Death Knell In The Alps (A Samantha Jamison Mystery) (15 page)

Chapter 53

Suspicious Activities

After locking up our suite that evening, we walked to the elevator excited and looking forward to a fun evening. What a striking group they made: elegantly dressed, nails polished and hair stylishly done up in our hotel’s salon.

Mona wore a tailored black evening dress with long sleeves and silver heels. Hazel wore a slimming wrap around emerald green dress with matching sling-back heels. Betty had on a gray long skirt and matching long-sleeved top and flats, her usual hair bun done up in an elegant French twist. I had on an off-the-shoulder red cocktail dress with matching strappy high heels. Martha completely shocked everyone with a long, elegant navy evening dress with matching shoes. Her white hair looked stunning, sleeked back behind her rhinestone-studded earlobes.

At first, in spite of the day at the spa, no one wanted to attend, because Clay had to work, but he insisted. The formal dinner party with orchestra was a great diversion from the stress we’d been through. He said we deserved it.

Our group came to a halt in front of yellow tape strung across the opened elevator door, blocking it. We peeked inside, surprised to see the maintenance guy, Nick. He held a cable that hung from the open ceiling hatch.

Martha spoke first. “Nick, is everything okay?”

He frowned. “
Notta
so good.”

I peered closer. “What happened?”

He held out clean-cut cable for all of us to see.

“It’s-a tampered cable.
Gooda
thinga
I
founda
it.”

Betty stared at the wire. “…Why is that?”.

“Someone
coulda
beena
killed
whena
it
broka
.”

Turning away, Nick shook his head, mumbling Italian.

“I don’t like the feel of this,” whispered Martha.

Hazel leaned on the wall of the hallway, visibly shaken.

Betty’s hand covered her mouth. “Oh!”

Mona scowled. “I don’t like it. Period!”

No one said anything for a second.

Then practical Martha shrugged. “I guess it’s the stairs.”

We headed toward the stairway.

The last to follow, I said, “This is far from finished.”

From behind I swear I heard, “You
gotta
thatta
right.”

I whipped around and stared at Nick. “What?”

Nick just stared, saying, “…Have a
nicea
night.”

By the time we made it to the bottom and opened the lobby door, everyone had thrown in their two cents as to why the elevator was out of commission, including yours truly. Obviously, if what we all suspected was anywhere near the truth, our problems had followed us back to the hotel. Was the cut elevator cable more than just a warning?

It sure looked like it, didn’t it?

Chapter 54

Dancing To A Different Beat

We were given the same table next to the dance floor. I glanced at several couples dancing, disappointed at having no prospects of being whisked off my feet by Clay because he wasn’t with us. I was hoping we might have at least, as Martha always liked to say,
trip the light fantastic.
Translation:
dance on the dance floor.

I was anticipating the elegant prix fixe menu. This hotel was famous for its deluxe accommodations and superb cuisine, and as long as they didn’t serve me any raw fish sushi or
carpaccio
(
hors d’oeuvres of thin slices of raw beef or fish served with a sauce), I was good to go.

I don’t eat anything moving on my plate either.

I proposed a toast. “To the unexpected…” I began.

“May it not happen tonight,” added a laughing Martha.

Several cheers were added to her sentiments and I got down to sampling my appetizer of sautéed scallops. Mm…

Martha was just about to bite into another shrimp when she paused, saying, “Uh-oh.”

Sitting next to her, I was nudged in my ribs. “What?”

“Approaching at two o’clock: possible incoming target.”

I gave her a questioning look until I realized she was serious. I froze, mid-fork about to turn. …
Who was it?

She placed her hand firmly on mine, whispering, “Don’t look yet, just act casual then turn. He’s headed this way.”

What a joker she was! I immediately swung my gaze over to the dance floor, smiling, expecting to see Clay.

He had surprised me after all.

But instead my eyes locked onto the elderly Hans, who was approaching our table. I tried to appear relaxed. The dining room was now crowded. Nothing dangerous could happen, right? Snakes are deceiving. It was their actions that revealed their true intentions. Hans’ were camouflaged by his black tux, pleated shirt, black bow tie and diamond stud cufflinks, which transformed his appearance entirely.

By now the others had noticed Martha’s and my focus and turned in the same direction. Both Mona and Martha showed no recognition of him whatsoever. Then Martha, Betty, Hazel and Mona started primping themselves like the guy was live bait.

He took his time walking to us. I had to admit he didn’t look that dangerous, smiling like that and especially since his black eye was now undetectable.
Makeup?

His elegant attire enhanced his gray hair, mustache and trim torso. Sophistication and confidence oozed off this guy. He was nothing like he appeared earlier those two times in his never varying black ski attire and sunglasses
.
But like I said, appearances can be deceiving. Having past experience with my crew on this subject matter, I braced myself for the unknown.
What was going on?

