“Trouble is my middle name, missy,” Bob scoffed.
“I’m serious, Bob. I just talked to a security guard who said he’dtried to stop you from asking so many questions.”
“So he did,” Bob said.
“He wasn’t kidding, Bob. And I think he might …”
London paused as she remembered how Oberhauser had reached forhis holster.
How did she think he might react if Bob didn’t startminding his own business?
She knew that as a retired New York City police detective, Bobwas able to handle a physical threat. But if the local security guard was armed…
But surely, she thought, he wouldn’t shoot anyone rightout here in the open. Not with so many people around.
And yet …
She really didn’t know what Oberhauser might do. His behavior wasinconsistent—and it scared her.
Not that Bob was exactly predictable either.
London knew that she needed to get Bob away from any possibleencounter. Maybe she could cajole him into going back to the ship.
“Bob, have you found out anything at all?” she asked, feeling allbut sure that the true answer was no.
“Maybe,” Bob said instead. “Just maybe.”
“What is it, then?” London asked.
Bob scratched his chin.
“I’m not ready to say just yet,” he said. “The idea is juststarting to take shape in my mind.”
London doubted that Bob had a single useful idea in his headright now. But she felt a flash of hope as she realized she might just be ableto get through to him.
“Well, then,” she said. “Maybe this is one of those times for …you know, a more cerebral approach. Surely all this activity isoverstimulating your brain. Maybe you need to work in a more tranquil setting.The Amadeus Lounge, maybe. Or better yet, your own stateroom. Give yourself achance to do some abstract reasoning, exercise some pure logic. What do youthink?”
Bob scratched his chin for a moment, then spoke to Mr. Tedrow.
“What do you think, Stanley? You’re starting to understand mymethods.”
Mr. Tedrow finally looked up from his notebook.
“I think maybe the girl is onto something,” he said to Bob.
London cringed again.
Girl! Missy!
It was all she could do not to tell them both to knock it off.
Another time, maybe.
But she was relieved when Tedrow kept on agreeing with her.
“And we could have a nice brunch while we’re at it,” he said toBob. “Or maybe relax a little by the pool. I didn’t even know there was a poolon the boat until you got me out learning all about investigations. We’ve gotto get some use out of the facilities. We are paying for them, afterall.”
“It’s settled, then,” Bob said, nodding to both London and Mr.Tedrow. “I’ll head right back to the ship and put the full weight of my mightynoggin to the problem. I’ll be able to crack the case in an hour or so. Beforethose grand ceremonies get started, I’m sure.”
He patted Mr. Tedrow on the shoulder and added, “Then later youand me and maybe Sir Reggie here will come back here to par-TAY like thekids we are at heart. What do you say?”
“It sounds like a plan,” Mr. Tedrow said with an admiring grin.
London breathed a little easier as she watched the two men toddleaway.
That’s one problem solved, she thought. At least forthe time being.
She looked around the Maximiliensplatz, which was quitefull of people now. As before, some were in costume, some in basic nativedress, and others just wore their everyday clothes. She saw a large chicken andseveral other farm animals, which she didn’t think were from Hoffmann storiesbut were costumes she had seen for sale. She didn’t see Audrey Bolton anywhere.
London still hadn’t accomplished what she’d come here to do. Andnow it seemed less and less likely that she was going to succeed.
Worse, she was sure that some of the people in the crowd werestaring at her.
She looked at Sir Reggie sadly.
“What do you think I should do now?” she asked the dog.
Sir Reggie let out a slight growl that seemed to ask, “Whatare you asking me for?”
London sighed and said, “I guess it’s up to me, huh? Well, we’dbetter head back to the ship and admit to Captain Hays and Detektiv Erlich thatwe’ve failed in our mission.”
Feeling rather depressed, she headed back toward the boat.
Then a movement in the crowd caught her eye.
A hearty-looking man clad in lederhosen was waving his armenergetically, trying to get her attention.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
Who is that waving to me? London wondered.
In her anxiety about finding Audrey Bolton, she didn’timmediately recognize him. Then she realized that it was Helmut Preiss, therobust-looking brewer of the Hefeweisen that had so impressed both Bryceand her yesterday.
At least this was a friendly face. And since he was neither aco-worker nor a passenger, speaking with him should be free of complications.Surely she could take a minute to be friendly before returning to the ship.
She made her way toward Preiss, still carrying Sir Reggie.
“Guten tag, Herr Preiss,” she said.
“Guten tag.” Still speaking German, he added, “Docall me Helmut, please.”
“I will,” she replied in German. “You may call me London.”
Sir Reggie leaned forward and sniffed at the brewer, then gave asnort of apparent approval and settled down into London’s arms again.
Helmut told her, “I’m sorry for the terrible thing that hashappened during your visit.”
“Yes, it … was terrible,” London replied.
Gazing at her with an expression of concern, he said, “I hearthat you’ve fallen under some suspicion.”
“I’m afraid so.”
Word certainly gets around, London thought with dismay.
As she glanced around, she again got the distinct impression thatpeople were staring at her.
She wondered how many people in Bamberg thought the worst of her.
“Well, I share no such suspicion,” Helmut said. “I think DetektivErlich and his team are being very unfair to you.”
London felt a surge of gratitude.
“Thank you for saying that,” she said.
“Nichts zu danken,” he said. London recognized theGerman phrase for “Don’t mention it.”
Helmut continued, “I have already talked to the detective aboutit, stating my opinion in no uncertain terms. Not that Erlich is likely to heedanything I say. Having Americans to blame is very convenient forhim—politically, I mean.”
“So I gather,” London said.
Helmut’s expression darkened.
“It’s really quite infuriating,”
