CHAPTER FIVE
"It is better by noble boldness to run the risk of being subject to half the evils we anticipate than to remain in cowardly listlessness for fear of what might happen."
March 31, 2011 Luzern, Switzlerand 12:00 PM
The train ride from Munich to Luzern was scenic and relaxing. Peter and Neal had the compartment to themselves, so they sat across from each other and put their feet up on the seats across from them. They passed from town to town through the mountains and valleys. It was perhaps the most beautiful scenery they had ever seen. They took the time to enjoy it all. They didn't discuss the situation, but instead gawked at the scenery and Neal theoretically reminisced to Peter about other beautiful places he had "visited".
But when they arrived in Luzern, it was back to business. Once again, they found a relatively cheap hostel to stay in. But their money was dwindling down and they knew that sooner or later, once it was time to get home or get to another place in Europe, they would need more cash. For now, though, they had to get back into investigative mode to find out what they could about Vincent Adler's extended family.
After discussing a plan, they decided that they would risk pitching the same story they had when in Munich: they were looking into the family they descended from. They probed through the locals and threw out the name Adler. It wasn't long that day before they had a location on a little community outside of Luzern.
They decided, that since it was already late that day, not to pursue the lead yet. Instead, they went to the hostel.
When Neal came out of the shower, he found Peter counting what remained of their money.
"We're getting pretty low," said Peter. "And I am not suggesting we steal."
"Aw, come on," whined Neal with a mock pout. "I think you were getting into this."
"I am," said Peter. "But if we hang around here long enough and stuff starts going missing, we might be suspected."
Neal thought hard about it for a moment. "Ok, it makes sense. But if we don't steal it that means we have to earn it. And how are you suggesting we do that?"
"There's got to be work that someone around here can offer us," said Peter. "We'll just say that we're traveling through Europe and working our way from place to place." Neal made a face. "I know," said Peter sarcastically. "Having to work for something is so below you. Well, cowboy up."
"C'mon, Peter," said Neal. "Cowboy up? We're in Switzerland, not the Wild West."
"Too bad," said Peter. "Tomorrow, after we follow our lead, we go looking for work."
Neal glowered and then got into bed. "Fine. Good night."
"Night," said Peter. He turned off the light, laughing to himself. This should be fun.
The following day, they were up at dawn. They went to a local bakery and got a pair of croissants and some milk. Their meals of late had been smaller and they were definitely feeling the effects of it. They were never starved, but they had both lost some weight. After their breakfast on the banks of the dazzling Lake Luzern, they went on to find their lead.
The small community they were directed to didn't even have a name. It was just a clump of houses and small business that lie together outside the small city. It wasn't far and the day was pleasant so Neal and Peter opted to walk. There were a number of tourists though so they didn't appear out of place. The locals were kind and appeasing to the foreigners. It was tempting for Peter and Neal to skip a day of business and enjoy the area.
But they were driven by the desire to put Adler away and go home. So, they moved on.
They arrived at a cottage and found an elderly woman garden outside. Neal and Peter approached the fence that ran around her garden. Peter gestured for Neal to do the talking, since he was far better in German.
"Excuse me," he called. The woman turned around and looked up at the two men. "Do you live here?"
The woman stood up and took off her gloves. "Yes, I do. Can I help you?"
"Your name is Adler," asked Neal.
"Yes," she replied. "Are you looking for someone?"
"Well, you I suppose," said Neal. "May we come in?"
"Of course," she said. "Come inside. My daughter is making sandwiches."
Peter and Neal let themselves in through the gate and followed the elder into the house. The lady called into the kitchen.
"Adele," she called. "We have some visitors."
A younger woman, perhaps around Peter's age, stepped into view from the kitchen. For just a moment, she looked right at Peter and Neal. Though it was a glance, Peter and Neal felt that they were being scrutinized. She looked at her mother. "Yes, Mama, I see. Are they staying for lunch?"
"Of course," said Mrs. Adler. "And where is Papa?"
"In the back, fixing the table," replied Adele. "I'll go get him."
She left and Mrs. Adler turned to them. "I'm sorry, but I never introduced myself. I'm Hanna Adler." She held out her hand which both men shook gently.
"I'm Matthias," said Neal. "And this is my brother Paul. I'm sure you can tell, but we're from America."
"Yes," said Hanna. "I could hear it in your accent. What are you doing way out here, looking for an Adler?"
Before either of them could reply, Adele came back in with her father. "Papa," said Hanna. "These are our visitors: Matthias and Paul, they're from America. Boys, this is my husband, Conrad."
