it! Why all of a sudden are they investigating Chief Bruno and his boys? Levi and I have been saying all along there was something fishy going on in that German can of worms. And the GRS 9? I can’t believe it! Josef, do you know what the GSG 9 is all about?”
Josef shook his head from side to side facing Peit on the other side of the counter.
“Yes you do. Remember after the Palestine terrorist group Black September kidnapped and killed those Israeli athletes at the ‘72 Olympics and there was a loud outcry against the German police in their inability to deal effectively with that situation? As a consequence, German officials created the GSG 9 so that similar situations in the future could be responded to adequately and professionally.”
Josef was shaking his head up and down now. “Yes I thought you would remember.” I wonder why they have gotten involved now with our situation in Munich? If Levi is unaware of this development, I think I’d better give him a call. What time is it now in Tel Aviv?”
Josef pulled his trusty pad from a hidden pocket in his thawb, thought for a moment and wrote: Just an hour later, Boss - - - 8:00 a.m.
“If I know Levi, he will already be in his second cup of that terrible Turkish coffee he drinks all day, and worrying what might be going wrong in some part of the world.”
Peit dialed a long number on the telephone hanging on the kitchen wall, waited, and then asked, “Are you awake yet, Levi? Have you seen anything interesting in your local paper this morning? That’s right; I just saw that the GSG 9 is cracking down on our friend Bruno and some of his men. You wouldn’t have had anything to do with that would you?”
Josef could just make out the muffled conversation at the other end of the phone and continued making breakfast for himself.
“When did this all happen, Levi?”
Peit looked at Josef and rolled his eyes.
“How does this possibly connect with the emerald case we have been working on? I know it’s pretty early to know, but I think I will try and get hold of someone in the GSG 9 to see what I can find out - - - at least I can fill them in on what has been going on from our perspective. And when either of us finds out anything interesting let’s keep the other informed. I wonder where Hans fits into what is going on in Munich. OK, Levi, I’ll let you get back to that grey mud you call coffee, and have a good day!”
Josef stopped eating a piece of toast and looked at Peit with raised eyebrows. Pouring a second cup of coffee from the large French Press, Peit smelled the surging aroma and said, “I am so glad I don’t have to drink that disgusting brew Levi serves in his office. Thank you so much for your gourmet tastes, Josef. What Levi told me was that he has been trying for several months to get the GSG 9 to look into the corruption, as he called it, in the Munich Police Department, especially in Beinschmidt’s terrorist department. I guess the murders of those two Mossad agents who had gone undercover in the department finally tipped the scale. Levi was able to get some action because about twenty years ago a very good friend of his was the very person who started an organization in Israel called the Sayeret Matkal which became the elite Special Forces unit of the Israeli Defense Force.”
Josef waved his arms trying to get Peit’s attention and raised his eyebrows again.
“Hold on Josef, I’m getting to it! That good friend of Levi’s also provided information and leadership to Germany after the ‘72 Munich Olympic debacle and helped them put together the GSG 9 unit. Levi Just put some gentle pressure, as only Levi can do, on his friend, and the wheels began to turn again in Munich. Now what all this means for David, Miriam, Hans and that damn emerald, I have no idea at this point, but we’d better soon find out. Will you get Max to meet me in my office in about an hour, please?”
“Good morning Max, I suppose you’ve read the morning paper and have seen what is going on in the Munich Police Department?”
“Yes I have. Can you fill me in a little more about the details?”
The Inspector pushed his chair back and put his feet on the edge of the desk. “I just finished talking to Ocar Lindner, the current Commander of the GSG 9 and he filled me in as much as her could on the current situation. It seems that after some pushing from Israel and some inside information from the Police Department itself they started a very discreet undercover investigation and found out a number of disturbing facts. It seems that the good ole Chief Beinschmidt has had a long, hidden, sympathy for Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich.”
“Why wasn’t this known, Peit?”
“It seems, Max, that because of his position in the Police department, pressure on certain people in high positions, and falsifying his d
ossier he has been able to hide that fact. However, the GSG 9 has uncovered a possible connection between the Chief and a small group of like-minded despots that they call the GRS or Government Retirement Society, but in reality it has been their own attempt to revive the old Nazi Gestapo. The GSG 9 also has reason to believe that directions for this pseudo-Nazi movement originated in Argentina”
“How was all this uncovered?”
“Evidently an anonymous phone call about possible problems within the department started with the Chief’s personal secretary. She was unable to justify all the long distance telephone calls to Argentina during an audit. She later provided enough information to start an internal investigation, even though she was scared to death. Evidently, enough questions about Bruno’s so-called terrorist branch within the Munich Police department that the GSG 9 was called in to continue the investigation. In the course of their investigation, the GSG 9 officers found a member of the chief’s underlings who panicked and spilled everything he knew about the “Government Retirement Society.” He revealed that the group’s purpose was to rid the entire Munich government of anyone with Jewish blood starting with the Police Department. They contracted with a hit-man, known only to them as Mr. Golch, who did their dirty work for them. He didn’t think even the Chief knew the identity of this assassin. This information was enough to conduct a full-blown investigation of the Police Department, starting with the terrorist unit. I understand that Chief Beinschmidt has been charged with murder and criminal conspiracy along with several others in the department. The Chief, at the moment, is being held under very tight security in a secret location outside of Munich.”
“So where does this leave us now in our emerald caper and search for our Nazi, psychopathic killer?”
“It seems to me that I need to contact Levi again and perhaps we need to have a conference with Levi, David and Miriam to coordinate all of this information and plan how we proceed from here.”
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