David dropped their bags on the floor, knelt down, and unzipped one of the black Samsonite cases.
“What are you doing, David?”
“Getting my handy-dandy TSCM room sweeper to see if anyone is trying to listen in on our bedtime stories.”
Miriam laughed and started to unpack as David swept the room. “I think we should check out the Cobra club again. It’s getting late and I’m bushed. How about checking in with Bruno’s secretary in the morning to see if she has anything new for us about her boss or Hans?”
“That’s all right with me. Flip a coin to see who showers first, or why not join me?”
Over a late breakfast in the hotel coffee shop, they looked at some pictures Malcolm had sent by email of Hans, bald, with full beard, several other disguises, and a full stature version based on the teen-age enhanced photo RESEARCH had put together.
“Well, these certainly will help. It’s really amazing what Malcolm and his buddies have been able to come up with, using their computers.
David signaled the waiter for another cup of coffee and said, “I hope so since we haven’t been able to find him yet. Why don’t you call Liliane and see if there is a time and place we can meet with her.”
Finishing his breakfast and grabbing an uneaten piece of toast from Miriam’s plate David pushed his chair back and looked around at the few people in the chrome and neon coffee shop, and wondered why they were in this Sheraton in Munich.
Miriam put her cell phone down, smiled at David, and waved for more coffee.
“Liliane says that besides the murders of Herzog and Marvin there have been other strange things going on in the department. She didn’t want to discuss them over her office phone, but she hung up and called me right back on her cell. She said that two days before Marvin and Herzog were shot another shooting had taken place that quite clearly was an assassination. She didn’t know why the Chief was keeping the lid on that killing but she knew he was into things that seemed very strange if not down right illegal. She said that she would help us if she could, but she knew she was being watched and she would have to be very careful. She has my cell number and would call me if she found out anything more. She also said for us to be very careful because the Chief was a very ruthless and dangerous man.
Later that evening David was sitting in on the sofa in their hotel room reading an English newspaper he had found in the hotel lobby when Miriam walked out of the bathroom. David whistled.
“Gad, Miriam, you could make a fortune in that outfit! Turn around.” David stared at the tight black mini-skirt that barely covered the cheeks of her ass. “God, but I’m afraid to let you out of my sight, Miriam, in that.” He observed her open cleavage in the thin white low-scooped top with similar words.
“Why, thank you, David. Would you like to come up and see me sometime?” She grinned, obviously pleased. “Sometimes our job can be fun, can’t it, David?”
“No joke, I guess you know you’re going to have to handle a lot of guys ogling you tonight, and you may have to rough up a few who try to manhandle you. But if any gal can take care of herself, it’s you, Miriam. Hell, you can still get me in Karate half the time, and that just slays me.”
“I’ll look out, David. Don’t worry. Now don’t you go manhandling all those prostitutes either? You know what you can pick up, but I don’t have to tell you that. If I get busted, I hope Bruno’s boys will get me out, but I don’t know about him anymore. Do you think we should tell him where we’re going tonight?”
“Definitely not. Are you ready? We’ll park the car not too close and walk into the area. You have your set of keys, don’t you? Just in case. Remember we don’t know each other, but we’ve got the codes straight. How much are you going to charge me if I try to pick you up,” David said as he snuggled Miriam’s neck.
“I’m not sure I even want to go clubbing anymore.”
“Remember it’s work, David. Maybe when we get home, well, we’ll see.”
“That feels good, David, but I think you’d better concentrate of getting us to the club.”
“I’ll take a credit card and get the cash when I get home, okay? Let’s get out of here. I’m full of adrenalin and ready to rock.”
The multi-colored neon signs and flashing lights in shop windows cast a colorful flashing surrealistic nightclub atmosphere in the pre-midnight darkness along the boulevard where David lingered and Miriam sauntered. Tattoo parlors, curio shops, liquor and tobacco stores and tourist businesses were all still open and flourishing. Miniature sidewalk cafes spotted the area and were packed. The streets were full of people milling between each other as they strolled down the sidewalks in the area that everyone knew was full of whorehouses. Skimpily-clad girls of all sizes and colors walked along swaying their hips and showing their stuff. Young college-aged men talked loudly, gave the girls catcalls and made blatant comments. Their laughter and questionable sobriety created a party atmosphere along the popular Vin Avenue district. Older men gazed wishfully, and the wealthy ones made offers to the prostitutes they stopped passing by. However, the most booming business going on appeared to be drugs, both using and selling.
A few Munich police officers were evident among the crowd but left the people alone unless an actual scuffle started. They knew quelling the drugs proved impossible. Their job was merely containment. Young Nazi sympathizers strode the streets with an air of superiority and stayed in groups. Their similar black leather clothes, lots of chains, and close shaven heads made them stand out from the crowd, but nowadays, the officers noticed more and more young people were assimilating that style into their own eclectic attire, including elaborate tattoos, chains and boots. Music blasted from record and video stores where huge signs of naked women in various poses from covers of videotapes on sale were displayed prominently in their windows. Party revelers danced on the sidewalk outside the music stores. A rock version of Anything Goes played on Vin Avenue tonight.
“Hey, good-looking, you look strong enough to tie me up because you’re gonna wanna spank me when I tell you what I want. How about it?” the not too bad looking fifty-year-old guy said to Miriam. He reached out and put his hand around her upper arm. “Yes, lady, you got just the muscles I like. How much?”
She smiled back and said, “Sorry, too expensive for you. I’ve got a date in a minute. Maybe later.”
“Okay, but you’re a looker. That’s for sure. Never seen you around before.” He walked on.
She scanned the crowd looking for any man that could be Hans. One man about her age fit the general description she and David had decided on — the body size, not the face. They knew Hans could probably be in any disguise, and they could not depend on his facial looks. She wandered through the stream of people and paused near where he was standing leaning against the building until he noticed her. She smiled at him. He looked her up and down openly but did not otherwise respond and kept puffing on a cigarette like he was waiting for someone. She asked him if he knew this district well. He said, “Beat it kid. Find your own kind,” and turned and walked away from her. That made her a little suspicious, so she followed the man as he moved through the throng of revelers. He did not appear to be attempting to escape from her, however, and did not leave the area, nor did he look back to see if he was being followed, so she dropped him. She turned back in the direction she came and walked slowly along looking carefully over all the men. At least, no one would think a thing of that in this area.