Scot remembered how he had been able to breeze through two different passport controls with his Hans Brauner papers. “I don’t know. It must vary.”

“Well, think about a nicely dressed, middle-aged man on holiday.”

“I guess it wouldn’t warrant too much scrutiny.”

“Even if it did, Schroeppel so resembles Miner, I think he could pass the test.”

“Let’s say you’re right. What does it mean?”

“I think Miner bought his cousin a nice vacation, and all he had to do for it was be seen, get a passport stamped, and charge things on a credit card, all under the name of Gerhard Miner.”

“But what does Miner get for all of this generosity?”

“The most priceless thing of all, an almost airtight alibi.”

“You’re right!” Scot finally grasped what Claudia was saying. “And Miner’s got one big problem now.”

“Yes. The airtight alibi is starting to leak.”

“A leak can be so drawn out and painful. Why don’t we see if we can help tear it open?”

65

Forty-five minutes after she left a message on his voice mail, Claudia’s cell phone rang.

“Mueller,” she said.

“Fräulein Mueller, what a delightful surprise it was to get your message,” said Gerhard Miner.

“I doubt that.”

“Why would you doubt that? I’m flattered to have the ardent attentions of such an attractive young woman.”

“Well, then you won’t mind meeting me for lunch today.”

“I’m sorry. I’m much too busy. We’ll do it soon, though.”

“I think that would be a mistake.”

“And why is that?”

“I have some very special information I think you might be interested in.”

“That’s hard to imagine.”

“I can tell you, or the deputy federal attorney, or maybe even the press.”

“Fräulein Mueller, I’m surprised you’re even free to walk the streets. Are you not being brought up on charges by the deputy federal attorney?”

“Well, he’s funny like that. He doesn’t much care for anonymous tips. He says they”-Claudia shot a sideways glance at Scot-“He says they stink.”

“Stink?” The Americanism was lost briefly on Miner.

“Yes, he much prefers firsthand accounts of things. Eyewitness testimony is so much more powerful, especially in court. An anonymous tip versus, say, the testimony of a carpenter from Hochdorf, is so much more effective. Wouldn’t you agree?”

There was absolute silence over the phone.

“Herr Miner? Are you still there?”

Quietly, Miner responded, “Yes. I’m still here.”

“You haven’t called him back yet, have you? You figured his message wasn’t important enough. You’d wait until you felt like it to call him back. It’s funny, but I could almost hear his fingers dialing your number the minute I left his shop.”

“What time?”

“What time did I leave his shop?”

“No, lunch. What time do you want to meet for lunch?”

“I’m quite busy today. Being framed for a major weapons theft creates all sorts of demands. Let me look at my book. Can you hold?”

Claudia held her hand over the mouthpiece and waited several moments. She hoped he was good and pissed off. She enjoyed being in control for once.

“Yes, Herr Miner. Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s say three o’clock where we had our lovely lunch last time, the Hotel des Balances. I’ll see you at three.”

Claudia punched the end button and severed the connection.

66

Setting the lunch appointment for three allowed Claudia and Scot plenty of time to surveil the Hotel des Balances and check for anything out of the ordinary. So far, it was clean.

Claudia went in to get a table, and Scot stayed concealed in a shop across the courtyard from the hotel. From his vantage point, he would know if Miner came alone. Having already met the ringer of a cousin and knowing what kind of car Miner drove, it wasn’t hard to spot him when he pulled up.

Miner got out of the black Audi and went into the hotel. Scot waited and, satisfied that he was alone, followed him inside. The hostess showed Scot to the table he had reserved earlier-not too close, but not too far away from the action if he was needed. Claudia and Miner were already deep in conversation when he passed.

“…as lovely as ever, Fräulein Mueller.”

“You’ll forgive me if I dispose of the pleasantries and get right to the point.”

“Of course I will not forgive you. It isn’t every day I get to enjoy lunch with a woman as beautiful as you, and I intend to do just that,” said Miner as he called the waiter over. “Are you serving the roast duck today?”

“Yes, sir,” said the waiter.

“Good, that’s what I will have,” said Miner. “How about for you, Fräulein Mueller? Do you like duck? It’s quite good here.”

“I’m more of a fish person.”

“Excellent, then I highly recommend the lake trout caught right here in our very own lake. What do you say?”

“Sounds fine to me,” said Claudia.

“Wonderful. Now, what do Americans like to eat?”

“Americans?” asked a startled Claudia. “What do you mean, what do they like to-”

“Steak! That’s what they like,” said Miner, snapping his fingers, very pleased with himself. “And we’ll have a nice filet, medium-rare, for our friend.”

“For your friend?” said the waiter.

“Yes, he’ll be joining us in a minute. How about some wine, Fräulein Mueller?”

It was their first lunch all over again. “I’ll be fine with a bottle of mineral water.”

“Well, I hope I’m not being rude-you did after all invite me to lunch-but there’s nothing that complements a good meal better than a good bottle of wine. Let’s see, I’m having duck and certainly our American friend is a drinker-they all are, you know-and he’s having steak. Why don’t you bring us a nice Saint Emilion wine. The Chateau Quercy is quite good. I’m sure Fräulein Mueller is on an expense account, and I don’t want to get her in any more trouble with her superiors, so make it something at least seven years old, but not much more than that. Thank you.” The waiter smiled, took their menus, and walked off for the kitchen.

If nothing else, Miner was consistent. Even when the chips were stacked against him, as he must have known they were now, he still was bold enough to try and assume control of the situation.

“By the way, Herr Miner. I meant to ask you how you knew I was in any trouble in the first place.”

“You know what? I would hate to start this conversation without your colleague. That’s him, isn’t it? The one dining alone, pretending to read the paper on the upper level. Not exactly the table I would have chosen, but it provides a good view of the action. Why don’t you wave him over, and then we can start.”

The fact that Miner had spotted Scot shouldn’t have surprised her. He was good. Reluctantly, she gave in and kept waving until Scot understood his cover had been blown and he made his way toward them.

“Mr. Peter Sampras, I would like you to meet Gerhard Miner,” Claudia said in English as Harvath reached the table.

“Come, come now. That hardly seems fair. Let’s use one of Mr. Sampras’s more endearing names like Hans Brauner or better yet, Agent Scot Harvath of the United States Secret Service.”

Claudia’s eyes showed her surprise, something Miner never missed in his adversaries. “Why so shocked, my dear? Our office receives the same updates to the watch list that yours does.” Turning back to Scot, he said, “Please, Agent Harvath, have a seat. I have taken the liberty of ordering a nice steak for you. You do like steak, don’t you?”

“I do indeed. Thank you.”

“So, before I begin any conversation, there is a little formality…well, more like a habit really, that I like to indulge.” Miner reached inside the right side of his blazer, but Scot was faster reaching into his.

“Not so fast, Gerry,” said Scot, ready to draw his Beretta.