Read Online The Snowman by Jörg Fauser - Free Book Online Page B

through the dancing guests and out into the street. The punks were bellowing. He looked around. The two men were following him. A woman in a fur coat was just unlocking the door of a sports car.
    â€œIt’s the cops!” shouted Blum. “Take me with you!”
    She got into the car, and for a moment he thought she was going to drive away without him, but then she opened the passenger door and waved him in. As he closed the door she drove off. Blum did not look round. Perhaps it had all been just his imagination and they meant to be friendly. Some people don’t express themselves well, everyone knows that. At least he was sitting beside a woman again. In a sports car this time. The cocaine trade wasn’t getting off to a bad start.
    â€œThanks very much,” said Blum. “Do you by any chance have a cigarette too?”
    She tapped the glove compartment casually. Blum took out an open Reyno packet and lit one. The womanhad short black hair, a hooked nose, a brightly painted mouth and a long neck. She was wearing a man’s pinstripe suit. He guessed that she was in her mid-forties; the veins on the backs of her hands stood out. He had seen her before – beside the man with the passion for Wagner who had not been convinced by the aesthetics of the horror porn film.
    â€œI know who you are,” said the woman, looking at him with a smile.
    â€œThen perhaps you’d rather drop me off round the next corner.”
    â€œOn the contrary – I’m taking you straight back to my place.”
    â€œYou haven’t fallen desperately in love with me, have you?”
    â€œLove – that’s a dirty word! I was thinking of the cocaine you’re selling.”
    â€œBut the cops are after me.”
    Now she was smiling as hyenas might smile on seeing a dying victim suddenly pick himself up.
    â€œThat was only my husband and his gay friend. They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
    â€œI got the impression that was what they had in mind.”
    â€œThey’re making heavy weather of it. Physical intensity and all that. They were really just supposed to bring you my way.”
    â€œThey succeeded, then.”
    Things were getting rather too hot for Blum. He hadn’t imagined the cocaine trade quite like this. The sooner he got rid of the stuff the better.
    â€œSeeing you don’t want to seduce me I guess you want to abduct me. That was a red light, by the way.”
    â€œWith a radar device fitted, yes. But I’m in a hurry. Are you frightened?”
    â€œI wouldn’t be dealing in coke if I was.”
    â€œI find fear so erotic. But I’m not abducting you either. I just want your coke.”
    â€œYou could have done it more easily. Like I was just telling your husband, so long as you’re in funds . . .”
    She turned into a side street, almost taking a pedestrian with her.
    â€œOh, but a little drama’s all part of it, Mr Blum.”
    â€œHow do you know my name?”
    â€œMunich’s like a village. I’m Renée.”
    She held out her hand as if expecting a kiss. Blum stubbed out the Reyno. He’d never liked those menthol things. He’d had enough of the woman and enough of Munich. She withdrew her hand and parked the car in front of an entrance. This was a rather dark area, full of old-fashioned buildings.
    â€œThanks for the lift, but this is where our ways part,” said Blum, reaching for the door handle. “So much drama is bad for my heart.”
    â€œNo, no, my dear Herr Blum, you can’t go now. Everything’s ready.”
    Blum got out and slammed the car door. Two figures emerged from the shadows and stepped into the light of the street lamps. Of course, the husband and his friend. Perhaps they’d hitched a ride on a helicopter.
    â€œWell, boys, fancy a second round?”
    â€œThis is not a very nice guy you’ve picked, Renée,” said her husband sadly.
    The woman took