Conrad was a head taller than his wife, but just as skinny. They were both frail looking, suggesting that they had lived a long life. But his handshake was firm and his smile wide. "What can we do for you?"
"They're apparently looking for us," said Hanna.
"Come, sit down," demanded Conrad. "Adele, bring us some drinks."
"Coming Papa," said Adele.
As she left for the kitchen, Conrad and Hanna led Peter and Neal to the table. "So, you are looking for us," asked Conrad.
"Yes sir," said Neal.
Conrad held up a hand, cutting him off. "Please, call me Conrad."
"Well, Conrad," said Neal. "Our mother's name was Adler. And we've done some research and found out that there was still family over here. That's how we found you."
"You think we are the same Adlers," asked Hanna. "Well, that would be extraordinary! We have met some of our relatives in America. Conrad's brother lived there after the war. But we had no idea there were more."
"What was your brother's name," asked Peter.
"He speaks," said Hanna with a smile.
"My German isn't as good as Matti's," Peter replied with a sly grin to Neal.
Neal took it in stride. "I told Pauli here that he should learn the language of our family. But he never listened."
Conrad chuckled. "Well, we speak English rather well." He continued on in English. "My brother's name was Vincent. His son, also named Vincent, came to visit us. He had pictures and everything. You see, my brother was in the German Navy during the war. We both were actually. But I was captured and spent the last year in a POW camp in England. My brother was in a submarine and he had to scuttle it off the coast of America. That is why he ended up there. His son, Vincent, has come to visit us often."
Peter and Neal shared one look and made a decision there.
"I feel silly now," said Neal. "But that story doesn't fit the story our mother told us. There aren't any Vincents in the family. We're very sorry."
Hanna smiled. "It is quite alright. But you must still stay for lunch. How long have you been in Europe?"
So, throughout lunch, Neal and Peter spun tales about where they were from and the time they had spent in Munich and their plans to travel through Switzerland for a while, before heading back to the States. Adele was silent throughout the entire time and both Peter and Neal were not oblivious to it. They felt that she suspected them of not being who they said they were. As lunch was finished, Conrad inquired if Peter and Neal knew anything about fixing tables. Peter volunteered, leaving Neal with Adele and Hanna. The elderly woman excused herself to go back outside to her garden. Neal seized this opportunity to speak with Adele.
"You were quiet," he said in German.
"I'm a quiet woman," said Adele.
Neal noticed the wedding band on her finger. "Do you live in this town?"
"I live in Luzern," Adele answered. She wouldn't look at him as they brought the dishes into the kitchen. "I'm just visiting my parents since my husband is out of town."
Neal nodded. "So, why do I get the impression that you think my brother and I are lying?"
She looked at him and her eyes bore into his. "Because you are. I know who you are."
"You do," asked Neal, masking his worry with amusement.
"Yes," she replied sharply. "You are not Matthias and Paul Hartley. You are Neal Caffrey. And your friend is Peter Burke. You are both dead."
Neal swallowed. "What makes you say that?"
"Though my parents don't keep up with worldly news, I do," said Adele. "I watch it closely and I have a pretty good idea why you are here. You're looking for Vincent Adler. And not my uncle, but my cousin."
Neal decided to risk it. "Yes, we are. Do you see a problem with trying to catch him? Or are you in on his schemes?"
Adele looked furious. "He's my cousin. Family. I'm remaining neutral."
"Oh, I forgot," quipped Neal. "You're Swiss."
Adele sighed. "What do you want?"
"We need to find him," said Neal. "He's gotten away with a lot of money and has murdered people."
"Including you," asked Adele.
"Peter and I barely escaped," said Neal. "And Peter was wounded and nearly died from it. He killed my girlfriend and tried to kill one of my best friends and he's ruined the lives of a lot of other people. Why would you want to protect him?"
"I won't tell anyone you were here if you just leave," said Adele. "Go back and your FBI friend will figure it out."
"If we go back, he'll come after us again," said Neal. "And your cousin has a nasty habit of going after the people we love to get to us. I won't risk anyone else's life anymore."
"So you both faked your deaths," said Adele, turning back to the dishes. "How noble. What makes you think I know where he is anyway?"
"Maybe you don't know where he is," said Neal. "But you might know something we don't."
"Maybe," said Adele.
Neal handed her one of the plates, and kept the silence patiently. Finally, after a few minutes of doing the dishes together, Adele turned to him.
"I know of an address in the States," she said. "But he's holding something over me. If I say something and give him away, then my family will lose everything we have."
"He's blackmailing you," asked Neal.
