Preston Child - Mystery of the Amber Room

In the pale morning sun that pierced through the blinds in Carrington's office, Purdue stirred his second cup of Earl Grey. The fair beauty of the German woman was electrifying, yet she did not wield her charisma or looks as he would have expected. On the contrary, she seemed to really want to get to the bottom of things.

“Tell me, Mr. Purdue, have you ever had any dealings with Danish politicians or financial institutions?” Gabi asked him.

“I have done extensive business deals in Denmark, yes. But I do not move in political circles. I am more academically inclined. Museums, research, investing in higher learning institutions, but I keep away from political agendas. Why?” he asked her.

“Why do you think that is relevant, Mrs. Holtzer?” Carrington inquired, looking positively curious.

“Well, that is quite obvious, Mr. Carrington. If Mr. Purdue has no criminal record, he must be a threat to these countries — including mine — in some other way,” she informed the British liaison confidently. “If the reason is not based on crime then it has to be due to his reputation as a businessman. We are both aware of his financial status and his reputation as a bit of a celebrity.”

“I see,” Carrington said. “In other words, the fact that he had been involved in countless expeditions and is well known as a philanthropist makes him a menace to your government?” Carrington laughed. “That is absurd, Madam.”

“Wait, are you saying that my investments in certain countries may have caused other countries to distrust my intentions?” Purdue scowled.

“No,” she replied calmly. “Not countries, Mr. Purdue. Institutions.”

“I'm lost,” Carrington shook his head.

Purdue nodded in agreement.

“Let me explain. I am in no way saying that this is the case for my country or any other. Like you, I am just speculating and what I am thinking is that you, Mr. Purdue, might be unwittingly caught in the middle of a dispute between…” she paused to find the right English word, “… certain bodies?”

“Bodies? Like organizations?” Purdue asked.

“Ja, precisely,” she said. “Maybe your financial standing with various international institutions has caused you to be antagonized by bodies opposing those you are involved in. Matters like that can easily spill over on a global level, ending in your ban from certain countries; not by the governments of those countries, but instead by someone with influence on the infrastructure of those countries.”

Purdue gave it some serious thought. The German lady had a valid point. In fact, she was more correct than she could ever know. He had previously been seized by companies who felt his inventions and patents could be of tremendous value to them but feared their opposition could make better offers. This sentiment had often before turned into industrial espionage and trade boycotts that kept him from securing business with his international affiliates.

“I have to concede, Mr. Purdue. This makes a lot of sense if you consider your presence in powerful conglomerates of the science trade,” Carrington acceded. “But as far as you know, Mrs. Holtzer, this is not an official entry ban, then? It is not on the part of Germany's government, right?”

“Correct,” she confirmed. “By no means is Mr. Purdue in any trouble with the German government… or the Danish I would guess. I believe this is done by more under wraps, um, under—,” she struggled for the right term.

“You mean covert? Secret organizations?” Purdue prodded, hoping that he was misinterpreting her flawed English.

“That is correct. Underground groups that want you to stay out of their way. Is there anything you are currently involved in that could prove a threat to the competition?” she asked Purdue.

“No,” he answered swiftly. “As a matter of fact, I have been taking some time off. I am actually on holiday right now.”

“That is a bother!” Carrington cried, shaking his head amusedly.

“Hence the frustration, Mr. Carrington,” Purdue smiled. “Well, at least I know that I'm not in any trouble with the law. I will sort it out with my own people.”

“Good. Then we have discussed all we can with the little information we have on this unusual occurrence,” Carrington concluded. “Off the record, though, Mrs. Holtzer,” he addressed the attractive German envoy.

“Yes, Mr. Carrington,” she smiled.

“On CNN the other day you officially represented the Chancellor regarding the assassinations, yet you did not disclose the reason for it,” he asked with a very interested tone. “Is there something amiss that the press is not supposed to get hold of?”

She looked extremely uncomfortable while trying her utmost to maintain her professionalism. “I'm afraid,” she looked at both men with a nervous expression, “that is highly sensitive information.”

“In other words — yes ,” Purdue probed. He approached Gabi Holtzer with care and soft spoken respect and sat down right next to her. “Madam, does it perhaps have something to do with the recent targeting of the political and social elite?”

There was that word again.

Carrington looked utterly spellbound in his anticipation of her answer. With fumbling hands he poured more tea, keeping all his attention on the German liaison.

“Everyone has their own theory, I suppose, but as an official spokesperson, I am not permitted to voice my own views, Mr. Purdue. You know this. How can you think I could discuss this with a civilian?” she sighed.

“Because I get concerned when secrets run on a governmental level, my dear,” Purdue replied.

“It is Germany’s business,” she said plainly. Gabi flashed her gaze toward Carrington. “May I smoke on your balcony?”

“Of course,” he agreed and got up to unlock the lovely glass doors that led from his office onto a beautiful balcony overlooking Wilhelmstrasse.

“I can see the whole city from here,” she remarked as she lit her long, slender cigarette. “Out here, one would be inclined to speak freely, away walls that may have ears. There is something brewing, gentlemen,” she told Carrington and Purdue as they flanked her to enjoy the view. “And it is an age-old demon that has woken up; a long forgotten rivalry… no, not a rivalry. It is more like a conflict between factions that had been presumed dead for a long time, but they have woken up and are ready to strike.”

Purdue and Carrington exchanged rapid glances before taking note of the rest of Gabi's message. Not once did she look at them, but she talked as she sucked on the thin smoke between her fingers. “Our Chancellor was taken already before the killings began.”

Both men gasped at the bomb Gabi had just dropped on them. Not only was she sharing privileged information, but she had just admitted that Germany's head of government was missing. It smelled like a coup, but it sounded like something far darker was behind the abduction.

“But that was over a month, ago, maybe more!” Carrington exclaimed.

Gabi nodded.

“And why has it not been made public?” Purdue asked. “Surely alerting all neighboring countries would be of great benefit before this kind of insidious plot moves to the rest of Europe.”

“No, it has to be kept under wraps, Mr. Purdue,” she disagreed. She turned to face the billionaire with eyes that emphasized the seriousness of her words. “Why do you think those people, those elite members of society, were murdered? It was all part of an ultimatum. The people behind all this threatened to kill influential German citizens until they got what they wanted. The only reason our Chancellor is still alive is that we are still within their ultimatum,” she informed them. “But when we approach that deadline and the Federal Intelligence Service has not delivered what they demand, our country will be…,” she laughed bitterly, “…under new management.”