“God, if you can hear me, please help me. After all, I’m doing your work.”

  “I wouldn’t go that far,” said Demi, stepping out to join DuFour on his balcony. She handed DuFour a handkerchief to wipe the drool from his chin,

  “How much did you hear?” he asked, cleaning his face.

  The redheaded woman chuckled. “All of it. Do you honestly think a woman as good-looking as me would sleep with you for no reason?”

  DuFour’s eyes widened. He stammered, “You’re with The Order, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am. It’s nice to see you’re not the complete fool they make you out to be.”

  “I’m not sure how to take that?”

  “As it was meant, as a compliment.”

  “So, what are you doing here?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?”

  DuFour felt a chill creep down his spine. “You’ve been sent to keep a close eye on me, haven’t you?”

  “I’m impressed, Rene. That’s two for two. You have to understand that we want the map just as much as you do, and so far, in my boss’ eyes, you haven’t done a good job getting your hands on it.”

  “Demi, if you heard the conversation, you’ll know how much more is going on than was originally anticipated.”

  Demi shrugged. “True, but The Order doesn’t care, and if they don’t care, I really don’t give a damn about your problems. You said you could do this job, and that’s all that matters.”

  DuFour licked his dry lips. “I know. Vallin won’t let me down. I promise.”

  Demi lightly patted DuFour on the cheek. “Your childlike promises don’t mean a thing to me. You know, you weren’t half bad in bed, so do you know what I’m going to do?”

  “No, what?” moaned DuFour.

  “First, I’m going to assign one of my better people to make sure your man doesn’t mess things up in the future, and then I think I’ll give you one more chance.”

  DuFour stood, speechless, as Demi slipped back inside. He was wrong. His world wasn’t a dream; it was a nightmare.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Neuchatel, Switzerland

  “You’re full of crap!” bellowed a stocky police sergeant with a thick black beard and a sagging roll around his waist. “You both know more than you’re telling me.”

  Connor sat back in his uncomfortable metal chair in the police interrogation room and exchanged a tired look with Kim. He shook his head, picked up a cold Styrofoam cup of coffee, and emptied it in one gulp. Connor tossed the empty cup into a wastepaper basket as if he were an NBA pro and rubbed his red eyes.

  The sergeant jumped out of his chair and loomed over Connor. “Hey, you! Didn’t you hear a word that I said?”

  Connor checked the time and then looked up at the sergeant. “I did. I heard every word. Look, we’ve been here for hours, and I don’t know how many times Kim and I can tell you the exact same story.”

  “Let’s try again from the top, shall we?”

  “No,” said Connor defiantly. “I’m tired of your games, Sergeant. Two of your officers would be dead if we hadn’t stopped to help them. Have you ever thought of that?”

  The sergeant stepped back, pulled his chair, and sat. His demeanor calmed slightly. “Yes, and I can’t thank you enough for helping Bruno and Isabel, but you’ve got to see things from my point of view. Just what the hell were the two of you doing on that road chasing after a van packed with stolen artifacts? And please don’t tell me that you didn’t know about the artifacts, as the auction house owner has positively identified the two of you, and he says that you were asking a lot of questions about Madame Meyer’s estate earlier in the day.”

  “That’s all true,” replied Kim. “We’re not hiding anything. Our employer, Jason Hamilton, is quite keen to get his hands on antique maps from all over the world and sent us to act on his behalf at an estate sale. Unfortunately, when we arrived in Bern, we discovered that Madame Meyer’s estate had been impounded. You can check with him if you want.”

  “I already did, and he corroborates your story. Yet that doesn’t explain why you were chasing a van packed with stolen goods.”

  Connor let out an anguished cry. “For the love of God, we’ve already told you five times before.”

  “Well, tell me again.”

  “We couldn’t sleep, so we went for a drive around the city and saw a van racing away from the auction house and knew something was wrong,” explained Connor. “I guess we just got caught up in the moment and took off after the thieves, hoping to stop them.”

  “With what?”

  “As I said, we weren’t thinking straight.”

  “Sergeant, we did the best we could and even called 1-1-2 to report the crime,” said Kim.

  “I know, I’ve listened to the recording. So why did you hang up and not identify yourselves?”

  Kim let out a tired sigh. “I must have dropped the phone by accident.”

  The sergeant snorted. “Not bloody likely.”

  Kim’s stomach growled loudly. She raised a hand. “Sergeant, the gurgling in my stomach’s telling me that besides coffee and a dry pastry, I haven’t had a decent meal in over twelve hours. Also, my clothes still have blood on them from the accident. I desperately want to get out of them and then have a nice long, hot shower.”

  “So, what’s your point?” said the sergeant bluntly, returning to form.

  “My point is, how long can we be held in Switzerland before you have to charge us with a crime or let us go? Because you’re starting to try my patience.”

  The sergeant sighed and ran a hand through his unruly black hair. “Madame—”

  “It’s Ms. Wright,” corrected Kim.

  The sergeant took a deep breath and continued, “Ms. Wright, according to Section 219 of the Swiss Criminal Procedure Code, you can only be detained for twenty-four hours. That is unless the prosecutor’s office wishes you held for an additional twenty-four hours while they build their case.”

