Gage looked over at Claudia. She was studying him, knowingly. “You okay?” she asked.
“I didn’t take the proper precautions before we left the airport.”
“They won’t come after me at a time like this. It will be at my home, probably as I sleep—a coward’s method of killing.”
“Regardless, we’ll have to change how you do things, starting today.”
“Wonderful.”
“The precautions when you leave the estate might seem extreme.”
“I’m not sure I’ll leave the estate again, Gage. This might be my last time.”
He had no response.
“What were you thinking about earlier?” she asked.
He shrugged.
“Old memories?”
“Yes.”
“Perhaps, at some point, you’ll feel like telling me the actual story of the diaries, and what happened between you and those French mobsters.”
“You told me you already knew a great deal about what happened.”
“Not the details. I know the plot, but I don’t know the story. It seems it would be a fascinating tale, Gage; and tragic, I know. I’m not making folly of what you endured.” She touched his arm. “Each person has a role on this earth. You, Gage, are a warrior—and a protector.”
“Yet, I failed in protecting Monika.”
“We all fail. It’s how you react afterward that truly matters.”
Gage was quiet for a moment. “So, tell me, Claudia, if I’m a warrior and protector, then what are you?”
She smiled at his mild impertinence. “I’m a director, Gage. A manager. A decision maker. My husband helmed his empire so smoothly, so regally—to the public eye.” She halted.
“Go on.”
She shook her head. “I shouldn’t. I sound haughty.”
“Claudia, I value directness.”
With eyes closed, she nodded. “Behind Karl Vogel, wealthy magnate, there was me. I was the puppeteer. Cut that deal. Walk away from that one. Hire her. Disassociate yourself with him. Partner with those people. That’s what I did, Gage. He was the mouth—I was the brain. We made a fine team.”
Gage arched his eyebrows. He’d not met this woman—or, had he?
“You wanted the truth, you got it,” she said. “I wasn’t the best mother, as you’ll soon learn. But, over the years, I’ve learned and amended my ways as best I could.”
“Why do you say you weren’t a good mother?”
She took on a pensive look as she gazed out the window before coming back to Gage. “We had nannies and day nurses. As our holdings grew, I found myself paying more attention to fueling the organization’s growth than to my children. And there’s more, as you’ll no doubt hear today. By the time I realized my errors, it was too late. Now, neither of my children have what I would describe as a good work ethic. They’re entitled and selfish. And while it might be my own fault, I have a hard time empathizing with them.”
“While I don’t have children, I appreciate how you might feel this way.”
“It’s a paradox. I caused their issues, yet I blame them for them.”
Gage murmured his understanding. In his mind, he told himself to remain open to this job. But a big piece of him was crestfallen by this new Claudia. He reminded himself that no one is perfect and he gave her a great deal of credit for being honest.
Very honest.
“I hope you don’t play poker, Gage.”
He turned to her. “Excuse me?”
“I can see your disappointment now that I’ve given you a glimpse of who’s really behind the curtain. You now know that I’m not just a sweet old lady. Just remember, I’m still the same woman who came to visit you in North Carolina. In my estimation, you need the unvarnished truth in order to do your job. After we meet with my children, I think you’ll have a better understanding. I’m very sorry for many of the things I’ve done.” Again, she touched his arm. “But that’s enough for now.”
“What time will we meet with them?”
“At three, in the library. I’d prefer you not say much during the meeting.”
“That’s fine,” he answered. “Believe me, I’d rather remain quiet.”
“Gage, I told you about me. I also suspect there’s a different side of you?”
On the picture screen of his mind, he saw a snippet of himself in that shack outside of Metz cutting off Bruno’s fingers with wire cutters. The corner of Gage’s mouth turned up. “You’re right, Claudia.”
“And does the other side of you make you a monster?”
“I don’t think so.”
“We all have a darker side.” She turned her gaze out of the car. “Today, at the meeting…expect fireworks.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You’ll see.”
Fireworks?
* * *
As if floating on a bed of velvet air, the limo glided north on Autobahn 5, out of the greater Frankfurt area. Under a slate gray sky, the concrete jungle slowly transformed to barren forests and swirling leaves. Only 20 minutes passed before the limousine eased right, descending the ramp of the Friedberg exit. After turning, they soon found themselves out in the country, the curvy ribbon of freshly paved road winding through the rolling fields of farmland, barns and landscape that could easily be mistaken for central Wisconsin. There were no crops this late in the year—a dozen frosts had already fallen. Now, the rich tilled earth lay dormant and peaceful, awaiting its next chance to bear fruit.
An ominous weather front threatened from the west—the clouds much darker than the gray ones overhead. Gage asked about the weather. Claudia checked her phone and said a cold rain was expected for the next few days.
Ten kilometers after leaving the autobahn, the limousine exited the two-lane road at a private residence, the entrance dominated by a broad twin gate and gatehouse. A guard emerged from the gatehouse, speaking to the driver. In seconds, the twin black iron gates slid open, providing access to
