the Amber Room

McKoy stood and headed for the door. 'You better, Grumer. Let me know the second you hear from that woman.'

'Of course. Anything you say.'

The phone was ringing in their room when Paul opened the door. Rachel followed him inside as he answered. It was Fritz Pannik. He quickly recounted to Pannik what happened earlier, telling the inspector that the woman and Knoll were nearby, or at least had been a few hours ago.

'I will dispatch someone from the local police to take a statement from everyone first thing in the morning.'

'You think those two are still here?'

'If what Alfred Grumer says is true, I would say yes. Sleep light, Herr Cutler, and I will see you tomorrow.'

Paul hung up and sat on the bed.

'What do you think?' Rachel asked, sitting beside him.

'You're the judge. Did Grumer seem credible?'

'Not to me. But McKoy seemed to buy what he was saying.'

'I don't know about that. I get the feeling McKoy's holding something back, too. I can't put my finger on it, but there's something he's not saying. He was listening closely to Grumer on the Amber Room. But we can't worry about that now. I'm concerned about Knoll and the woman. They're roaming around here, and I don't like it.'

She sat down on the bed beside him. His eyes caught the swell of her breasts through the tight-fitting turtleneck sweater. Ice Queen? Not to him. He'd felt her body all last night, unnerved by the closeness. Periodically he'd taken in her scent as she slept. At one point, he tried to imagine himself three years back, still married to her, still able to physically love her. Everything was surreal. Lost treasure. Killers wandering about. His ex-wife in bed with him.

'Maybe you were right to begin with,' Rachel said. 'We're in way over our heads and should just get out of here. There's Marla and Brent to think about.' She looked at him. 'And there's us.' Her hand came to his.

'What do you mean?'

She softly kissed him on the lips. He sat perfectly still. She then wrapped her arms around him and kissed him hard.

'Are you sure about this, Rachel?' he asked as they parted.

'I don't know why I'm so hostile sometimes. You're a good man, Paul. You don't deserve the hurt I caused.'

'It wasn't all your fault.'

'There you go again. Always shouldering blame. Can't you let me take the blame just once?'

'Sure. You're welcome to it.'

'I want it. And there's something else I want.'

He saw the look in her eye, understood, and instantly rose from the bed. 'This is really weird. We haven't been together in three years. I've grown accustomed to that. I thought we were through . . . in that way.'

'Paul, for once go with your instincts. Everything doesn't have to be planned. What's wrong with good old- fashioned lust?'

He held her gaze with his. 'I want more than that, Rachel.'

'So do I.'

He moved toward the window, putting distance between them, and parted the sheers, anything to buy a little time. This was too much too fast. He stared down at the street, thinking about how long he'd dreamed of hearing those words. He'd not gone to court for the divorce hearing. Hours later, the final judgment had rolled out of the fax machine, his secretary laying it on his desk without a word. He'd refused to look at it, shoveling the paper, unread, into the trash. How could a judge's signature silence what his heart knew to be right?

He turned back.

Rachel looked lovely, even with yesterday's cuts and scrapes. They truly were an odd couple from the beginning. But he'd loved her and she'd loved him. Together they'd produced two children, whom they both worshiped. Did they now have a second chance?

He turned back to the window and tried to find answers in the night. He was about to step toward the bed and surrender when he noticed someone appear on the street.

Alfred Grumer.

The Doktor walked with a firm, determined gait, apparently having just exited the Garni's front entrance two stories below.

'Grumer's leaving,' he said.

Rachel jumped up and pushed close for a look. 'He didn't say anything about leaving.'

He grabbed his jacket and shot for the door. 'Maybe he got the call from Margarethe. I knew he was lying.'

'Where are you going?'

'You have to ask?'

FORTY-FIVE

Paul led Rachel out through the hotel entrance and turned in Grumer's direction. The German was a hundred yards ahead, briskly negotiating the cobbled street between the dark shops and busy cafes that were still luring customers with beer, food, and music. Streetlights periodically lit the way with a mustard glow.

'What are we doing?' Rachel asked.

'Finding out what he's up to.'

'Is this a good idea?'

'Maybe not. But we're doing it anyway.'

He didn't say that it also relieved him of a difficult decision. He wondered if Rachel was merely lonely or scared. It bothered him what she'd said in Warthberg, defending Knoll even though the bastard had left her to die. He didn't like being second choice.

'Paul, there's something you need to know.'

Grumer was ahead, still moving fast. He didn't break stride. 'What?'

'Right before the explosion in the mine, I turned around and Knoll had a knife.'

He stopped and stared at her.

'He had a knife in his hand. Then the shaft's ceiling gave way.'

'And you're just now telling me this?'

'I know. I should have. But I was afraid you wouldn't stay or that you'd tell Pannik and he'd interfere.'

'Rachel, are you nuts? This shit is serious. And you're right, I wouldn't have stayed, nor would I have let you. And don't tell me that you can do what the hell you want.' His attention shot to the right. Grumer disappeared around a corner. 'Damn. Come on.'

He started to trot, his jacket flapping. Rachel kept pace. The street began to incline. He reached the corner where Grumer had just been and stopped. A closed konditorei stood to the left with an awning that skirted the corner. He cautiously glanced around. Grumer was still walking fast, seemingly unconcerned if anybody was behind him. The Doktor bisected a small square centered by a fountain bowered in geraniums. Everything--the streets, shops, and plants--reflected the maniacal cleanliness of German civic pride.

'We need to stay back,' Paul said. 'But it's darker here, and that'll help.'

'Where are we going?'

'It looks like we're headed up toward the abbey.' He glanced at his watch--10:25 P.M.

Ahead, Grumer suddenly disappeared left into a row of black hedges. They scampered up and saw a concrete walk dissolve into the blackness. A posted sign announced, ABBEY OF THE SEVEN SORROWS OF THE VIRGIN. The arrow pointed forward.

'You're right. He is going to the abbey,' Rachel said.