  “And would you happen to know if the prosecutor requires an additional day?”

  “No, she does not,” said a woman over the intercom. The interrogation room door opened, and a tall woman in her mid-forties, wearing a dark gray suit, walked in, holding a brown leather briefcase in her right hand.

  The sergeant respectfully got to his feet. “Frau Wild, I wasn’t expecting you for another hour.”

  “I didn’t need it,” responded Wild. “I take it that you have their signed witness statements?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Then your job is done, Sergeant. Please release our guests with the thanks of Bern’s mayor for their heroic, lifesaving measures.”

  The sergeant paused. “But, Frau Wild, I’m not sure they’re as innocent as they appear.”

  “The chief of police and the mayor are, so let them go.”

  Connor stood and shook Frau Wild’s hand. “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure,” she replied, looking Connor over.

  “Yeah, thanks,” said Kim, an eyebrow raised.

  “This way, please,” said the sergeant gruffly, “I’ll see you out.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” said Wild, dismissing the police officer. “I’ll see them out.”

  The sergeant shook his head and left the room, mumbling to himself.

  “Follow me,” said Wild, guiding Kim and Connor to the police station’s front doors. Along the way, a couple of the on-duty officers stood and shook their hands, thanking them for stopping to help their friends.

  At the exit, Wild gave a small, sad smile. “You’ll have to forgive Sergeant Bulow’s behavior; he was close to three of the officers killed during the chase last night.”

  “It’s all right,” replied Kim. “I’m sure I would have felt the same way had I been in his shoes. I’m just glad to be free.”

  Wild looked at Kim and Connor. Her voice turned sober. “Just to let you know, I agree with Sergeant Bulow; there’s something you’re not telling us. But you’re considered heroes in the eyes of many people, and it would be foolish to detain you longer than necessary. So, all I ask is that you remain in the city until tomorrow morning, just in case the mayor or chief of police wishes to speak with you. After that, you’re free to go anywhere you would like.”

  “We can do that,” said Connor.

  “Have a good day, Mister and Ms. Wright,” said Wild, with not a small amount of sarcasm, before walking to her car and driving away.

  “That was close,” said Kim. “You know, at some point, someone is going to see through our aliases and nail us.”

  “Who says Wild hasn’t already pegged us?” replied Connor. “She could be acting on orders.”

  “But whose? The mayor’s or someone else’s?”

  “That, Kim, is the question of the day.”

  “Whatever the answer is, it can go on hold for now. I want—in this order—a shower, a change of clothes, and a heaping plate of wiener schnitzel.”

  Connor sipped his Coke and marveled at his friend’s never-ending appetite. He’d watched Kim eat escargot and a green salad before moving on to her schnitzel and now a slice of apple strudel with ice cream for dessert.

  “Where the heck do you put all that food?” Connor asked.

  “When I’m stressed, I eat,” Kim replied.

  “It’s a good thing you’re in phenomenal shape, or you’d be packing on the pounds.”

  Kim placed her fork down. “And what’s the problem with that? Don’t you like dating women with a little meat on their bones?”

  Connor shook his head. In his mind, he envisioned he was stepping into a minefield. “I never said that. I was just making an observation. That’s all.”

  Kim leaned forward and smiled. “I’m just teasing you. You need to learn to lighten up.”

  Connor glanced at Kim’s half-empty wine glass, trying to remember how many drinks she’d had with her supper. He didn’t want to be that friend who lectured others about their drinking, but it was clear that Kim had consumed a little too much red wine tonight. Then, as if to reinforce Connor’s thoughts, Kim finished her glass of wine and looked sad when she picked up the empty bottle.

  Connor was reaching for his Coke when a young woman dressed in black walked past their table. She deftly placed a cell phone next to Connor and kept walking. He instantly dropped his napkin over the phone, slid the phone closer to him, and looked straight ahead as if nothing had happened. The woman never looked back and walked out of the hotel restaurant into the night. Connor raised his hand and asked their server for two to-go coffees and the bill. Supper was over.

  As casually as possible, they paid the bill, made their way back to Kim’s room, and locked the door behind them.

  “Did you recognize the woman who dropped off the phone?” asked Connor.

  Kim furrowed her brow. “Yes, I think. Wasn’t she the one working the computers in Katarina’s lair?”

  “Yes, she was.”

  Kim sipped her black coffee. “If I remember right, her name is Heike.”

  Connor smiled. Kim might have had a little too much wine tonight, but her memory was as sharp as ever. “Correct.”

  “I doubt Heike wants to speak with us. It must be Katarina.”

  Connor held out the phone and started to scrutinize the device.

  Kim placed her hand over her mouth to suppress a tired yawn. “What are you looking for?”

  Connor intently studied the phone, looking for anything that might appear to be out of place. “Phones have been used as bombs before. Press the wrong button, and the phone goes off, taking most of your head with it.”

  Kim’s eyes shot wide open. “Katarina wouldn’t kill us…would she?”

  “Who knows, but people like her will do anything to preserve their anonymity.”

  “What a way to die. Death by telephone.”

