|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
T-shirt before opening a Dos Equis and heading down to collect his mail. The pale
ivory envelope stood aloof from the bills and junk mail that had piled up in
Drummond's mailbox over the last few days. Unlike the computer-generated labels
that nowadays were stuck on all of the mail, this letter had been addressed by hand,
in an elegant, cursive script that neatly floated between a pale green Austrian stamp
and the golden coronet that occupied the upper-left corner of the envelope.
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
Back in his condo, Drummond slit open the envelope with a steak knife,
careful not to damage the stamp. The letter paper inside was as elegant as the
envelope. The pale ivory paper was embossed with the sender's crest and edged
with gold. The aristocratic penmanship was as interesting as the message itself.
My dear Mr. Drummond,
I have been informed by a colleague in Switzerland of your interest in a
certain august society, and am writing to you in that regard. If you would care to
meet with me in Vienna to discuss this matter, I would be only too happy to assist
you in obtaining the interview that you seek.
Sincerely,
Baron Anton von Liebenfalz,
Chevalier de Saint Germain
Also inside the envelope was a small, neatly engraved business card with an
address and phone number in Vienna for a place called Ritterbuchs.
The next morning, Drummond was tied up in staff meetings, so it was nearly
lunch time before he made it back to his office. The first thing he noticed as he sat
down at his desk was the pale yellow Post-it note stuck to the center of his
computer screen.
Euro Plasma Services Ltd. 112379 Queen Adelaide Street Vancouver, British
Columbia
Drummond picked up the phone on his desk. "Alicia, would you get me the
German Consulate on the phone? I need to speak to the trade secretary. Thanks."
Replacing the phone, he opened his briefcase and took out the slim file that
contained his notes on the vampire killings. Opening it up, he stared at the photo on
top, the German Army tattoo just visible under the victim's left arm.
The phone buzzed softly, and Drummond picked it up. "Yes? Okay, thanks.
Put him on. Mr. Spangenberger? I'm Captain John Drummond, with the Los
Angeles Police Department, and I was hoping that you might be able to help us
with one of our investigations."
"Certainly, Captain. What can I do for you?"
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
Drummond looked at the note stuck to his computer screen. "We're trying to
locate a German firm that is in the blood or blood-products industry."
"Do you know the name of this firm?" Spangenberger's voice was soft, with
only a hint of accent.
"We think it's called 'Euro Plasma Services,' although that may be a
translation of its German name." Drummond glanced at the address he had copied
from the Yellow Pages. "They had an office here in L.A. about twenty years ago."
"Very well, Captain Drummond. Leave it with me, and if they are still in
business in Germany, I'll send you what information I have."
Drummond thanked the German diplomat and hung up the phone. He
thought for a minute, staring at the Post-it note on his computer screen, then pulled
it off and stuck it to the inside of the file folder. He picked up the receiver again as
he ran his finger down a list of personal phone numbers, then punched up an
outside line and dialed.
"Good morning, Cochrane, Smith and Hamilton," came the cheery voice on
the other end.
"'Morning, Yoko, this is John Drummond. Is the boss in?"
"She sure is, Captain Drummond. I'll put you right through."
Drummond was on hold for less than ten seconds before a brisk but cordial
voice said, "John, hello. Have you been watching the market this morning?"
"Nope, haven't had time," he said, looking again at the Post-it note. "That's
what you get paid for. Listen, Nance, I need a favor. There's a company I'd like you
to check on for me. It may be out of business, and I don't know if it's ever been on
the board, but it's called Euro Plasma Services. They do blood and blood-products."
"Euro Plasma Services, eh?" the woman replied. "Are you thinking of getting
into pharmaceutical? Your portfolio is already pretty diversified."
Drummond smiled. "No, this is something else. If I stop by after lunch, do
you think you might have something on it?"
"I'll do my best."
"Thanks, Nance."
a
a
T
T
n
n
s
s
F
F
f
f
o
o
D
D
r
r
P
P
m
m
Y
Y
e
e
Y
Y
r
r
B
B
2
2
.
.
B
B
A
A
Click here to buy
Click here to buy
w
w
m
m
w
w
o
o
w
w
c
c
.
.
.
.
A
A
Y
Y
B
B
Y
Y
B
B
r r
When he had hung up, Drummond tossed the file folder into his desk,
stretched, and headed out to lunch.
The "Nightwatch" was halfway up the hill to the courthouse, and as usual
was packed with cops. Drummond grabbed the door handle, an old police billy
club, and pulled the door open. Inside it was cool, and Drummond found a seat at
the counter next to a young Chinese officer. After a few minutes Paula, one of the
waitresses, came over to take his order.
"What'll it be today, Captain?" Paula asked.
"Same as always. Reuben and an iced tea, please."
"You want potato salad with that?" Paula shook her head from side to side as
she asked the question.
"No, thanks," replied Drummond. "Think I'll give it a miss."
"Probably a wise decision," Paula said, before sliding off to take care of the
other customers at the counter.
While he waited for his food, Drummond reread the letter he had received
from von Liebenfalz the day before. Like Father Freise's telephone call a few
weeks earlier, it was clear that von Liebenfalz wanted a meeting but in Vienna,
not New Hampshire. As he munched his way through the Reuben sandwich,
Drummond decided that he'd try to phone his mysterious contact in Vienna, and
failing that, he would have to take some vacation time to meet with him in Austria.
There was a small travel agency next to the "Nightwatch" that specialized in
package tours, and on his way back to Parker Center, Drummond stopped in to
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plmew.pev.pl
|