CHAPTER 37
A gust of wind and rain followed Jake and Herb into a small foyer between two sets of doors at the entrance to Bundenbach Electronics. Jake shook the rain from his leather coat as he looked into the bright lobby that awaited. He pressed his arm against the butt of his gun.
Herb looked nervously to the street. "Did you see the car across the street as we walked up?"
Jake strained, but couldn't see the car from the entrance way. "Yeah. Looked like it might be the Hungarian twins."
"That's what I was thinking."
"The place looks like a morgue in here," Jake said, pointing toward the lobby. "Let's go."
They walked past an information desk, as if they knew where they were going, and waited for an elevator.
Rising to the top floor, they stood together in silence. They got out and looked down both hallways. To their left was a passageway with only one door at the far end on the left with an exit sign at the top. Large plants sat at the end of the hall beneath a window. Not much natural light supplemented the florescent overhead lights today, Jake thought.
The passageway to the right had a number of doors on both sides of the hall. Workers came and went from one door to the next.
Just in front of the elevators was a small waiting area with a large overhead skylight and well-kept plants. A convex window extended outward with a view of the Rhine below.
A blonde receptionist sat talking unofficial business with a soft voice. She didn't seem to notice Jake and Herb.
Jake took a better look at her. He smiled. She was the one who had lulled him when he first got to Germany. The lookout for Gunter and his friends with the Uzis.
"Wie bitte," Jake said, forcing a smile. "Ist Herr Bundenbach frei?"
The woman looked up at Jake and seemed surprised. She must not have been told that he had survived. Gunter was always one to emphasize success and ignore failure, Jake thought.
The woman hung up the phone with a quick good-bye. "A moment," she said, keeping her eyes on Jake as she buzzed her boss.
Jake glanced at Herb. He was watching the elevator and the hall.
"He'll see you Mr. Adams," she finally said.
"Explain to your boss that Herr Kline is with the German Customs office, and has a few questions to ask as well."
She didn't relay the message. Instead she got up and escorted the two of them to a large set of carved wooden doors. She inserted an electronically coded key and the doors swung open.
"I hope it's not that hard to get out," Herb whispered to Jake as they entered the office.
Jake scanned the room. Obviously the boss sitting behind the desk. Gunter sat to the man's right in a red leather chair with studs. His fat goon with the rearranged face stood behind him against the wall next to the window. To the left of the boss, another man, even larger than Gunter's beaten sidekick, stood with his arms crossed. No Carlson though.
The boss sat back in his high chair. His dark gray suit looked nearly perfect. His dark hair with silver along the temples was meticulously combed. Not a hair out of place.
"So, Jake Adams. Gunter has told me so much about you, I feel I know you already," the boss said with a politician smile. Smug confidence.
"You have me at a disadvantage then," Jake said. "I can only assume that you are Herr Bundenbach."
The man nodded his head. "Yes. What can I do for you?"
Jake started to feel the urge to explode. It was one thing for a secretary to ignore Herb, but this son of a bitch should have a little more respect.
"First of all, this is Herr Kline with the German Customs office," Jake said, as he put his hand on Herb's shoulder. "I'm looking for a man named Steve Carlson. I understand he's here, and he works for you?"
"What do you want with this man?"
Jake started to pull something from an inside coat pocket and the large men quickly pulled toward their guns. The boss raised his hands to keep them from drawing the guns to view. Jake flashed a black leather case open to expose a gold oval badge.
"I'm a special agent with the United States International Trade Commission. I have reason to believe that Steve Carlson has been providing your company with congressionally restricted computer technology." Jake put his badge back in his pocket, but refused to look at Gunter.
Gunter stood up quickly. "Bullshit, Jake! You're just an overpaid corporate investigator."
"According to who?" Jake asked, staring at Gunter.
Gunter looked at his boss.
"Adams, you have no jurisdiction in Germany," Bundenbach said, his hands together almost as if he were praying.
"Ah, but you're wrong. You see, the U.S. Trade Commission has a reciprocity agreement with the NATO Council. The NATO Council and German Customs also have agreements. But I think you know this. So why don't we quit with the bullshit and produce Carlson?"
The boss shifted his eyes toward Gunter's man and lifted his head slightly. The fat beaten man went to a private door and let Steve Carlson in. Carlson immediately gave Jake a harsh stare as he walked in with his briefcase dangling from his left arm.
"What's the matter? Wasn't Milt paying you enough?" Jake asked callously.
"Fuck you!" Carlson said. "You wouldn't understand."
"You're right. I wouldn't."
Jake felt Herb's hand on his right arm. Jake knew he needed to maintain control. But he was tired. He was mad. And the pain from his bullet wound increased with his blood pressure and was now throbbing uncontrollably.
Downstairs, four men entered the lobby. Vitally Urbanic was in the lead, followed closely by the Hungarian Twins. A few steps back was the American, Jason Dalton. They stepped into the elevator and the door closed them in.
They were at a stand-still and Jake knew it. He kept his eyes piercing through Carlson. It was his move.
"What's this Trade Commission shit, Jake?" Carlson asked.
"That's right. And I'm here to bring you and the last bit of Teredata information back to America."
Carlson laughed aloud. Gunter and the two large men joined in as well.
Suddenly, Jake drew his gun and aimed it directly at Carlson's head. Herb pulled his out now and trained it on Gunter.
"Go ahead…laugh," Jake said. He stepped up to Carlson and grabbed ahold of his collar, pulling him toward the door.
The largest of Gunter's men went for his gun, so Herb swung around and shot him, sending him to the carpet in a heap. Backing toward the door, Jake, Herb, and the struggling Carlson headed out into the reception area.
The elevator dinged, followed by the doors opening. When Jake saw the Hungarians with Dalton, there was a period of misunderstanding in everyone's eyes. The Hungarians went for their guns, but Herb was faster. He fired a round into the elevator, sending the four men scrambling to the corners.
Jake pulled Carlson down the corridor to the stairwell, the briefcase clanking against the wall.
Herb followed closely behind, his gun aimed back at the elevator.
Shots sprayed down after them. One hit Herb in the shoulder, sending him sprawling to the floor. Jake let go of Carlson for a second as he pulled Herb into the stairwell. Carlson made a break down the stairs.
Herb looked up at Jake. "I'm all right. Go! Get Carlson."
Reluctantly, Jake turned and rushed down the stairs after Carlson. Herb leaned against the door frame, his gun aimed down the hallway.
Back in Bundenbach's office, Gunter and his man were at the edge of the door.
"Get Carlson back!" Bundenbach yelled at Gunter.
Gunter shoved the door open. His man sprayed the Hungarians with his Uzi, dropping one of the twins and Dalton. Vitaly and the other twin returned fire and scooted back into the elevator, punching the down button. Gunter peppered the door, and then turned to find his man dead at his side.