Mike waited for the sound of the exterior door before he left the bathroom. At most he could get away with about 4 or 5 minutes before his absence was questioned. He hoped Steve's gift of gab would be sufficient to occupy Garrod's attention for that long.
He walked into the study. The desk was oversized and old. It looked as if it had come out of turn of the century legal office. There were paper on the top, but nothing looked odd. He glanced at the bookshelf behind the desk. There were several awards and some antique corkscrews, but nothing that shouted: look at me.
Stepping into the hallway, he turned right instead of left and walked towards the front of the house. He cut through the formal dining room, which opened up into the foyer. A large central staircase bisected the space.
Walking between the steps and the front door to the opposite side of the house, he entered the main parlor. Quarter-saw oak paneling made the space dark, but warm and inviting. On the far wall were a series of paintings, each lit by their own copper fixture. In the center of the grouping he saw what he was looking for.
Mike checked his watch. He had to get back to the porch. He retraced his path and had just gotten to the study door when Peter Garrod met him in the hall.
"I was starting to get worried."
"Sorry, I just got turned around. Nice place you got here."
Garrod nodded his head and Mike followed him outside. Peter slid the contract across the table, "If I can get your signature here, we'll be good. I just need a check for $100 to hold your date. Full payment will be due 7 days prior to your event."
Mike picked up the pen and signed. He pulled a check out of his pocket. It was draw on an account that was used by the Narcotics undercover division. Mike filled it out, handed it over and looked over to Steve. "You ready to head back?"
"Sure. Let's get a move on." Steve saw the urgency in Mikes expression and stood to leave.
After shaking hands, they walked towards the steps. As they descended, Garrod called out. "Don't forget to stop in the tasting room. Everything is discounted here at the source." Steve smiled and waved back.
"What was all that?" Mike asked when they were beyond earshot.
"I was making conversations while you where gone. Told him the wine was great and we would have to buy some. That wasn't a lie, it was good but mostly I was trying to cover for you. You get anything?"
"You bet. It's in there, in the living room."
"The painting?"
"Yep, hanging on the wall for God and everyone to see. I guess they assumed they were all in the clear with Marian gone."
"You're lucky you didn't get caught, he told me that the father is here. I assume somewhere in the house."
Mike shook his head at the close call. "I guess it's time to back to the Sherriff's Office and start the wheels on the paperwork. I know what we have is circumstantial at best, but it should be enough to get search warrants for this place and an arrest warrant for Georg. We also need to call DoJ and get them out here for the Father and the painting.
Steve nodded and Mike continued, "What's your take on this guy?"
"Peter? He seemed pretty genuine to me. You think he could be ignorant of the whole deal?"
"It crossed my mind. He didn't seem like the murderous type. But people will go to great lengths to hide family secrets."
"True, but he flat out told me about Vienna and hanging out with a couple from The City when he was a student. I guess it could have been a cover. But if it was, that man has ice water in his veins."
They continued down the path and around the winery building to the parking lot below.
00000
Peter picked up his glass, finishing the wine. As he sat down and poured another glass, he heard the screen door slam. His father exited the house and joined him on the porch. Peter noticed a scrap of paper on the floor. He bent down and picked it up.
"What's that?" his father asked.
Peter blanched when he unfolded the paper. He handed it to his father, "Trouble, big trouble."
His father read the paper, "How is this possible? We were so careful."
The younger Garrod shrugged. "It must have fallen out of Mike's pocket when he took out the check."
"How could he have found out?"
"That I do not know." The younger Garrod responded. "but what I do know is that those two men are not who they pretend to be.
The door slammed again, "They're cops, you fools." Brian Jones stated flatly after stepping onto the porch. "I saw them when I came off the trail. It's a good thing I'm paying attention or we would have all wound up on death row."
Claus Meyer turned towards the younger man, "Fools? How dare you! Do you know who you are talking to?
"Yeah, I do old man. You were a big time Colonel with the SS. That was almost 30 years ago and you've been hiding ever since. If you want to get out of this with your freedom and your treasures, it's time to listen to me."
Peter put his hand on his father's arm and asked, "What are we going to do?"
