right, because he imagined that the two tables of security men had locked their eyes onto him. Instead he remained focused on his work, and when he stood back up from the table, he held his hand down by his side, the camera slowly panning back and forth behind him for a few seconds.
Less than fully confident he’d gotten good images, but certain he could not safely film any longer, he went back into the kitchen and pulled off his coat, then headed down the darkened hallway for the employee exit.
* * *
• • •
Annika gave the client the address of Mirza’s flat on Gielower Strasse, and the client put it in the notes in his phone. This done, he turned to Spangler. “I better make some calls. Rudy, we will be in touch very soon.”
They shook hands, and the man left without ever introducing himself to Annika.
When she and Rudy were alone, Dittenhofer said, “Your meeting is over? You just arrived twenty minutes ago.”
“Clearly, he did not like the fact that you were here. And I don’t, either. Sit down.” They both did so. “You should have known better than to come unannounced.”
Annika ignored the comment. “He’s Saudi. Or he’s Omani. Possibly Emirati. Qatari, even Kuwaiti, perhaps. But he’s not Israeli, and you knew that all along.”
Spangler shrugged. “Not all along. But I have known for some time. It doesn’t matter. His mission is against Iran, and he pays very well for our assistance. When this is all over, when all of Germany learns what Shrike International has done to thwart an attack in the capital, you can be sure you will be proud of your efforts.”
She just shook her head softly now, and her eyes adopted a distant gaze. “I no longer believe that you believe that. You know we are part of something very sinister. Very dangerous. But you think your reputation and your legacy are more important than human lives.” She flexed the muscles in her neck as she said, “What have you become, Rudy?”
Spangler sighed. Sipped his orange juice. Annika had never seen him so angry, or so stressed. Finally he said, “Ennis’s death. Gretchen’s death. The others. It’s been a very trying time for you. For anyone in your role. Our work with this client has come to an end. Take a vacation. Get out of town. Relax. One week, one month. However long you need. You’ve earned it.”
Annika Dittenhofer stood. “What a wonderful idea,” she said, and she turned and headed for the exit.
FIFTY-SIX
Court climbed off the U-Bahn at Spandau station, then walked back in the direction of his apartment, making a few movements around the neighborhood first to be certain he hadn’t picked up a tail. He arrived back at his place just after two p.m. and immediately sat down on the floor by his laptop and attached his camera via a Lightning port.
Minutes later he realized he had captured reasonably good images of each of the men who met with Annika Dittenhofer. He took still images from the best parts of the video, then looked at both men carefully.
He didn’t recognize either.
And this meant there was only one thing for him to do. He pulled out his phone and dialed his handler.
“Brewer.”
“Violator. Alpha, Mike, Mike, two, eight, Lima.”
“Go ahead.”
“Sending you two images for analysis.”
“Ready to receive.”
Court waited several seconds, then heard, “I don’t need to run the first one. That is Rudolf Spangler. CEO of Shrike International Group. Our intelligence from Berlin station indicates he no longer holds an active role in the day-to-day actions of the company.”
“Dittenhofer hauled ass to him this afternoon for a meeting, all the way across central Berlin. My guess is it was work related.”
“Anything’s possible.”
“What about the other dude?”
“I don’t know. Stand by, I’ll run it.”
Court went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water. While he waited for Brewer to return, he pulled pain pills from his backpack and took one, and then something extra for his fever, which seemed to be creeping back up.
He still was under some of the effects of the Adderall he’d taken in the morning, so he opted against another amphetamine.
He looked out his little window idly, then went back to the living room, where he sat on the bare wicker sofa, in the exact spot where Zoya had sat when she was here.
He closed his eyes and thought of her.
He told himself that someday the two of them would see each other in a place where nobody