Sam nodded.
“The pints I get you. Information . . . ?” He went back to wiping the counter down. “What is it you want to know?”
“We’re looking for a guide who knows something about the tunnels in the mountains. A friend of Renard Kowalski,” Sam said. “Some describe him as a recluse who lives in the woods.”
The moment Sam mentioned Renard’s name, the bartender stilled, then went back to wiping the counter. “The man you look for. Crazy Gustaw,” he said as a loud scrape came from behind them. “Better you not to go.”
Sam glanced back, saw a tall, dark-haired man from a table near the door eyeing them as he rose from his chair. “We’ll take our chances,” Sam said as the man walked out the door. He slid several large bills onto the counter.
“Your life.” He tossed the towel over his shoulder, picked up the money, then took a napkin and drew a map. “Be smart, wait for morning. Gustaw might shoot. Actually, that’s true all time. To him, everyone is enemy.”
“What sort of enemies?”
“You ask Gustaw. If he not kill you first.” He slid the napkin toward Sam, then filled three mugs from the tap.
They took the beer to an empty table.
“So where does he live?” Remi asked.
Sam showed her the napkin. The castle was drawn at the top left corner for reference. “Not too far from here, apparently.”
They finished their drinks, then left. As the three crossed the street, Sam saw the dark-haired man from the bar standing in front of a store, talking to someone else. Something about the way both men were watching them bothered Sam. “I’m getting the idea that we’re the subject of their conversation.”
Remi glanced over, then back. “Any earlier in the day, I’d say let’s give them something to talk about. Right now, I’d rather get to the hotel. I hear a hot bath and a glass of champagne calling my name.”
“Why, Remi. How absolutely decadent. Couldn’t think of anything better.” With the reception they seemed to be receiving in town, it was probably best to get off the streets before dark. They checked into their room, Sergei occupying one down the hall.
That night, before they went to bed, Sam turned off the lights, then stood by the window. They were on the second floor, facing the street. A man with a dog on a leash walked past, his glance straight ahead. About a block up, his dog alerted on a parked van. Any number of things could have caught the dog’s attention, even the scent of another dog. Sam, however, liked to operate on the theory that a dog’s nose should never be ignored. Despite the crisp, cool autumn weather, he opened the window, closed the curtains, then informed Remi that he’d be taking the first watch.
About two hours later, he heard the slightest sound outside their window. Glancing over, he saw the faint light from the streetlamp filtering through the part in the curtains. He got up and, standing to one side, peered out. Two men stood across the street by a car, and two more were crossing toward the hotel.
“Remi.” He leaned over, touching her on her shoulder.
She stirred.
“Wake up.”
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“We have company. Better get dressed. Time to get out of here.”
They’d barely slipped their shoes on when he heard a creak in the hallway. There was a fifth person because no way could they have gotten up there that fast. Another floorboard creaked, this one farther down the hall. Make that six.
Didn’t matter.
They were trapped.
31
Sam knew what they were after.
They wanted Miron’s map. He hoped that meant they were bypassing Sergei’s room completely. His gun gripped in one hand, he stood at the open window, spying through the slit in the curtains. The men in the street seemed to be watching the front entry of the hotel. They weren’t the ones he was worried about.
He looked over at Remi, pointing toward the bathroom. She nodded, grabbed her gun and phone, while Sam slipped Miron’s map from his pack, circling the other locations in the vicinity of the Project Riese tunnels. Hoping it would buy them some time, he left the map on the table, placing his pack on top, making sure it was visible beneath it. After a quick look around, he joined Remi behind the bathroom door, leaving it open far enough to reveal the toilet and empty shower.
The soft clicks as someone picked the lock gave way to the sound of the knob turning and the door opening. The security chain rattled, then went tight. For several seconds, the only sound Sam heard was Remi breathing beside him and the ticking of the furnace blowing heat into the room.
Whoever was out there wasn’t moving.