She’d been eighteen, studying journalism at the University of Vienna. She still had everything then: Serafina, their fabulous First District apartment, and forged identity documents that kept her enrolled and had not yet expired. One rainy day, she missed her tram, which locals called the Bim for the sound of its bell. Fernando had shared his umbrella, and they hit it off immediately.
“When I saw how you lived, I assumed you were a spoiled little rich American, trotting around Europe and pretending to study journalism,” he said.
“Was I yourmark?” she asked, appalled.
“It never got that far. Serafina suspected I was up to something. She offered me a wad of cash, said I could take it and leave. Or I could stay, but if I hurt you, I’d pay. I chose you. That was when our friendship began in earnest.”
Sterling flicked the schnapps cap off with her thumb, then drank until her throat burned. They stared into the sooty, unlit fireplace. She passed him the bottle, then leaned onto his shoulder. He sipped, then kissed her head.
She nuzzled his sleeve. “You had ten years to hornswoggle me but didn’t. You stayed my friend after Serafina died, after I lost everything. Screw your other wives, you’re mine, for richer or for poorer.”
“I am. I should’ve told you as soon as you described the coin from David Goldfinch’s wallet. I was scared that if I did, Nightingale would come for you too.” He looked down at her. “By the way, what happened to David’s wallet, exactly?”
It was her turn to confess. “Well, it’s kind of a funny story. I sort of… kissed the detective.”
“Ha!Brava.I didn’t think you’d coax Beate out of the closet that fast.”
“Oh, please, she’s so deep in there she’s practically in Narnia. No, I kissed Andreas to hide his face when Verena walked by, and he pickpocketed the wallet. I still have the coin, at least.”
“What else are you hiding?”
She hid her face in his shoulder and mumbled, “I spent Friday night with him, in Room 5.”
“When Mr. K said to get close to the detectives, he didn’t mean fuck them.” He tilted his head, lips pursed. “Ordidhe? Hard to say.”
“It’s worse. Nothing happened. We justtalkedall night,” she said, grimacing at the prude horror that had befallen her life.
“Youwere alone with a red-blooded male, andnothinghappened?”he said, shooting her a judgmental look. “You know, I don’t like this man’s influence on you,young lady!”
“Well, play nice. He knows I’m here illegally. One false move and he’ll call MA 35.”
“I’d marry you to get you a visa, but, alas, I’m already taken.”
“It gets worse. He got me riled up and I let things slip, stuff about Weiss.”
“How? You haven’t even toldmethat story.”
“Ican’t. I signed an NDA thick as a Bible. But at this point, I’m about to be deported, so I have nothing to lose.”
“Spill. Now,” he said, sitting up.
She eyed the clock. “I will, I promise, but it has to wait. Mr. K will be here soon for an update and to discuss our Valentine’s Day preparations. And you have to take over desk duty. We need to sober up.”
Her phone rang.
“Is the boss here already?” she asked the afternoon Concierge.
“No, but the detective is, and she’s asking for you.”
— 32 —Zweiunddreißig
While Fernando took over the front desk. Sterling met Beate in the bar, carrying coffees on a tray. “To what do I owe the pleasure, Detective?”
Beate accepted her drink begrudgingly. “It’s time we have a chat,” she said, eyeing Fernando. “Somewhere private.”
Sterling led her into Room 6, on the ground floor, past the kitchen. The dimmed lights in the narrow foyer beckoned them towards the large bedroom, where a seating area with a coffee table was arranged by the street-facing window.
While the Hotel was legendary in Vienna, Room 6 was legendary among staff. Decades ago, it was called the Orient Zimmer and decorated with a pastiche of Asian decor, including a wooden Buddha. One day, someone tossed a Molotov cocktail through the open window. No one knew who or why. Suspicions pointed to a jealous husband aiming for his wife’s favorite suite. It was fortunate that she was across the Hotel in Room 4, safe in her paramour’s arms, because everything in Room 6 burned to ashes.
