ROOM OF FIRE 39

Chapter 39

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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Gustalav studied the telegram in the afternoon sunlight, trying to read more than the message contained. The names held a vague familiarity. He sat back from his desk.

A faithful workman watched him from the chair across the study. "We should move now."

Gustalav nodded, reading. "'Polish man named Wieczorek intercepted taking Amber Chamber across Polish border. Names contacts as Osnewski, Rybak, Omvedt. Questioning proves chamber housed in French Castle. Austrian and German governments to conduct search.'"

"It has to be done. If this one talked, so will the other," the workman pressed. "Which one was here?"

"Osnewski."

"I'll take care of it tonight. We can have the crypt cleared in three hours."

Gustalav came to a decision. "Yes. See it done. Your most trusted men. Then you come back here. There is another errand for you."

When the workman had left, the Duke sighed heavily. He rang for a maid to fetch his sister. His first phone call was to Dr. Sheldon in Göttingen. This change of plans would affect their current business. He left a message with the hotel clerk and dialed another phone number.

"Herr Gudhoff," he said when a man answered. "I have a business matter with you. I understand you have a copy of the Amber Chamber panels." He smiled knowingly at the dealer's loud defense for several moments. "I believe a laboratory would prove otherwise. I also know you've had other parties lose interest in this merchandise recently. . . I can relieve you of them for what they are worth. This evening."

Carlos squinted at the late edition newspaper photo. He adjusted his glasses and held the page closer to the lamp on the small hotel room table. Geil paid him no mind, content to train his binoculars on the woman in the building across the alley.

Carlos' lips moved as he read the story. Karl Rybak had been picked up by German authorities just that afternoon. He was found walking, battered, a mile from a dead man and a disabled vehicle northeast of Halberstadt.

Rybak was taken in to police headquarters for questioning about the location of the famed long-lost Amber Chamber. He identified the dead man in the road as Simon Metz, but refused to admit knowledge about the amber panels. When confronted with the names Osnewski, Omvedt, and Wieczorek, Rybak had made his own demands in exchange for information. The demands and information had not been obtained at press time.

Carlos tried to breathe slower, examining the black and white newspaper photo. It was certainly their Polish shadow. He was in rough shape, with a gouged eye, and broken ribs and collarbone. He held one hand to his bruised jaw in the photo, pushing his ripped flesh back onto the bone. Between the streams of blood, Carlos could see the amber ring on the man's hand. He could almost read the lettering on it.

There was no mention of Reuben Tolchov or Lauren by name. Rybak hadn't given details about his condition. Yet.

Carlos wasn't sure Tolchov had anything to do with the Polish mercenary's injured condition, not entirely, but someone had nearly decapitated him. The man called Metz had been similarly beaten and his spine crushed. Rybak was not presently being charged with the man's death.

Carlos wondered what condition Lauren was in.