“What’s that?” Breimer said, but nobody answered. Instead, Shaeffer reached for a cigarette, staring at Jake.
“I can’t promise that,” he said, flicking his lighter. “My signature doesn’t mean shit. He’d have to work on spec. Of course, if he actually located Brandt-”
“You’d find a better signature. I’ll ask.”
“You’re talking about hiring a German?” Breimer said.
“Why not? You do,” Jake said.
Breimer’s head snapped back, as if he’d been slapped. “That’s an entirely different matter.”
“Yeah, I know, reparations.”
“You don’t want to get mixed up with Germans,” Breimer said to Shaeffer. “FIAT’s an American operation.”
“Suit yourself,” Jake said. “Somebody’s got to get to Sikorsky__ he’s the only lead we’ve got.“
Shaeffer looked at him through the smoke, not saying anything.
“Well, you guys think it over,” Jake said, moving away from the shelf, impatient. “You wanted me to find Brandt. I found him. At least how to find him. Now the ball’s in your court. Meanwhile, can I borrow some ammo?” He patted the gun. “Liz was fresh out. Same Colt, too,” he said to Shaeffer.
“I thought press weren’t allowed to carry arms,” Breimer said, missing the look between them.
“That’s before I started working for FIAT. Now I get nervous. I notice you carry one.” He nodded toward the bulge in Breimer’s pocket.
“For your information, this is going to a boy’s father in my district.”
Shaeffer opened the drawer to his nightstand, took out a box, and threw it to Jake.
“Careful you don’t shoot yourself with it,” Jake said to Breimer. “Hell of a way to lose an election.” He sat on the bed and fit the bullets into the gun, then snapped it closed. “There, that’s better. Now all I have to do is learn how to use it.”
Shaeffer, who’d been quiet, running the tip of his cigarette around the ashtray, now looked up. “Geismar, this isn’t going to work, you know.”
“I was kidding. I know how-”
“No, with Sikorsky. We’re not going to get anywhere with a tail, yours or ours. I know him. If he’s got Brandt stashed away, even his own men aren’t going to know where. He’s careful.”
“They must have their own Kransberg. Start there.”
Shaeffer looked down at the ashtray again, avoiding eye contact. “You have to bring her in.”
“Bring who in?” Breimer said.
“Geismar’s a friend of the wife’s.”
“Well, for Christ’s sake-”
“No,” Jake said. “She’s not going anywhere.”
“Yes, she is,” Shaeffer said quietly, jaw set. “She’s going to see her husband. And we’ll be right behind her. It’s the only way. We’ve been waiting for Brandt to come to her. Now the fun’s over. We have to give Sikorsky what he wants. It’s the only way to flush him out.“
“Like hell it is. When did you get this bright idea?”
“I’ve been thinking it over. There’s a way to work it, but we need her. You set it up with Sikorsky-or get your friend to do it, even better. That might be worth a persil. She goes to visit, we’ll have a team on her the whole time. There’s no danger to her, none. We get them both back. I guarantee it.”
“You guarantee it. With bullets all over the place. Not a chance. Think again.”
“No bullets. I said, there’s a way to work it. All she has to do is get us there.”
“She’s not bait. Got it? Not bait. She won’t do it.”
“She’d do it if you asked her,” Shaeffer said calmly.
Jake got up from the bed, looking from one to the other, both sets of eyes fixed on him. “I won’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“And risk her? I don’t want him back that much.”
“But I do,” Shaeffer said. “Look, the best way to do this is nicemakes for a better team effort. But it’s not the only way. If you won’t bring her in, I’ll do it myself.”
“After you find her.”
“I know where she is. Right across from KaDeWe. You think we didn’t watch you?” he said, almost smug.
Jake looked at him, surprised. “You should have watched harder, then. I moved her. I wanted to keep her out of the Russians’ hands. Now it looks like I’ll have to keep her out of yours too. And I will. Nobody touches her, understand? One move and we’re gone again. I can do it, too. I know Berlin.”
“You used to. Now you’re just a guy in uniform, like the rest of us. People do what they have to do.”
“Well, she doesn’t have to do this. Get another idea, Shaeffer.” He started moving toward the door. “And by the way, I resign. I don’t want to be a deputy anymore. Go watch someone else.”
Breimer had been following this like a spectator, but now interrupted, his voice smoothing over, folksy. “Son, I think you forget whose side you’re on. Kind of thing happens when you get your head up some kraut skirt. You need to think again. We’re all Americans here.“
“Some of us are more American than others.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you haven’t got my vote. No.”
“Your vote? This isn’t a town meeting. There’s a war going on here.”
“You fight it.”
“Well, I intend to. And so will you. What do you think we’re doine here?”
“I know what you’re doing here. The country’s on its knees, and all you want to do is give favors to the people who put it there and kick everyone else in the balls. That your idea of our side?”
