Deadly Gamble by Kate Parker

Author:Kate Parker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: JDP Press
Published: 2024-03-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The PVDE policeman eventually nodded and I nearly loosed an audible sigh. “Enjoy your dinner,” he said and both policemen left the restaurant.

A minute or two later, as soon as Ryzard Pawelek cleaned his plate, he moved as if to leave.

“You’re being too obvious,” I said very quietly in English. “Stay for a cup of coffee while Anna has a pastry. Then we’ll all leave here together.”

He nodded and I ordered the coffee and pastry. We kept up a little small talk until we finished. Ryzark now looked as if he’d jump out of his chair before Anna finished her last bite. I paid, keeping a hand on Ryzard’s shoulder so he wouldn’t leap up, and then we walked outside.

He bent and spoke so quietly to Anna I couldn’t hear his words. Then he stood, said to me, “Don’t look for me again, but now that you know, find Anna’s family and get her somewhere to safety. Thank you for dinner.” He took a few quick steps away from us and disappeared into the shadows.

Anna and I walked back to the hotel annex, passing other families out for a stroll. Anna looked more and more glum.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” I asked in German.

“I want my mama and papa,” she said in a lowered voice.

I waited until we reached our room before I said, “I can’t do anything to bring your papa back, but now that you’ve given me a last name and address, I’m hoping we can get in touch with your mama.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.” I wanted to go home, too, and since I didn’t think the police or I would find Viktor Erwitz’s killer, I had no reason to stay.

After Anna fell asleep, I went to pull out the ledger to try once more to make sense of the book I’d found in Erwitz’s rooms.

It was gone.

How long had the ledger been missing? I had looked at it the night before, hadn’t I? Pawelek had had the opportunity to search for and remove it, but so might the maids or other hotel employees.

Whoever had taken it, I was now sure it had more value than I had thought. I should have spent more time studying it. I should have found out its secrets so I could use it to get Anna and me home to Britain as soon as possible.

At least the loss left me free to write copy for the Daily Premier on the wonderful bakery and café near Rossio and the pastries they sold as well as the bright lights of the casino.

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