The Sky Is Falling

"I'm sorry, too," Dana finally said. "I hope everything turns out all right."Turns out all right for whom? For Rachel and Jeff? For Jeff and me?

When Jeff put down the phone, he looked up and saw Rachel standing there. She was wearing a nightgown and a robe. She looked lovely, with an almost translucent light about her.

"That was Dana?"

"Yes," Jeff said.

Rachel moved closer to him. "Poor darling. I know how much this is hurting you both. I - I just couldn't have gone through all this without you. I needed you, Jeff. I need you now."

Dana arrived at her office early in the morning and logged on to the Internet again. Two items caught her attention. Separately, they were innocuous, but together, they suggested a mystery.

The first item read: "Vincent Mancino, the Italian minister of commerce, has unexpectedly resigned during trade contract negotiations with Taylor Winthrop, the representative for the United States. Mancino's assistant, Ivo Vale, took over."

The second item read: "Taylor Winthrop, special adviser to NATO in Brussels, has asked to be replaced and has returned to his home in Washington."

Marcel Falcon had resigned, Vincent Mancino had resigned, Taylor Winthrop had quit unexpectedly. Were they connected? Coincidence?

Interesting.

Dana's first call was to Dominick Romano, who worked for the Italia 1 network in Rome.

"Dana! It's good to hear from you. What's up?"

"I'm coming to Rome, and I'd like to talk."

"Bene! What about?"

Dana hesitated. "I'd rather discuss it when I get there."

"When are you coming?"

"I'll be there Saturday."

"I will bring out the fatted pasta."

Dana's next call was to Jean Somville, who was working in Brussels at the press headquarters of NATO on the rue des Chapeliers.

"Jean? Dana Evans."

"Dana! I haven't seen you since Sarajevo. Those were some times. You ever going back there?"

She grimaced. "Not if I can help it."

"What can I do for you, cherie ?"

"I'm coming to Brussels in the next few days. Will you be around?"

"For you? Certainly. Something special going on?"

"No," Dana said quickly.

"Right. You're just sight-seeing, huh?" There was a skeptical note in his voice.

"Something like that," Dana said.

He laughed. "I look forward to it. Au revoir. "

"Au revoir."

"Matt Baker would like to see you."

"Tell him I'll be right there, Olivia."

Two more phone calls and Dana was on her way to Matt's office.

He said without preamble, "We may have lucked into something. I heard a story last night that might be a clue to what we're looking for."

Dana felt her heart quicken. "Yes?"

"There's a man named" - he consulted a slip of paper on his desk -  "Dieter Zander, in Düsseldorf. He was in some kind of business with Taylor Winthrop."

Dana was listening intently.

"I don't have the whole story, but apparently something very bad happened between them. They had a violent falling-out, and Zander swore to kill Winthrop. It sounds like it might be worth checking on."

"It certainly does. I'll look into it right away, Matt."

They chatted for a few more minutes, then Dana left.

I wonder how I can find out more about it? She suddenly thought of Jack Stone and FRA. He might know something. She found the private number he had given her and called it.

His voice came on the line. "Jack Stone."

"It's Dana Evans."

"Hello, Miss Evans. What can I do for you?"

"I'm trying to find something out about a man named Zander in Düsseldorf."

"Dieter Zander?"

"Yes. You know him?"

"We know who he is."

Dana registered thewe. "Can you tell me anything about him?"

"Is this in connection with Taylor Winthrop?"

"Yes."

"Taylor Winthrop and Dieter Zander were partners in a business deal. Zander was sent to prison for manipulating some stock, and while he was in prison, his house burned down, killing his wife and three children. He blames Taylor Winthrop for what happened."

And Taylor Winthrop and his wife had died in a fire. Dana listened in shock. "Is Zander still in prison?"

"No. I believe he got out last year. Anything else?"

"No. Thank you very, very much."

"This is just between us."

"I understand."

The line went dead.

Now there are three possibilities, Dana thought.

Dieter Zander in Düsseldorf.

Vincent Mancino in Rome.

Marcel Falcon in Brussels.

I'll go to Düsseldorf first.

Olivia said, "Mrs. Hudson is on line three."

"Thank you." Dana picked up the phone. "Pamela?"

"Hello, Dana. I know this is sudden, but a good friend has just come to town and Roger and I are giving him a little party next Wednesday. I know Jeff is still out of town, but we would love to have you come. Are you free?"

"I'm afraid I'm not. I'm leaving for Düsseldorf tonight."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"And, Pamela - "

"Yes?"

"Jeff may be gone for a while."

There was a silence. "I hope everything is all right."

"Yes. I'm sure it will be."It has to be.

Chapter Sixteen

THAT EVENING ATDULLES airport, Dana boarded a Lufthansa jet to Düsseldorf. She had telephoned Steffan Mueller, who worked at Kabel Network to tell him she was on her way. Dana's mind was filled with what Matt Baker had told her. If Dieter Zander blamed Taylor Winthrop for  -