exactly nothing beyond the business relationship Gage had with Stapinsky, which they already knew about, and as far as Jack could tell, there wasn’t anything illegal about it or the business transactions they were engaged in.
Even Liliana’s constant cross-checking with another ABW database—which Jack wasn’t allowed to see—pulled up nothing.
“All I am authorized to tell you is that I can’t find any legal associations BGS has with any known criminal elements or enterprises.”
“Well, that’s something. Do we have anything else to look at? Something I’m not seeing?”
“That’s the last of what we have been authorized to examine. I’m sorry, Jack. What’s next for you?”
“The only thing I can think of is checking out the properties Baltic General Services owns in Gdynia and GdaĆsk. Exactly three, by my count.”
“We can go there tomorrow if you like.”
“I would, actually.”
Liliana’s cell phone rang. “Excuse me, that’s my mother calling. Do you mind?”
“No, not all. Moms always come first.” He glanced at his watch. It was just after five-thirty local.
She spoke with her mother in Polish. Jack wasn’t trying to listen—what was the point, since he couldn’t understand them anyway? But he noticed her voice dropped to a near whisper as she turned her back and stepped away from the desk, her vocal inflections more intense. Finally, she turned around with her hand covering the receiver. Her face flushed with embarrassment.
“Excuse me, Jack. I have a question for you.”
“Sure. What’s up?”
“It’s my mother. She wants to know if you would come over for dinner tonight. She is a great fan of your country and would like to meet you.”
Jack was conflicted. It was very kind of her mother to extend the invitation. On the other hand, he couldn’t help but feel this might be another test.
“I can see it in your face. It’s too much to ask. I apologize.” Liliana lifted her hand from the receiver to tell her mother the bad news.
“No, wait.”
Liliana paused.
Jack smiled. “What’s for dinner?”
45
Liliana parked the Audi at the curb of a modest two-story home north of the city center, across the street from a greenbelt or perhaps a park. The recent rains had slicked the heavily treed street with leaves that were just beginning to riot with fall colors.
She led them through a wrought-iron gate and up a few stone steps to a magnificent wooden door. Jack carried a small bouquet of flowers and a bottle of merlot. He insisted they stop on the way. His mother taught him long ago the power of flowers. Liliana opened the door and the sweet, peppery aroma of grilled steak came wafting out. Jack’s mouth began to water.
While they were still standing in the foyer, a handsome, middle-aged woman came out of the kitchen, a flowery apron wrapped around her well-kept figure. Jack saw instantly where Liliana got her good looks. Apart from a few strands of gray in her light brown hair and laugh lines around her eyes, the two women almost looked like sisters. He remembered a line his mother told him years ago. “If you want to see your wife in the future, meet her mother.” It wasn’t always true, but this looked like a sure bet.
Jack held out the bouquet of flowers. Liliana’s mother lit up like a candle.
“Oh, you shouldn’t have.”
Oh, but I’m so glad I did.
Thanks, Mom.
The woman extended her hand. “Mr. Ryan, it is such a pleasure to meet you.”
Jack shook hers. A warm, firm grip, wet from washing dishes. “It’s very nice to meet you, Mrs. Pilecki. And please, call me Jack.”
“And I’m Maria.”
“Like Madame Curie?”
“Very good. Yes, like me, born in Poland. But I never left, except to go to school at Oxford.”
Yikes. A brainiac.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. I hope you came hungry.”
Jack sniffed the air. “I am now.”
“Mother is the best cook in Warsaw.”
“Can I get you something to drink? Wine? Beer? An aperitif?”
“I’m fine right now, but thanks.” He handed her the wine. “Almost forgot. For you as well.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“I told him not to, Mother. But he’s persistent.”
A door slammed toward the back of the house. Stockinged feet thundered down the hallway.
Liliana knelt down just as a greased ball of blond lightning crashed into her, wrapping his little arms around her neck.
“Tomasz!” She kissed him as she stood.
Jack grinned ear to ear as he stepped toward them. “And who’s this little fellow?”
“This is Tomasz. He’s my son.”
* * *
—
Clinging to his mother’s neck, the boy’s large, luminous blue eyes searched Jack for some sign of evil intent.
Jack smiled at