Disclaimer: I don't own the Alex Rider series. But I own all the characters mentioned in the chapter. This is a work of FanFiction from which no profit is gained.
"We had a one hundred percent success. Perfection. Our next big thing is keeping fear and panic on our side. So I put forward the motion that we move the fifty first back to El Alamein and bring in the seventy eighth to cover Liverpool Street from that flat for sale".
Dieter Spiegel jotted the words down swiftly and nodded tightly to himself. He scratched behind his ear rapidly, ready for the next words to take down. Franz Steiner sat beside him, head resting on hand, elbow resting on the arm of his chair. He let out a loud sigh and glanced up at the web camera that was currently streaming to the rest of the Libertas board.
"No. That is much too risky. Now that we have lit a fire under Alan Blunt, he will be keeping a very close eye on things. Yes, the man is something of a fool. But he does know how to do his job. I must go now, I am already late for a meeting. Until next time gentlemen, I bid you farewell" Franz said, labouring slightly.
Dieter allowed himself an inward smile. His pupil's English was progressing rather quickly, but cracks were still apparent. Franz spoke much too formally for a young man. Dieter jotted down Franz's words and struck a line under his notes. His pen scratching across his paper was the only sound as Franz switched off the webcam carefully.
"Dieter", Franz began, flopping back in his chair, his head tilted backwards, eyes closed, "Why am I always surrounded by idiots?"
Dieter smiled wryly and placed his notebook gently on the desk in front of him.
"You know what they about birds of a feather" he said, glancing over at the German lounging in the chair beside him.
"No. I do not, actually. My English is still at an unacceptable level. I wish to conduct lessons twice daily from here on in. Are you agreeable to this, Dieter?" Franz asked, massaging his temples, his eyes still shut tightly. Dieter shifted in his seat, biting the sides of his nails before answering.
"Yes. Of course, Franz. Now, about your flight. I've booked it for half six tomorrow morning. Your flight number is-"
"Dieter, why are you still talking? Please, I am asking you as nice as possible, shut your mouth for five minutes straight" Franz said, his voice level, almost relaxed. Dieter glanced over at his employer, a slightly worried look in his eyes. Franz was often blunt but never rude. Not unless something was bothering him a lot.
"Nicely" Dieter replied, folding his arms in his lap.
"What?" Franz asked, one eye cracking open lazily to glance over at the younger man.
"You said 'as nice as possible'. You meant 'as nicely as possible'. You see, in English grammar-"
"My remark has shot entirely over your head, has it not? Now, Dieter, could you please get that girl, Maria, on the phone? Could you tell her I will not be able to make dinner tonight?" Franz requested, his head lolling back in his chair.
"May I ask why?" Dieter responded, glancing over at Franz.
"Her laugh is like the sound of a car crashing into a rhinoceros. I cannot deal with her tonight. Tell her I have caught a gastric bug. Or sprained my wrist. Anything. Just get me out of that dinner" Franz ordered, his tone sharp, daring Dieter to ask anymore questions.
Dieter got to his feet and took one last look at his employer before striding from the room, notes under one arm. He had never really understood why he had been chosen to assist and teach Franz Steiner. Perhaps it was because they were both German. Whatever the reason, Dieter knew he was Franz's sixth assistant in a month. He must have been doing something right to hold onto the job for more than two days.
Dieter slowed his steps when he reached the marble hall of Franz's mansion. He felt a little uncomfortable in the grand old house. He had a feeling Franz did as well. Pictures of Franz as a child with his parents had littered the place. Then, on the very day they arrived, Franz took all the pictures up to his room and Dieter hadn't seen any since.
Dieter liked working for Franz. With Franz. He wasn't sure where Franz stood on the boss-assistant relationship. But, overall, Franz was easy to work alongside. Yes, he could be demanding. He could be ridiculously childish, very disrespectful of his elders and very short tempered, amongst other things. But he paid well and had never treated Dieter like a fool.