"Yes," said Adele.
"Listen," said Neal, as sincerely as he could. "Whatever he is holding over you, is it worth it after everything he has done? Is it worth the possibility that more people may lose their lives because of him?"
Adele stared at him before finally giving in.
"About seven years ago, when we first met Vincent, my parents were about to lose their home. They were the subject of insurance fraud and lost a lot of money. They were going to lose everything. When Vincent learned of this, he made a large donation to them. It meant a lot to my family. However, he asked me to then hold something for him in a storage unit I own in Luzern. It was an amber bookshelf. He said that it was very valuable and that someone was trying to steal it from him. It was the least I could do to hold it for him. But I was curious about it. So, I did some research and found out about the Amber Room. I questioned him about it the next time he visited. He said he was searching for all the lost pieces of the Room, but that someone, a girl named Alexandra Hunter, was trying to steal the pieces for her own gain."
"Seven years," asked Neal, interrupting. "That was around the time that he pulled off the Ponzi Scheme."
Adele nodded. "This was when I learned of it all. But when he mentioned this woman, Alexandra Hunter, I did a search on her. I was led to the Interpol website, where I also found a picture of Vincent. I was shocked, and confronted him about it. I said that I was going to turn him in and that I was going to turn over the amber bookshelf as well. He told me that if I did that, we would lose everything. It turns out that he had gained access to my parents account. It was him who had taken the insurance money in the first place."
"It was a long con," said Neal in realization.
"And all so that he would have somewhere to hide his precious loot," spat Adele. "But I told myself that causing trouble for my parents was not what they needed right now. They wouldn't be able to take it all. So, I've kept my mouth shut. I also keep closer tabs into what is going on in the world, in case I notice something that he may have had dealings in. When I heard about the submarine blowing up and you and your friend's deaths, I nearly gave up the information."
"Why didn't you," asked Neal.
"Because one of his men showed up here a few days later, demanding the amber bookshelf. He was taking it back. In return, I received a large sum of money," explained Adele.
"He was trying to keep you quiet," said Neal.
"Yes," said Adele. "But I was determined. I poked around—very discreetly—and found out where these men were going."
"How did you do that," asked Neal.
"My husband is a pilot and has clearance in all airports in Switzerland and Germany," answered Adele. "I found out which airport his men had come in through and found out their plane's number. I tracked it. The plane flew to England where it refueled and then across the Atlantic. It landed in a small airfield outside Sheffield, Pennsylvania."
"Pennsylvania," asked Neal, incredulously. "Are you sure?"
"Positive," said Adele. "Because to make sure I made contact with the office at the airfield. I used my husband's clearance and rank to ask about the travel log. One of the names listed on there for having landed was a Frenchman: Aigle Victorieux. The officer there said that he owned an estate outside of Sheffield. Do you know what Aigle Victorieux means?"
In Neal's head, he translated the French to English, and the meaning came to literally mean: Eagle Victorious. But when he went to speak the words in German, he paused. "Adler Seigreich." His eyes widened as he looked at Adele. "Adler Victorious?"
She nodded. "I'm pretty sure it's him."
"It would certainly be closer to him than anyone has ever gotten," said Neal. He took a deep breath. "Thank you, very much. You have no idea how much this means to us."
"I think I do," said Adele. "It would be nice not to have to live with the constant fear of him doing something to my parents."
"So they know nothing about this," asked Neal.
"No," said Adele. "No one does besides me."
"That's quite a burden to bear alone," said Neal.
"I just want the best for my family," said Adele. "I don't want them to worry."
"Well," said Neal. "Don't tell Peter that. He's a lawman. He'll think that you should've said something from the beginning."
"Perhaps I should have," said Adele. "If he would've gotten caught sooner, you wouldn't have lost so much."
For a moment, the thought burned in Neal. But then he shook his head. "No. If you would have said something that first time, he would've just covered his tracks and moved on. He's really good at that; probably the best. Besides, Adler did one thing that was good that I can't deny."
"What," asked Adele.
"My partnership with Peter," said Neal. "And that's a really long story."
Adele nodded. "Are you going to go now?"
"We'll have to leave as soon as we have the money to," said Neal. "We can't risk being seen by someone who's working for Adler."
"Of course," she said. "And I promise—I will tell no one that I saw you. And I will only use your fake names."
"To protect your parents," assumed Neal.
"Yes," said Adele. "To protect my parents."
Neal looked out the backdoor where Peter was helping Conrad put the finishing touches on the table he was fixing. Neal smiled. "People do a lot to protect the people they love."