The Gemini Agenda by Michael McMenamin

Author:Michael McMenamin
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781936274383
Publisher: Enigma Books

44.

It’s Still Ted’s Story Too

The Cedars

Sands Point, Long Island

Wednesday, 25 May 1932

MATTIE was in a state of high excitement as she usually was when starting on a journey, especially a trip on the Graf Zeppelin, not alone this time but, rather, with the man she loved. Her thoughts were interrupted by the loud ringing of the telephone. Cockran picked it up.

“Bourke Cockran,” he said. A few seconds later, “Yes, she’s here. It’s for you,” Cockran said, the expression on his face cold and hard as he handed the receiver to Mattie.

Uh oh, Mattie thought as she took the phone from Cockran. This can’t be good. When she put the receiver to her ear, she knew why as the baritone voice of Ted Hudson filled her ear.

“What?” Mattie said and then gasped. “Oh, my God … When did it happen?”

Mattie listened silently for nearly three full minutes, tears welling in her eyes. Finally she spoke, wiping the tears from her face with the back of her hand. “Look, Ted, Bourke and I are leaving for Germany tomorrow on the Graf Zeppelin to try and find the clinic where the autopsy protocols will take place. Churchill is checking with his contacts. So is Hearst.”

Mattie paused to catch her breath. She took a sip of tea. “No, Ted. You don’t need to come to Germany.” Mattie paused. “That’s not a bad idea. I agree with you.”

Mattie listened and then spoke again. “Bourke and I are booked at the Hotel Rose in Friedrichschafen for Saturday night. After that, Munich will be our base of operations and we’ll be at the Bayerische Hof. Fine. We’ll see you there,” she said and then hung up the receiver.

Mattie turned to Cockran with tears in her eyes. “My confidential source—her name is Helen Talbot—has been killed. It’s too horrible. They tortured her. Cigar burns on her body. Ted was tipped off by a friend in the police department. He went to the crime scene. Oh, my God, Bourke, he saw her body.” She shook her head and hugged herself with her arms, her voice small and quiet. “They cut out her tongue, Bourke, they cut out that poor woman’s tongue.”

Cockran reached out for her, his big arms warm and comforting as Mattie let herself cry, horrified at the unintended consequences of her story and her visit to the ERO offices. They had been on to Helen and her. Probably followed one or both of them. Oh, God, why didn’t she warn Helen? When she barely escaped with her life, she should have known they’d come after Helen. They must have known about the file Mattie took. She should have warned her!

Mattie closed her eyes, drew a deep breath and exhaled. She had to refocus. She pulled away from Cockran’s embrace. Too many people had died. They had to get to Germany and the bottom of this before any more people died.

“Bourke, we ought to return to Manhattan now. The Graf lifts off as soon as the ground fog clears tomorrow morning.

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