Collision of Lies by John LeBeau

Author:John LeBeau [Beau, John J. Le]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Published: 2012-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

Sabine Reiner clasped her hands at waist level and wondered at her ambivalence about her German partner. He had solid investigative traits, surely, but also seemed invincibly unaware that he often sounded like an arrogant, domineering ass. She kept her voice controlled, coating it with civility. “Thank you for your offer, Kommissar Waldbaer. I’m certain I can tackle Hessler on my own. As for briefing you in two days, I will. Just as I’m certain you will brief Hirter and me on Tretschmer.” Her smile spoke of winter.

HAMBURG, NORTH GERMANY

Otto Tretschmer felt the taste of copper suffuse his mouth as he read the brief article in the Hamburger Abendblatt newspaper. The coffee he had just sipped suddenly turned acrid as he read the headline a second time, hoping that his first interpretation of the words had been incorrect. No, he saw with a sinking feeling, there was no misapprehension at play. He uttered a sigh that was nearly a moan, and closed his eyes. Even with eyes closed, he could clearly see the headline accorded the little article at the middle of the page in the section called Harbor News, which recorded items of commercial maritime interest.

Crewman Feared Drowned in Atlantic Incident; Condor Fury Reports Man Overboard During Voyage

Tretschmer felt a throb of anger rise from his chest and take up residence in his head. His stomach, at the same time, was suddenly queasy and threatened to expel the just concluded repast of eggs Benedict, sunflower roll, and veal sausage. “Imbecile, moron, fool,” he pronounced aloud before forcing his eyes open again. Around him was the comfortable and familiar lair of his leafy garden terrace, but the image fixed in his mind was of a bullet-headed fireplug of a man in a peacoat. Zellmann did this; that animated pile of seagull shit called a ship’s captain is responsible.

The tall, spare businessman cinched his patterned-silk morning gown more tightly around his seated figure and rubbed long, pale fingers against his temple. What in God’s name had the man been thinking? Why hadn’t Zellmann said something to him upon arrival in Hamburg? What did it all mean and, of vastly more pressing importance, what were the likely consequences for the current transaction? Tretschmer unleashed another toxic stream of vituperation, leaned back in his wrought-iron garden chair, and willed himself to breathe evenly and deeply. A moment later, he decided to read the article again in its entirety.

Crewman Feared Drowned in Atlantic Incident;

Condor Fury Reports Man Overboard During Voyage

Hamburg Harbor Police records note that a crewman aboard the cargo ship Condor Fury, of Belize registry and Austrian ownership, was reported missing by the vessel off of the Angolan coast. The crewman is presumed to have fallen overboard one night during the Condor Fury’s voyage to Hamburg, laden with a shipment of Asian rice. The missing man, identified as Mr. Arturo Reyes, thirty-seven years old, is of Philippine nationality and is now presumed dead. Police interview of Condor Fury captain Horst Zellmann produced an

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