She paused, giving thought to the response. She knew that to them it would sound crazy. “His reaction when we said your father’s name. Immelman knew it immediately.”
Koenig didn’t buy it. “I didn’t notice anything unusual. He acted as if it was a customer he didn’t know.”
“Wrong. He knew. It was a subtle reaction, but it was there nonetheless. As soon as he heard that name, he flinched. I’m not surprised you two didn’t see it. I barely caught it. But one thing I am certain of: Immelman knew who your father was. And I’m willing to bet everything that he took the Rubens.”
“A flinch?” Hummels was indignant. “A flinch? Maybe he had to sneeze. You’re saying that this man, a high-ranking Swiss bank official, stole something from one of his customers. And you’re basing all that on one flinch?”
“He also acted strangely. I’m attuned to such things. Clearly, you two aren’t.” She didn’t mean it as an insult, but it came off that way. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I’m staying here in Zurich, and I’m going to find that painting. I’m running out of time, and my gut tells me it’s here.”
“Your gut?” Koenig joined in the onslaught of doubt. “You need proof before you go off and start accusing someone like Immelman of stealing from his own bank.”
“I don’t need proof. I need the painting. Think about it. He had access to something that the rest of the world already believed was lost or destroyed. It’s the perfect crime.”
Hummels glanced at Koenig, checking to see if he was buying what she was selling.
“Adriana, I appreciate all you’ve done, but I can’t press this issue any further. If you want to stay here in Zurich, you are free to do so; however, I need to return to Innsbruck.”
“Fine,” she said. And she meant it. One less person holding her back. She looked at Koenig to see what he had to say.
“I’m truly sorry. I also need to return home. It is a long drive from Innsbruck to Berlin. I cannot ask my assistant to teach for me all week. I need to go home.”
She nodded. “I understand.”
“I wish you luck, Adriana,” Hummels said. He put out his hand.
She took it and squeezed hard enough to make an impression but not so much that she seemed angry. He smiled and let go. Koenig offered the same goodbye and shook her hand.
“Thank you for all your help,” she said to them. “When this is all over, I’ll let you know what happened.”
They smiled and nodded. She turned and started down the sidewalk toward a hotel she’d noticed up the street. It was the closest one around. Accommodations didn’t matter right now. What mattered was that she stay close to Immelman.
“Adriana!” Hummels’s voice stopped her immediately, and she turned around to see what he wanted.
He was jogging toward her with her rucksack in his hand. “You left this in the car.” Hummels handed it over to her.
She smiled and grabbed one of the straps. “Thanks.”
“I figured whatever you have planned, you’ll probably need it, or whatever you have inside it.” He put his hands up. “I don’t want to know.”
The smile moved over to one side of her face into a wicked smirk. “You really don’t.”
17
Allyson watched from a side street three hundred feet away as her targets left the vehicle and entered the Tohn and Volmer Bank of Zurich. To say that the last thirty hours had been difficult would be an understatement. All the driving, the train ride, and the waiting was beginning to take its toll. She’d used hand towels in the train’s lavatory to give herself a quick bath. It wasn’t the first time Allyson had to take such measures. Growing up on the streets of London meant life’s little luxuries, such as daily showers and comfortable beds, were things rarely experienced. Now that she’d seen how the other half lived, however, going back to the old days was much more difficult.
At least I got a little cleaner, she thought. Allyson hated the feeling of being dirty, her skin grimy. It was impossible to feel comfortable in that state.
She kept an eye on the bank for an hour after the three targets went inside, uncertain of what they were doing. Did they show up to make a withdrawal? Seemed like an awful long way to go for something that simple. Perhaps there was another clue to the painting’s location in a lockbox somewhere inside. That would explain the man Adriana picked up in Innsbruck. If he had a key or an account number, it would be necessary for him to accompany her to the bank in order to gain access.
Wild scenarios raced through her mind as she watched the entrance. The young man who’d driven them from the train station kept his eyes peeled. She’d been lucky to get a cab in time to catch up to their hired car. The taxi driver was a young man, probably from one of the nearby villages. He’d done exactly as she ordered, following the other car but not getting too close to be noticed. If she didn’t know any better, Allyson would have sworn he’d done that sort of thing before.
She perked up as the front doors to the bank opened. It was the same reaction Allyson had each time the doors had opened for the last hour. And every time it had been another patron leaving after taking care of their business. This time, though, it was her three targets. She leaned forward, staying low behind a newspaper dispenser, certain some idiot was going to come along and ask what she was doing. In America or London, something like that would be a near certainty. Apparently, not so in Zurich. Passersby said nothing as she stared at the three companions.
Adriana shook hands with one, the new guy from Innsbruck and then the other. A moment later, the two men walked in the other direction and returned to their car, parked at the side of the bank.
What is going on? And what did they get out of the bank? Allyson’s heart beat faster now as she attempted to figure out the scenario.
The taller man from Innsbruck left his car, carrying something, a bag. He jogged over to Adriana and handed to her.
“What’s in the bag?” Allyson whispered.
She watched the man return to his car while Adriana took off in the other direction at a brisk walk. Allyson had to move, but which target to follow? If they’d caught wind of her presence, splitting up would be a smart move. Or was it a ruse to throw her off, make it look like the two men were leaving Adriana here in Zurich? Impossible. They haven’t seen me. She made the decision in the next instant and stepped out from behind her hiding spot, turned left at the corner, and followed Adriana from across the street.
Whatever it was she needed from the two men, Adriana must have milked that cow dry. That, or whatever she was going to do next didn’t require their assistance. Either way, Allyson’s target was on her own now. The only question: Where was she headed next?
Allyson kept her distance as Adriana hurried along the sidewalk. They’d gone two blocks when the American’s quarry cut across the street. The move stopped Allyson in her tracks, and she sidestepped to the left behind a street vendor selling sausages. She peeked around the cart and saw Adriana enter a building a few hundred feet away. Stepping away from the cart and closer to the street, Allyson leaned out and saw that the building was a hotel.
Finding a place to hole up for the night?
She picked up her pace and jogged down the sidewalk until she came close to the hotel then slowed again so as not to raise any suspicions. Passing by the front doors, she twisted her head to steal a quick glance inside. Adriana was standing at the counter. She appeared to be getting a room.
Allyson acted quickly. She couldn’t afford to miss this chance. If Adriana got on one of the elevators, she’d be lost, easily disappearing into one of the hundreds of hotel rooms. Finding her would prove nearly impossible.