Read Online Clandestine by J. Robert Janes - Free Book Online Page A

eingefleischter Nazi was even wearing the Goldenes Parteiab­zeichen­ , given especially to the very early members. ‘Maybe first, Kriminalrat, you’d tell me what you think you were doing by terrifying Oona and bringing her here or anywhere else at any hour?’
    Trust Kohler to think of the well-being of such.
    â€˜ Ach , when I called round to the flat and found she didn’t know where you were, I thought to ease her mind both by telling her you’d be arriving soon—my mistake, of course—and that I would be only too glad of a little company en route. Unfortunately we soon had to follow a convoy on its way out to Drancy. A child, wanting to feel the air, kept parting the rear truck’s canvas tarpaulin and shoving an arm out, which upset her greatly, and for this I apologize profusely, but that fog … Liebe Zeit , I even had to rip the blinkers off my headlamps. Is it always so thick in Paris?’
    â€˜Usually it rises from the Seine to smother everything, but this one is different.’
    Like himself, was that it? Matches were as if of gold and when Kohler set the box aside and didn’t return it, the thought was to see if he would really attempt to steal it. ‘Tobacco and that first drag, eh? Already things begin to look a little better, so let’s make a bit of peace between us. What did you find in such a godforsaken place?’
    The rumpled, grey prewar suit with the egg-stained tie and handkerchief that definitely needed laundering had obviously seen everything far too many times, but still he’d have to try. ‘Maybe first you’d tell me what you and that colonel were looking for, and while you’re at it, give me his name. He does have one, doesn’t he, or did his parents deliberately forget?’
    Insubordination was one thing, and Kohler was certainly noted­ for it, ridicule something else. ‘Please don’t continue to be difficult. Just give me whatever evidence you managed to find.’
    â€˜Two bodies, both with a nine-millimetre Parabellum, the gun perhaps a Walther P38 or Luger and probably sold on the schwarzer Markt by one of our own. It happens all the time now, Kriminalrat. The Führer ought to pay our boys a little more.’
    â€˜And you’ve concluded the killer was French, have you?’
    â€˜Was he?’
    Verdammt , did Kohler suspect otherwise? ‘Money was taken, was it?’
    â€˜Plenty, but until we get that bank to go over everything, we won’t know the exact amount.’
    To this, the grizzled fleshy cheeks and sagging jowls were favoured before sucking on that cigarette until only the smallest of butts remained.
    â€˜And this cash, Kohler, was it carried away on a bicycle or in a farmer’s cart?’
    â€˜Instead of a truck? Is that why this crowd of imbeciles in uniform is hanging around looking as if waiting for one?’
    Kohler was never going to learn. ‘All right, there was a truck, one of those that uses a firebox and the resulting charcoal or wood gas. It depends. They don’t usually burn both together unless­ desperate since it can cause problems.’
    â€˜And you’ve been chasing it?’
    But from where and for how long—was this what Kohler wanted?­ The Netherlands perhaps? ‘Looking for it would be better.’
    â€˜Why? Because they’ve robbed someone else?’
    Again Ludin found his cigarettes and lit another, but would this irritating pest swallow what would have to be said in order to get him to cough up the necessary yet keep him from the truth? ‘Human trafficking, Kohler. The Reichssicherheitshauptamt are concerned and want it stopped.’
    The SD’s Security Office. Ernst Kaltenbrunner was head of it, a drunkard and a sadist, but sending one Standartenführer and an aging Gestapo after a single passeur didn’t make sense. ‘Have you and that colonel got similar reception committees stationed at