"Well first off, you are going quit playing gentleman farmer and acting so naive. I still can't believe you contacted Miriam."
"I needed cash to keep the vineyard going after the blight. I knew she would buy the Klimt. It was the only way."
"And then she called Talbot and the whole thing went to hell. Unbelievable. You remember the way she searched for that painting when we were in Vienna? The fact that your family had it the whole time made it easy for her to put two and two together. You are just lucky Talbot called Interpol."
"Yes, very fortunate. Even if you are an arrogant young man. it's a very good thing you befriended Peter in Vienna." Claus added.
"Lucky for you, but now I'm just as involved in all of this as the three of you.
"But Miriam is dead. Why did you have to kill her?" Peter said ruefully.
"It was the only way. Same thing with the waitress. If you and your brother would have kept your heads down and your mouths shut, eliminating them would have not been necessary."
Garrod senior added, "He is correct. We could not risk leaving witnesses to our secret alive."
"Your secrets papa! I had nothing to do with that!"
"But you reaped the benefits of my actions and your actions set this disaster in motion. We are all accessories, even you."
"What happens next?" Peter asked.
"Georg and I have everything under control. You won't even have to get your hands dirty. There will be nobody left to connect us to any of this and even if they do, it will be too late. You two need take what you can and go back to Argentina, tonight if you can get a flight. The US got rid of its extradition treaty with Argentina last year so you'll be safe. After we clean up the loose ends here, Georg will follow. The Farm and Vineyard here are finished."
"What about you?"
"After eliminating my partner in France, I believe my time with Interpol is at an end, so I will be joining you for the time being down south. At least till I get paid. This whole mess goes beyond friendship. I'm going to need a new identity and I think your father knows people who can help with that. Now get going while Georg and I take care of your new friends."
00000
It was late afternoon when Norm finally got back to Bryant Street. Bill had turned over the print cards and Dan Morgan's identity was confirmed shortly after 3 pm. With very little of the work day remaining, it was his intent to take care of some paperwork and then head out for the evening. He was supposed to meet some of the guys for beers later, to celebrate his return to work.
When he went up to the bullpen, he was surprised to find out that Mike and Steve had not been in all afternoon. Sekulovich said he thought they were chasing down a lead in San Jose. Norm penciled a quick note about the demise of Dan Morgan and laid it on Mike's desk so he would see it when he got back. It seemed to him that Morgan got caught up in somehow and it was connected to the Steiner case. He went back to his desk.
Time got away from him. It was after six when he looked at the clock. Mike and Steve had still not returned, but that was not unusual when following up a lead out of town. He figured they had probably stopped for dinner on the way back and he could run his idea by the team in the morning. He picked up his jacket and nearly ran into Bill Tanner exiting the bullpen.
"You just getting back?"
"Yeah, what a mess. Thanks for including me." He said sarcastically.
"Sorry, but with what went on, you know, it wouldn't have been right."
"Yeah, I know I'm just yanking your chain."
"Are you coming over to the Suds and Soda for beers?"
"I can't believe you would go back to that place after what happened."
"No kidding, but it meets 2 of our most important criteria for a celebration. It's close and it's cheap."
"I guess. Tell you what, I've got about an hour's worth of paper on the scene. Dan should be back by then and we will head on over. You still gonna be there?"
"In an hour, you bet. I got a lot of catching up to do after a week of house arrest at Chez Stone."
"Take it easy my friend! See you there." Tanner replied with a laugh as Norm walked down the hall.
00000
Steve pulled the keys from his pocket as they reached the LTD. Opening the door, he slid behind the wheel while Mike walked to the other side. After rolling down the windows to release the stale air, he reached over to the glove box and popped it open, grabbing his badge wallet and holster. He dropped them in the middle of the bench seat and closed the compartment. The passenger door opened and Mike tumbled more than slid in. Something was wrong. Mike shouted in warning just before he slumped forward in the seat.
Steve grabbed for his gun as he straitened up, but a sharp blow sent his senses reeling. What felt like bee sting pinched his arm. As he descended into darkness, the last thing he heard was a voice he thought he recognized.
"Sleep well, Inspector."