Chapter 55

Say What And More…

Martha whispered, “Hey, it’s James Bond’s father.”

I wasn’t saying squat. This should prove interesting. Instead I waited politely for Hans to reach our table and to make the first move. He did.

“Do you mind if I join you and order us champagne?”

Everyone nodded, including an intrigued me.

He snapped his fingers in the air and out of nowhere servers appeared at our table. After some instructions in German, they set another place setting down and left to get the champagne. Hans was definitely in his element and in total control. No one bothered asking his name. With all the drooling going on, I don’t think anyone really cared.

This was a very handsome and possible eligible male.

Where was Hans going with this? What was he trying to pull off? He knew exactly who I was and when we had last seen each other: both times. He must find this amusing. I found it odd, but definitely intriguing. So I played along.

“Are you staying here at the hotel?” I asked casually.

His eyes conveyed something, but in a flash it was gone.

“As a matter of fact, I am,” he replied.

That explained a lot.

Still, if he complained about me to Herr Miller, why his I-don’t-know-you-attitude? It wasn’t adding up.

He took my hand in his.

I flinched slightly, not knowing what to expect.

But all he did was kiss it and gave it a slight squeeze.

This was surreal.

I heard a collective swoon around the table.

“Ah, such beauty,” he said directly to me then he turned to the others and winked. “A toast to all your beauty!”

No one argued. They were still too busy swooning.

Hans had a captivated audience. I couldn’t believe what I was watching. I was dying to interrupt to pin him down with questions. But after my third attempt, I didn’t push it. I’d listen and wait to see what happened next.

I had just about recovered from the shock of Hans being at our table and conversing like he was attending a reunion dinner when another shocker happened.

Martha tapped my arm. “Incoming, two o’clock,
again
.”

I waved her off, laughing. “Very funny.”

“I’m serious,” she said pointing subtly.

I turned to look. “…Oh!”

Tuxedo-clad Clay was walking right for our table.

“Good evening ladies…you too, Samantha.”

I smiled at him.
Hah! Slick entrance.

But then he nodded at Hans. “Glad to see you made it.”

My mouth fell open.

Clay knew Hans? What the…?

Chapter 56

So What Do You Think?

I swear, I tried to say something,
anything
, but nothing passed my lips, not one word. It was happening a lot lately.

I also swore I saw Hans smirk at my confusion. But then again, maybe I was imagining it. My mind was jumping all over the place with possible explanations, but not the one Clay hit me with seconds later.

“Sam, I try to make good on my promises. I’d like you to meet Herr Kraus, the owner of this fine establishment. Herr Kraus, this is Samantha, a personal friend of mine.”

Hans/Kraus gave a slight nod. “The pleasure is mine.”

My mouth was still hanging open when I remembered to respond. “Likewise,” I said. Of course nothing further came out after
that
bombshell Clay just laid on me.

When hearing exactly who Kraus was the others were just as flustered as I was but for different reasons. They were quite taken by this handsome gentleman, who also happened to be a
former
spy
that they’d heard about.

I suddenly had an
ah-ha
moment.

Now I knew why Peter met Hans/Kraus at the chalet. Peter was protecting him. And they weren’t talking about me, they were probably talking about the man and woman who showed up seconds later when Peter skied off. The two skiers apparently were threatening Hans/Kraus as he did in return. They were most likely heirs of one of the original spies: thus the argument I witnessed.

Were they referring to bribe money? Now it made sense.

Another place setting was brought. Clay sat on my left and Hans/Kraus was on my right. On Clay’s left was Mona. To Herr Kraus’ right was Martha. Betty and Hazel were across the table from us, staring blatantly at the debonair hotel owner. Martha hadn’t taken her eyes off of him. This guy was a charmer, a real Casanova, flirting with her.

I took a large gulp of my wine to steady my nerves. Both Clay and Kraus were playing it cool. Obviously, Clay had no idea what turmoil I was going through as I sat there trying to figure out who knew what, when and why.

I have to ask. Did you see this coming? I sure didn’t.

I had my work cut out for me, but I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about it. I felt a tug on my left arm.

“…So what do you think?” Clay asked discreetly.

I stared at Clay, trying to piece together what he was saying, while my mind rambled on about Kraus. I barely caught, “…finally meeting,” and “…you wanted this.”

“…Yes,” I said. “I appreciate you coming through in setting up this meeting. It just caught me off guard. I didn’t expect Herr Kraus to be…”

I couldn’t say, Hans, who I’d never mentioned meeting.

“…here tonight.”

Clay whispered low, “I love it when you get flustered.”

I whispered back, “You’re always surprising me, Clay.”

But I had to admit this one was a whopper.