The Assassins by Alan Bardos (read novel full .TXT) 📕

visit.' Not an ideal solution, he reflected - he wouldn't get all of the conspirators, but it might be the best he could manage.

'Breitner, you have no power to act in a military matter. Your involvement is neither desired nor needed.'

This was precisely the situation Breitner had been trying to avoid. Without Johnny, all he had was hearsay and supposition. 'Excellency, these fanatics mean to commit a terrible outrage on the streets of your city.'

'And do you have any evidence of that? Preferably something that isn't one of the forgeries you cloak and dagger people like to produce.'

'My agent can provide details of the plan and the names of the conspirators - when he gets here.' Breitner snapped open his watch, trying to suppress his impotent rage.

*

Johnny slowed his pace as he approached the Europa Hotel. Its pavement cafe was teeming with people and he realised that it must be about tea time by now. He didn't have much time to order his thoughts. He looked through the mixed group of patrons in traditional and modern dress, enjoying Viennese cakes and coffee. Framed against the old covered market on the corner, it was like a view of two worlds merging into one. He was coming to the end of Franz Josef Street and it was just a matter of rounding the corner, crossing Lateiner Bridge and then a short stroll to the Governor's residence. He still wasn't sure how he was going to get the maximum amount of credit for all this, when he reported to the Governor.

Johnny had successfully managed to get the name of the last man, Mehmed Mehmedbasic: with the right inducement a maid at the Hotel Sarajevo had been more than happy to help Johnny. He was now penniless on the streets of a foreign land, with one last chance to redeem himself.

An elegant woman stepped out of the hotel in front of him without any thought of where she was going and started to raise a parasol. The graceful, fluid movement felt somehow familiar. Johnny glanced around as he passed her and found himself face to face with the girl he’d thought would never turn up.

'Ah, there you are Johnny,' she said casually, as if he was just late for tea.

Johnny was dumbfounded for a moment, as his two worlds collided. 'Libby, where have you been?'

Libby stepped closer, covering Johnny with her parasol and bringing him into her realm. 'Where have I been? I've been scouring the streets of this frightful place for a week trying to find you.'

'A week? I've been here for nearly a month!' She'd been fluttering about Vienna with her coffee house fops, while he'd been subjecting himself to all manner of danger and degradation, he thought irritably.

'Well you know how it is, Johnny.' Her green eyes smiled whimsically and his antagonism faded.

Johnny had to get away before she totally overwhelmed him. 'I'm sorry but I'm in a hurry. I'll come and find you at the spa tonight.'

'I can't go back there. The hotel's been commandeered for that blasted Royal visit. I'm staying here now.' Libby waved vaguely at the Hotel Europa.

'Well then, I'll come back here.' Johnny stepped out from under her parasol.

'Where do you think you're going? I can't believe you'd just abandon me now I've finally found you,' Libby said mockingly. She never needed anyone, least of all him.

'I'm sorry Libby, it's vital I go now.' If he missed his chance with the Governor, Breitner would take all the glory and he'd never get out of here.

'I trust you haven't forgotten that you owe my husband a considerable sum of money?' Her well-bred features became hard.

'What can I do about that now? We're not exactly in Monte Carlo.'

Libby gave him a patient look. 'Now that the manoeuvres have finished the local gambling dens are going to be awash with money as eager young officers throw away their pay, desperate for a few hours' amusement.'

'Manoeuvres - what manoeuvres? I really have to go.'

'The manoeuvres - the reason for the Archduke's visit.'

Johnny wondered how Sir George would react if he knew that Johnny had put the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne's life in danger to go off gambling with his wife. It wouldn't surprise him, in fact he would probably expect it. Johnny was determined to prove him wrong for once. He wouldn't let Libby distract him this time. 'I can't do all that now. I'll come and find you later.'

'You promised to win the money back, Johnny and win it back you shall.'

'Libby, I've got nothing.'

'When has that ever stopped us?' Johnny felt the call of the wild. He could hear the ball spinning, feel the nausea as it dropped and the anguish of it landing in the wrong pocket.

'I haven't had much luck recently, Libby.'

'Don't worry about that. I'm sure we can turn things around.' Libby's green eyes sparkled. The first time he'd seen her at an embassy garden party, she'd been a force of nature, a maelstrom at the centre of everything, effortlessly bending servants and guests alike to her will.

Johnny wondered if he'd told Breitner enough about the assassination plot to get the Royal visit cancelled. Breitner knew that there were people running around the city with guns and bombs; there wasn't much Johnny could add to that.

If he were to pay the money back, that could well be enough to placate Sir George. However, for the sake of his future career, it would be better to have a letter of commendation from the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, to complete his report.

'Can't we do it tomorrow? I need to get a few more documents to complete my report.'

'Your report! You're refusing to help me for the sake of your beastly report?'

'You told me to do a good job. Besides it isn't