  Connor stopped his inspection and offered Kim the phone. “It looks clean to me.”

  She shook her head. “Maybe you should make the call. I think she has a thing for you.”

  “Talk about selective memory. I’m fairly certain that it was you, not me, who caught Katarina’s eye, but if you’d prefer me to make the call, I will.”

  Kim took a step back and gave Connor a thumbs up. “Yeah, let’s do that.”

  Connor switched the phone on and scrolled through the contact list; as he suspected, there was a single number listed. “Here goes nothing,” he said, pressing the number.

  A phone began to ring.

  Connor placed the phone on speaker mode and put it on a nearby table.

  “Guten abend,” said Katarina.

  “Good evening to you, Katarina,” said Kim. “I hope you are well.”

  “I am, and you?”

  “We are. How are things going?”

  “Not great. I’d complain, but who would listen?”

  “I hear what you’re saying,” Kim replied with a shrug.

  “Before we begin, may I give you two a helpful word of advice?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “It would help if you two were more covert in the future. Your exploits from last night are all over the news and the web. Especially the Dark Web, it’s the last place you want your faces to be shown.”

  “Is that why you called?” asked Connor. “To warn us to lay low?”

  “Yes, and a whole lot more.”

  Kim and Connor glanced at each other.

  “We’re listening,” said Kim apprehensively.

  “Honestly, I’m amazed you survived last night’s gunbattle. I was sure I’d be reading your obituaries today, but somehow you managed to survive, and that’s quite the accomplishment when you consider who you were up against.”

  Connor’s eyes narrowed. “And who’s that?”

  “Have you ever heard of Office 39?”

  Connor shook his head. “No, I don’t think so.”

  “Me neither,” added Kim. “Is it some kind of government office?”

  Katarina snickered. “It is, but it’s a secret North Korean organization that uses the black market to enrich the leader of North Korea and his family. It is estimated that their clandestine activities brought in over one billion dollars in hard currency last year alone. I personally think it’s closer to two billion, but who’s counting?”

  “Are you telling us that the men who stole from Madame Meyer’s estate were North Korean agents?” said Kim.

  “Yes. It would appear that Office 39 has branched out from selling illegal drugs into the world of black-market antiquities to raise money for their Dear Leader’s expensive habits. Madame Meyer’s wasn’t the only estate they hit. According to Interpol, it looks like they’ve hit over a dozen auction houses and private estates over the last month alone.”

  Connor sat down near the phone. He had a million questions to ask, but he knew their time with Katarina was limited, so he got straight to the point. “If you know who stole Madame Meyer’s artifacts, you must know where they are.”

  “I may,” teased Katarina.

  Connor leaned closer. “Then where are they?”

  “It would be no fun telling you everything, Captain. I’m here to level the playing field, not to give you everything you want. What fun would that be?”

  Connor frowned. He opened his mouth to speak when Kim picked up the phone and stepped back from the table.

  “Could you at least give us a clue?” asked Kim. “After all, what harm would that cause?”

  “Okay, and it’s only because you’re asking. If I were you, I’d fly to Thailand and then make your way to Ta Phraya, where General Kirdpan will be hosting a, shall we say, less-than-legal get-together at one of his secret air bases near the border with Cambodia.”

  “And when will this meeting take place?” asked Connor.

  “My sources say it will be held five days from today.”

  Kim narrowed her eyes. “Katarina, what exactly does this have to do with the North Koreans?”

  “Let’s just say General Kirdpan isn’t among the most honest generals in the Thai Armed Forces. Good night and good luck.” The line went dead.

  Kim tossed the phone onto her bed and sat next to Connor. “Please tell me that made some sense to you?”

  “Some of it was clear, the rest not so much,” he replied. “From what she said, aside from DuFour, the North Koreans are now in the game. And from what I know about Thailand’s Armed Forces, it wouldn’t surprise me if this general was somehow mixed up with North Korean agents.”

  “Didn’t Yuri also warn us that our names were all over the Dark Web?”

  Connor instantly knew what Kim was thinking. “Yes, he did.”

  “We’re going to need new identities and fast. Do you still have his number?”

  “I do, but before I call him, are you sure this is what you want to do? I feel like we’ve been groping around in the dark so far. We’re not government agents with the resources of a nation to back them up. It’s just you and me out there. And Katarina was right; we’re lucky to be alive after last night.”

  Kim smiled. “I’m not a fool, Connor. I know that compared to some of the people we may encounter, we’re a pair of amateurs. But we’ve done okay so far, and Grenier’s treasure is still waiting out there to be found. I know you’re just being protective, but I’m not going home without knowing the truth.”

  Connor got to his feet. He was quick to learn that a decision made by his colleague rarely ever changed. “Well, I think that ends this discussion. So, from here on out, we’re not doing things on the fly. Nor are we going to keep Jason and Mister Knox in the loop. They can sweat it out while they pay the bills. It’s time we got ahead of the game.” He picked up his phone and dialed Yuri’s number from memory.

  “Mister North, what can I do for you?” said Yuri, sounding as if he had been woken from a deep sleep.

  “Yuri, my man, how would you like an all-expenses paid trip to Bangkok, Thailand?”