At Boris’ direction, the corpse was quickly consumed by flame.
The final component of this sleight of hand was achieved when the cremated ashes were doubled by remnants from other cremations. Then the ashes were split between Katja’s expensive urn and the simple box containing the drug victim’s remains.
At Gage’s urging, and with Ina’s approval, Boris sent an anonymous Vogel donation to the victim’s family, totaling 50,000 euro.
Although Boris faced a building crisis over the mishandling of a dead body, he was confident he could navigate the upcoming minefield…
Especially since Katja wasn’t dead.
He made sure the coroner received a copy of the death certificate and, in true Vogel fashion, he bribed the underpaid civil servant to “keep the death quiet for a few days.” Due to the other recent deaths, enough media had besieged Ina Vogel. Eyeing the thick wad of euros in his hand, the coroner agreed.
Finally, Boris dealt with the polizei, who were frustrated that the body hadn’t been taken to the hospital for identification. Boris calmly claimed a mix-up with the fully licensed concierge medical service. He promised to send a copy of the death certificate to the polizei for their file.
“As long as I’ve got something to keep the coroner off my ass,” the Landespolizei lieutenant said, relenting. After making sure he had Boris’ information, the polizei ended the phone call.
The ruse was complete, for now.
Katja Vogel, wealthy German heiress, had died in a tragic car accident.
* * *
Outside of the crematory, Gage gave Boris some pointed instructions, and then told him he’d like to have a moment alone with Ina. “And after you get a driver, don’t leave,” Gage said. “I want to see Katja’s car.”
“They won’t give us access.”
“Boris, make it happen,” Gage said. “And get an update on our patient.”
Ina and Gage stepped around to the side of the plain building. Traffic whizzed by on the street as a light mist began to fall.
Already visibly upset, she poked Gage in his chest, speaking through clenched teeth. “Tell me about my sister.”
“She went somewhere last night—I don’t know where. On the drive back, somebody tried to kill her by running her off the road.”
“How do you know?”
“I know.”
“So, why all this? And who was the dead woman I just pretended was my sister?” Ina asked, on the verge of hysterics.
“Calm down, please. I’m sorry we had to do that, but she was someone who’d already died. We had to create this ruse in order to convince whoever tried to kill Katja that she’s dead.”
“So, what happens when she shows back up alive?” Ina yelled. “This makes no sense.”
“Quiet, please,” Gage replied. “She’s in a coma, Ina. It’s serious. They don’t know her prognosis yet.”
“So, she could still die?”
“Yes, I’m sorry to say. Or, she could be left with permanent damage.”
Ina buried her face in both hands. She didn’t cry. She simply stood that way for several moments. When she looked up, she said, “Do you think she’ll live?”
“Ina, I’m not—”
“Answer me,” she snapped.
“Yes, I do.”
Seeming to relax ever so slightly, Ina folded her arms. “What now?”
“I need you to go away for a few days,” Gage said. “You can’t take your phone.”
“Go where?”
“Maybe a hotel. A friend you don’t visit often would be better.”
“Why?”
Gage stared.
“Is someone going to try to kill me?”
“I don’t know that. Maybe.”
“Are you serious?”
“Very.”
She cut her eyes away. “I know where I could go, but I’d like to see my sister first.”
“I can arrange that, but then you’ve got to stay away and you can’t use phone or email or anything that can be traced.”
“Who did this, Gage?”
“I’d ask you the same. You know where we found her. Can you think of anyone who lives near Grosser Feldberg?”
She shrugged. “My mind’s not exactly clear right now.”
“C’mon, Ina. Where would she have been coming from? Does she know someone who lives near there? A business? A restaurant where she could have met someone for dinner?”
Ina pondered for a moment. “I honestly have no idea. I can’t think when my mind’s racing like this. Tell me where I can see Katja.”
Gage led Ina back to Boris, who was finishing up a phone call. He confirmed several things and hung up.
“The driver will be here in a half hour,” he said.
“Who’s the driver?”
“From an executive security firm that Claudia has used before. They’re good.”
“What driver?” Ina asked.
“Ina, the driver from the security firm will take you to Katja. She’s being held under an anonymous name. Boris will see to it that you have access.”
“Leave my car here?”
“Yes. I’ll take care of your car.” Gage lifted a warning finger. “They can’t know—”
“That she’s a Vogel,” Ina finished. “I understand. They won’t know her or me.”
“I need your phone,” Gage said.
Gage asked for her security code. He punched in the code and switched the phone to airplane mode. “If you don’t mind, I’m going to turn the phone’s transmitter back on when I get to the estate. I’ll plug it up so the battery doesn’t die. If anyone is tracking you—which I doubt—it’ll appear as if you’re there.”
Boris scribbled instructions on how Ina could communicate with him via other means.
The details settled, Ina went inside to wait on the driver from the security firm. Gage and Boris departed in two vehicles for the impound yard. Gage drove Ina’s car. During the drive, Boris phoned Gage and asked a number of questions. Gage’s answers were quick and clipped.
He wasn’t focusing on Boris’ questions. No. He was lost in thought over the BMW that had hit him on top of the Frankfurt International Airport’s parking deck. It had been blue, most likely a sporty M-series—quick enough to
