Page 78 of Ground Truth

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Chapter 39

Hedinger’s jet cruised comfortably at thirty thousand feet. He’d showered and changed from his shooting clothes. Distance, time, and eliminating two employees guilty of gross insubordination had improved his mood somewhat.

“Meier, get Bauer on the phone, please,” he said politely, as if Meier had the option to refuse. Which, they were both well aware, he did not.

“Yes, sir,” Bauer said when he picked up the call.

“I will send a replacement for Schmid from my staff at Château Loggerhorn. He’ll arrive next week. You will cover his job personally until the replacement arrives,” Hedinger stated flatly.

Bauer cleared his throat to reply. “Yes, of course.”

Hedinger heard something. Bauer was off. He narrowed his eyes. “Is there a problem?”

“With replacing Schmid? No. Not at all,” Bauer said.

“What, then?”

Bauer cleared his throat again. “We moved Mario and the girl to the morgue at the hospital. Schmid’s there, too.”

“Again, what’s the problem?”

“Brand wants to use them. As donors. He says he has patients waiting,” Bauer replied.

Hedinger shook his head. “Whatever. It’s a medical decision.”

“I’ll relay your decision,” Bauer said.

“Anything else?” Hedinger asked impatiently.

“No, sir,” Bauer replied.

Hedinger disconnected the call. He pressed the call button for Meier.

“Bring me a fresh encrypted cell phone,” Hedinger said, leaning back in his desk chair, eyes closed, expecting his every whim to be answered. Which it always was.

Meier left the cabin and returned shortly with the requested item. “Shall I bring your lunch?”

“After I make this call. Half an hour. No more,” Hedinger said, firing up the phone.

He connected it to the device that would confirm identity by voice analysis. Next, he punched the memorized number into the keypad.

“Call you back,” the man said after the second ring. He disconnected.

A few seconds later, the encrypted cell rang. Hedinger picked up.

“Otis Jarsdel,” the caller said. “It’s a right nice night for ice cream. Four score and seven years ago.”

Hedinger watched the device as it analyzed the man’s voice. After a few moments, a green light flashed, indicating a total match.

Otis Jarsdel. Certainly the best operative Hedinger had ever employed.

“How can I help you?” Jarsdel asked.

“Have you located the missing woman?” Hedinger asked.

Jarsdel didn’t ask why Hedinger wanted to find the woman. He didn’t care. And Hedinger wouldn’t have told him anyway.

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