The Incidental Spy

Chapters 15-16

Chapter Fifteen

The telephone call came after Lanier left but before the police detective arrived. Lena had just finished cleaning up the broken glass, and the ring startled her. She raced to the phone, then hesitated. Why now? Who knew she would be alone at this precise moment?

"I assume the detective has left." It was a gruff male voice, but it was muffled as if he was speaking through a towel or blanket.

"Who is this?"

"Someone you want to talk to. Is the baby sitter gone?"

Mrs. M, still hysterical, had gone up to her apartment to try and calm down.

Someone had been watching her apartment. Lena started to tremble. "I—I'm alone." She stammered.

"Good. We have Max. He's fine. And we want to bring him back."

"Thank god. Please bring him right away."

"We will. But we want something in return."

Her stomach twisted. She bit her lip. "I have no money."

There was a laugh on the other end of the line. A laugh! "We know. In fact, we will help you change that."

"What—what are you saying?"

"We want to reimburse you for your pain and suffering. God knows you've had your share."

"How do you know that? Who are you? I want my son!"

"You will get him. But you must agree to our proposition."

"What proposition?"

"A man will be coming to your home in a few minutes. He will be wearing a policeman's uniform. But he is not an officer. You will let him in. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but—"
"Once you have agreed to the proposition, Max will be returned."

"Tonight? You'll bring him back tonight?"

"Yes. We have not harmed him. And we don't want to."

"What if I cannot accept the proposition? What if I refuse?"

"That would not be a good idea, Lena. For you or Max."

***

The man to whom Lena opened the door was unremarkable in every way. Average height, average weight, average thinning brown hair. Horn-rimmed glasses. His only distinguishing feature was a pair of oversized ears. Dressed in a cop's uniform, he had a badge pinned to his chest. If she'd been asked to describe him later, she wouldn't have been able to provide much.

He deposited himself on the sofa where she'd been sitting just a few minutes earlier. She picked up the baby blanket she'd been holding to remind her of Max's smell, and sat in the chair.

"Is Max all right? What have you done with him?"

He cleared his throat. "He is fine. But I only have a few minutes, Frau Stern, so here's what we want." He paused. "Information." He spoke with an unmistakable accent. It was German. From the South. Probably Bavaria. Reinhard, Ursula's husband, had a similar accent, and he was from Regensburg.

She folded her arms. "What information?" She said in German.

His eyes narrowed for a quick moment, and she saw in his expression that under the right circumstances he was probably capable of enormous cruelty. Despite the heat in the apartment, she shivered again. He must have realized his effect on her, because he unexpectedly bared his teeth in what she supposed was a smile.