Sliding the guard from the door’s path, Gage covered the man’s mouth with his hand and listened quietly. There were no sounds from inside the house.
Removing his pack, Gage quietly peeled off a length of duct tape and covered the roving guard’s mouth as the reality hit him.
I’ve broken into the Hessen Ministerpräsident’s private mansion. I can’t be wrong or I’m going to jail forever.
* * *
The roving guard was still unconscious, though he was twitching every few seconds. Pistol out and ready, Gage checked the first room on the left, finding it to be a utility room: No.
First room on the right: Laundry room. No.
Second room on the right: Office supplies and computer equipment. No.
Second room on the left: Four-car garage. Yes.
Gage crept back into the hallway and slid the roving guard across the shiny hardwood floor, taking care to do it quietly. He was awake now, but remained silent after Gage pressed the P9 between his eyes, promising him a quick death if he made any sound.
Gage pulled the guard down the two brick steps into the garage, barely able to see the cars due to the darkness of the room. To the left was a workbench. Gage found a battery-operated LED work wand, holding it tightly to his clothing to measure its brightness. He clicked the light three times for the lowest setting, placing it on the floor underneath the nearest car. The light it created was minimal, but provided enough for Gage to see. He looked for windows—there were none other than the ornamental windows at the top of each garage door. These faced the guard at the front, hence why Gage was careful about creating too much light.
From Gage’s pack, he removed one of his favorite items due to their lack of weight and usefulness: zip ties. Also known as nylon locking ties, these came with 250 pounds of tensile strength at a length of nearly two feet. Gage secured the guard’s feet, using two ties around his ankles just for good measure. Gage bound the guard’s wrists behind his back, using an extra tie to secure his wrists to his belt. There was rope and several long extension cords in the garage. Gage checked his watch. The roving guard wasn’t due to go back out for 20 more minutes. After an appraisal of the garage, he again slid the bound guard over the garage’s painted floor to the rear of a white BMW 7-series sedan. Gage opened the driver’s door, depressing the button to open the trunk. With great effort, he hoisted the driver to his feet, then shoved him into the trunk. Gage told the guard to remain quiet, and again aimed his pistol as an inducement.
He opened the rear door of the car, lowering the armrest and clicking open the rectangular pass through to make sure the guard would have plenty of air. Walking back around the car, Gage told the roving guard he planned to come back and check on him.
“If I hear you bumping around, kicking, or doing anything other than resting quietly…” Gage popped the magazine from the P9, turning it so the roving guard could see the Federal Hi-Shok hollow point bullets. “I’m going to fire this pistol into your head and permanently ruin the trunk of this BMW. Got it?”
The guard nodded eagerly.
Gage pushed the trunk shut and prepared to go into the house.
Just as he was readying to extinguish the work light, it hit him. He eyed the big BMW that was currently acting as the hiding space for the roving guard. Sleek and shiny, it was marred by several blemishes across the front bumper.
The blemishes were silver—ghost silver.
Gage padded to the rear of the car. It was badged as a BMW M760i with X-Drive. Katja’s car was fast—this one even faster. He turned to his right, seeing a Porsche Cayenne Turbo, the stunning Porsche Carrera GT and, all the way on the other side of the garage, a brilliant blue BMW M3 with what appeared to be aftermarket modifications.
What about damage to the M3’s front end?
One wave of the LED wand told Gage all he needed to know.
He moved to the front of the M3 and placed his left thigh next to the indentation and damage of the hood and grillwork. A perfect fit. This was the car that nearly killed him. He opened the door and popped the trunk, finding two license plates tossed haphazardly on the dark gray carpet. In the glove compartment, Gage found the registration papers. The car was deeded to Rudolf-Diesel KG. “KG” indicated a limited partnership—no doubt another of Boden’s shell companies. He eyed the other vehicles, positive none were in the name of the good Ministerpräsident. They were all benefits of his grand scheme.
The same scheme that had resulted in the deaths of several people Gage knew—making Gage ponder the countless Boden-authored deaths he was wasn’t aware of.
Gage tipped the slide on the Heckler & Kock P9, confirming his hollow point round was seated and the hammer back. Checked his watch—13 minutes until the roving guard was scheduled to head out again. Gage clicked the LED work light off and glided back into the house. There was no noise, no sign of anyone.
Pistol leading the way, in Gage went…
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The estate house was markedly different than the Vogel mansion Gage had grown used to. Rather than classic and stately, this one was modern and sleek. Polished black marble, chrome and accents of teak wood ruled the day. After the side entry hallway and the garage door was a massive open kitchen. To Gage’s right were four square plate glass windows. In front of them, a long table with seating for ten.