Dieter sighed and shook his head, more to rid himself of his thoughts than anything else. He didn't know why he felt the need to make his involvement with Libertas personal. They wired a rather cheerful amount of money into his account every month. In return he did his work dutifully and didn't ask questions. If that meant teaching someone English, it meant teaching someone English.
Dieter fished the plain white phone of its receiver and held it to his ear with his hsoulder. He fumbled about with Franz's book of phone numbers before finally finding the slip of paper he had been looking for.
He promptly dialled it and was nearly deafened by the squawk of laughter that shot out of the phone at his ear. Perhaps Franz was right about Maria. In fact, Franz was definitely right about Maria.
"Franz, is that you? Oh I can't wait for dinner tonight! I wish you'd tell me where we're going.."
"Miss Giles, this is Dieter Spiegel. I'm afraid Franz has come down with an awful bug. One of those gastric things. He told me to tell you he's very sorry. Perhaps another time?" Dieter interrupted.
Before Maria could reply, Dieter had already hung up.
Dieter wandered back up to the study where Franz appeared to be dozing in his chair. The German looked almost happy when he slept. Relaxed. His hands were still half cocked, fists formed. Dieter shook his head slightly again, a smile appearing on his face. Franz would fall asleep at the oddest of hours. Not exactly a stereotypical villain.
Dieter hadn't been expecting Franz. He had known from the beginning that Libertas were going to murder people. Or cleanse the world, as they called it. Dieter hadn't known what to expect, really. But Franz most definately wasn't it. He wouldn't take a false identity. He insisted on giving large donations to numerous charities. He was a ridiculously bad poker player and was allergic to cats.
The very sight of the offensive animal caused Franz to break out into bouts of unstoppable sneezing. Dieter found that rather amusing, especially as he was the proud ownere of a feline who had been his companion for twelve years. Franz had consented to the animal's presence only because he knew that Dieter would be a good assistant and that without the pet, Dieter wouldn't stay. The only condition was that Nimble was confined to Dieter's quarters throughout the day.
Dieter gaze rested on his employer and another sigh sidled from his mouth. Franz was a lot younger looking than his twenty five years. Dieter grinned as the older German shifted in his sleep, grunting softly. Dieter had to admit, he had really landed on his feet with his move to Libertas.
Franz's eyes snapped open and he glanced around, appearing bewildered at first. When he realised who it was standing over him he smiled sleepily, twisting his head. Dieter sat back down in his own chair.
"Dieter, you know so much about me. And all of our operations. You'll be moving to Reid's department this weekend. You understand, of course, that I cannot work with you for too long? Must rotate assistants. And I am sure the next one will not go rummaging through my study at two in the morning..." Franz said sleepily.
Dieter fidgeted guiltily. So Franz knew. Dieter was a money maker, first and foremost. And Wallace, another member of the board of Libertas, had paid him a ridiculously large sum of money to pass on information about Franz's recruitment program.
"Yes. About that. I wanted to know if you had borrowed my fountain pen. A gift from my father four years ago. Very important to me. You haven't seen it, have you?" Dieter asked, hoping the flimsy excuse would be enough to convince Franz.
The older German sighed loudly and sat up, frowning at Dieter, his expression furious.
"DO NOT LIE TO ME! DO NOT DARE! YOU SOLD INFORMATION TO WALLACE! IT WAS A TEST AND YOU FAILED, JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER ASSISTANTS! WALLACE WAS WORKING FOR ME, YOU IDIOT! I wanted you to pass so much. I liked you. But now, I have to kill you" Franz said, shaking his head almost sorrowfully.
A bullet snapped silently through the arm of the chair, biting into Dieter's heart. He was dead before he hit the floor. Franz got up disdainfully and stepped over the body. He'd have someone clean it up tomorrow.
That ridiculous cat appeared in the doorway, eyes glinting curiously at Franz. Stupid cat. Franz fired again and watched the cat collapse on the floor, its tail still twitching. With the smoke from the gun curling up through the air, Franz yawned before glancing at his watch. He had time for a nap.
There. At last, another update. I hope you enjoyed. I have no idea when my other fics will be updated but if all goes well it ought to be soon.