Заговор мечей

After a moment’s thought, Alex nodded. “I understand. Nazi memorabilia, right?”

A slight nod.

“Do you sell Nazi memorabilia, Rolf?”

He shook his head. “I will not sell such things. When the boy told me his father had been a Nazi SS officer, I felt like throwing him out of the store.” He looked over at the silver crucifix. “But some of the things he brought to me, these should not be thrown out because they were held in the hands of a demon.”

Rolf reached up and stroked the base of the work. “It is so beautiful, no?”

Alex nodded. “It is.” She waited for a moment, biting her lip.

“I do not sell Nazi items, but there are others, here, that buy them.” He shrugged. “I just work here. I am in charge of the first floor, and they keep me because I know antiques. But if I could …” his voice trailed off.

“Rolf, can you tell me about the boy? What was his name?”

Rolf raised his head. “Andrea, do not tell me you are interested in the Nazis?”

“Well, no, not in the way you think. But as a student of history,” she decided to take a gamble here, “who’s grandparents died in Buchenwald, I would like to speak to him about his father. I have a tough time understanding the reasons behind the whole war.”

Rolf didn’t look at her. Instead, he focused his attention on the statue, his fingers resting on the feet of the crucified figure. After a moment he seemed to make a decision, and gave himself a slight nod.

“A moment, and I will look for the book. It will have his name and address, as well as what we bought from him.”

Alex frowned. “You did buy the Nazi items?”

“I did not. But I alerted my superior, and he purchased them.” Rolf looked ill for a moment. “He was so, so, nice, and pleasant, and told the boy his father was a hero.” His mouth twisted into a sick smile. “I think the boy was almost as disgusted as I was.” He motioned her to follow him. “I will find the book. Wait here.”

Alex watched as he ducked behind a curtain. She glanced around, wondering if Teren’s interview was going as well as her own was.

*******************************************************

Teren was waiting for a customer to leave. The person she needed to speak to was helping an older woman who was trying to decide what statue would best go in her garden. Everytime she appeared to have made up her mind, she’d change it again, and Teren was begi

Finally, the woman decided on The Thinker by Rodan, and she sat down with another person to fill out paperwork. Teren had a feeling she’d probably change her mind at least once more, so she interrupted as soon as the woman was seated.

“Ka

“Mein Name ist Fleming. Ich habe einen Termin bei Herrn Keppelma

“Ich bin Herr Keppelma

“Genau. Fur John Treville.”“That’s correct. John Treville.”

Keppelma

“Den zwei Kelchen. Ich meine, einer sei von Guignard gewesen?”“The two chalices. I believe one was by Guignard?”

Keppelma

“Hat Treville Ihnen eine Kopie des Guignard gezeigt?”“Treville showed you a copy of the Guignard?”

“Nein, das Original. Er hat ihn verkauft.”“No, I saw the Guignard itself. He sold it.”

Keppelma

“Um ehrlich zu sein, er hat ihn verschenkt. An irgendeinen Heruntergekommenen in Colorado.” Teren sat in the chair across from him. “Er hat allerdings auch den zweiten Kelch verkauft. An jemanden namens Mather.”“Well, actually he gave it away. To some stupid man in Colorado, who lived in a one room hovel.” Teren sat in the chair across from him. “Of course, he also gave away a second chalice, to some man named Mather.”

“Und woher wissen Sie das?”“And how do you know all this?”

“Na ja, Mather hat versucht, den Kelch weiter zu verkaufen.” She smiled. “Man hat mich gebeten herauszufinden, ob es wirklich das Original ist, das er besitzt. Er behauptet, da? es das Original sei, aber die Korrespondenz zwischen Ihrer Firma und Trevill behauptet, es sei die Kopie.”“Well, Mather tried to sell his chalice.” She smiled.“I was asked to look into the validity of his claim. He said it was real, but the invoice between your company and Treville said it was a copy.”

Keppelma

She leaned forward. “Ich arbeite fur jemanden, der den Kelch kaufen will, und womoglich auch an weiteren Objekten interessiert ist. Er ist sehr reich und schatzt es gar nicht,” she paused, “betrogen zu werden. Er ist der Meinung, der Guignard sei echt, aber er wurde gerne wissen, wo er herkommt.Also hat er mich hier hergeschickt, um mir Ihre Bucher anzusehen.”She leaned forward. “I work for a person who wants to buy the chalice, and perhaps other items.He is a very wealthy man, who does not like to be,” she paused, “cheated.He believes the Guignard, at least, to be authentic, but would like to know where it came from. So, he sent me to look at your paperwork.”

Keppelma

Keppelma

“Da? der Guignard eine Kopie ist.”“It will say the Guignard is a copy.”

“Nein. Offiziell gab es keine Geschafte zwischen Treville und der Galerie.”“No. It will say there was never a sale between Treville and the Galerie.”

Teren nodded. “Aha.” She leaned back in her chair. “Tja, da

The man’s face had lost its color, and Teren could almost feel the nervous energy coming from him. He fidgeted, his hands unable to stay still. Teren, on the other hand, sat like a statue, smiling, with her arms stretched out on the arms of the chair. She knew she didn’t have the originals, but he didn’t know that.

Finally, he glanced up at her. “Was wollen Sie von mir?”Finally, he glanced up at her. “What do you want, Ms. Fleming?”

“Ihre Quelle. Ich will wissen, wo die Kelche herkommen.”“I want your source. I want to know where the two chalices came from.”

Keppelma

Teren was out of her chair and half way across his desk before he realized she’d moved. She planted her hands wide apart on his desk, and leaned in close to him.

“Sie, mein Lieber, werden mir sagen was ich wissen will, oder Sie passen am Ende dieses Gesprachs in eine Ihrer Schreibtischschubladen. Anschlie?end werde ich die Polizei verstandigen und da