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“May I suggest, Herr Schenck, that perhaps there would be more security if I drove you to the von Tresmarck home?”

“I considered that, of course. One of the problems is that I would have to return here eventually. That would mean either you or Frau von Tresmarck would have to drive me, and we might be seen together. This way . . .”

“Of course. I should have considered that.”

“Yes, Forster, you should have. Now get going.”

“Jawohl, Herr Schenck.”

[THREE]

The knock came at the door of suite 308 forty-five minutes later.

“Finally!” von Deitzberg snapped.

He had spent the last fifteen minutes—he had estimated that it should take Inge no longer than thirty minutes from the time Forster had left the casino to get there from her home; wherever it was, it wasn’t far—considering the very real possibility that she wasn’t going to come at all. That as soon as she got her orders from Forster and he left, she had departed for parts unknown with whatever confidential special fund cash von Tresmarck had left behind when he went to Paraguay—if he actually had gone to Paraguay. And considering his options if that indeed proved to be the case.

He was obviously going to have to find the both of them, recover as much—if anything—as he could of the money they had stolen, and then eliminate the both of them.

And he had no idea how to do either. And no one to help him to do it.

That had caused him to first think that Anton von Gradny-Sawz would be absolutely useless in tracking them down, and then that the money he had promised Der Grosse Weinerwurst to buy them refuge wasn’t going to be available.

And he had of course thought of Inge.

Put those thoughts from your min

d.

What you have to do now is think about staying alive.

He walked quickly to the door and pulled it open.

“Guten abend,” Inge von Tresmarck said.

She was wearing a skirt and a simple white cotton blouse through which he could see her brassiere.

She’s better-looking than I remembered.

He took a step backward and coldly motioned her into the room. Then he pointed to a small couch.

She walked to it, sat down, crossed her legs, and looked at him.

“What is your husband doing in Paraguay?” he demanded.

“I didn’t have any idea you were here, or were even coming,” she said.

“Answer the question, Frau von Tresmarck.”

She didn’t immediately reply.

She’s making up her mind what to say.

He walked to her and slapped her face.

“Answer my question!”

She put her hand on her cheek and looked at him with terror in her eyes and took a deep breath.