ROOM OF FIRE 31

Chapter 31

The Amber Room, 1715

If you’re just joining this story, you may want to start from the beginning.

This story follows the first in Jenn’s Rediscovered series, Last Assault on Oak Island.

Onward with the search for the Amber Room. . .

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Reuben parked farther down Jungfernstieg that afternoon. He watched Elden Grant usher Carlos and Lauren into the hotel. To his relief, Grant left alone within ten minutes, his cab turning down the opposite end of the street.

He sat back. It hadn't been difficult manipulating Marlon Vistoli. Posing as a prospective German plate collector, the porcelain house owner had obliged him with more information than was necessary. Had Grant not met Dr. Sheldon and Fraulein Gates at the train station, Reuben would have considered the trip a precious waste of time and a venture into a country less than welcome to him. That Carlos and Lauren had reunited with Grant didn't mean much to him, in business matters, except that he had again located them.

This was important, for he had concluded that Rybak was trailing them to relieve them of Lewkowicz's amber. Which he had obviously failed to do, Reuben decided, given the congratulatory exchanges he had witnessed at the café.

He had expected to vent the loss of the acquisition on Lewkowicz, demanding to know why he wasn't informed of another competitor. This failed, too. Lewkowicz was mysteriously absent, he learned upon delivering his bid after Rybak followed the Audi out of Tarnow.

Reuben had moved as swiftly as possible, utilizing the Krakow lab for the tests and finalizing his bid within twenty-four hours. Carlos Sheldon had cut that time down to a mere few hours. Reuben couldn't fathom how, unless the curator had recognized and accepted the signature on the Narodni University documentation as indisputable. He also wondered if Rybak had attempted to place a bid with Lewkowicz or simply decided to lift the amber once in Sheldon's possession.

Reuben hadn't actually heard Grant congratulate the Americans, but he recognized the subtle celebration beneath the umbrella-shadowed café table.

It was getting harder to deny the conveniences of the small, dark concept creeping into his conscious lately. The plan was simple, workable, and unlikely to fail. There was just a bit of moral baggage attached.

He took a deep breath, shaking his head. He had never considered anything like this before. It was too much like a stunt Rybak would undertake. However, he knew how Rybak's version would result. His game would be different. Reuben could keep his word. No one would get hurt.

And it would solve so many problems threatening to slit his throat.

A movement on the fifth floor of the hotel made him look up.

Lauren walked onto one of the railed terraces. Even from the distance the vivid plum and green frock accented her slender form. Her attention finally turned in the direction of the Gänsemarkt. She strained to look out over the rail, and Reuben wondered if she was searching for Grant.

No, he thought. She didn't wave. Eventually she went back into the room and the blinds to a window in the next room opened wide a moment later.

Reuben pushed the unsavory concept farther into the trenches of his mind. Suddenly his car passenger door opened and a man took the seat beside him. Reuben's hand went to the gun under his leather vest.

The man held a Beretta to his face. "No, comrade. This is a friendly visit," he said. "For now."

Reuben's hand dropped from his shirt.

"Good." The gun barrel moved to Reuben's kneecap, pressing firmly. "You haven't delivered a certain property for which you have been paid."

"A deposit only," Reuben clarified.

A quick smile stretched the man's mustache. Dark glasses hid his eyes. "It is expected to be in Berlin."

Reuben nodded slowly. "I asked for three days."

"I know. As I said, this is a friendly visit."