'That's right.'
'Just those four?'
'Just those four.'
'Maybe someone else is working late, and you don't know it.'
'Impossible. After five-thirty, anyone going upstairs has to sign in
with me. At six o'clock we go through every floor to see who's working
late, and then they check out with us when they leave. The building
management has set down strict fire-prevention rules. This is part of
them.' He patted the registry. 'If there's ever a fire, we'll know
exactly who's in the building and where we can find them.'
'What about maintenance crews?'
'What about them?'
'Janitors. Cleaning women. Any working now?'
'Not on Friday night.'
'You're sure?'
'Sure I'm sure.' He was visibly upset by the interrogation and
beginning to wander if he should cooperate. 'They come in all day
tomorrow.'
'Building engineer?'
'Schiller. He's night engineer.'
'Where is Schiller?'
'Downstairs.'
lee 'Where downstairs?'
'Checking one of the heat pumps, I think.'
'Is he alone?'
'Yeah.'
'How many other security guards?'
'Are you going to tell me what's up?'
'For God's sake, this is an emergency!' Bollinger aid. 'How many
security guards besides you?'
'Just two. What emergencyz'
'There's been a bomb threat.'
The guard's lips trembled. The mustache seemed about to fall off.
'You're kidding.'
'I wish I were.'
The guard slid off his stool, stepped from behind the lectern.
At the same time Bollinger took the Walther from his pocket.
The guard blanched. 'What's that?'
'A gun. Don't go for yours.'
'Look, this bomb threat ... I didn't call it in.'
Bollinger laughed.
'It's true.'
'I'm sure it is.'
'Hey ... that gun has a silencer on it.'
'Yeah.
'But policemen don't-' Bollinger shot him twice in the chest.
The impact of the bullets threw the guard into the sheet marble.
For an instant he stood very straight, as if he were waiting for someone
to measure his height and mark it on the wall. Then he collapsed.
