The Assassins by Alan Bardos (best novels in english txt) 📗

spent most of the time thinking about what he'd do next; once he got his half of the money from Libby he could do as he pleased. He hadn't given it much credit before, when he was winning at the club, but the world was on the cusp of untold creativity and innovation. He could be part of that and starting with Belgium, he could go anywhere.

After six days, Breitner finally turned up with a supercilious grin on his face and his ridiculous pince-nez gleaming. For a moment, Johnny was overjoyed.

‘'Breitner, thank God!’ he blurted out, before managing some semblance of self control. 'Where the hell have you been? I’ve been in this stinking hole for nearly a week!'

'I needed to keep you somewhere safe, Johnny. You have a tendency to wander off,' Breitner grinned. 'Also, I was quite angry with you. If you'd done what you were told we might have prevented the assassination.'

'You deliberately left me in here?' Johnny almost punched him. 'I told you what was going to happen!'

'Yes, that’s true, but you drove the Archduke right in front of his assassin and stopped. That took some explaining.'

'The Governor told me to stop.' There was a whiny tinge to Johnny's voice that made Breitner smile.

'Apparently, you drove the wrong way, as well.'

'I was following the cars in front!' Johnny shouted. He didn’t know how many more times he was going to have to say it. ‘Which were following the official programme.’

Breitner gave Johnny a hard look. 'Evidently no one thought to tell the drivers that the route had changed. There's an unholy row and I doubt that we'll ever get to the bottom of it all. I can only imagine what you thought you were hoping to achieve by getting into the Archduke’s car at all. Did you honestly think he’d stop and chat with his driver?'

Johnny shrugged - none of that seemed important now. 'Look, have you been able to clear this mess up? The chap who owned the car was bloody angry.'

'I've spoken to Colonel von Harrach and explained that as one of my operatives you were doing your duty by stepping in and driving the car when his chauffeur became involved in an altercation with the crowd. Von Harrach is mortified that his driver was taken into custody, minutes before he was due to drive the Heir Apparent, and as I pointed out, he didn't notice you were driving the car until it was too late. He's willing to let the matter drop. Your part in the whole sorry affair will be quietly forgotten and expunged from the records - so you won't receive a commendation.'

'Oh well, that’s what I expected. I might as well be on my way.' Johnny made to leave the cell; he needed to get back to Libby and the money. Breitner didn't move out of the way and Johnny thought that he must want a proper farewell, so he went to shake his hand. 'Thanks a lot, old man. It's been fun, but I have urgent matters to attend to.'

'I still have need of you, Johnny.'

'But I've done everything you asked. We tried and failed. It's time to cut our losses and make a run for it.'

'I need you to come with me to Vienna.'

That was the last place Johnny wanted to go. As far as he could see, there was nothing for him in Vienna. 'Why on earth do you want me to go there?'

'For the good of the Monarchy and of course, the gratitude of a thankful nation.'

'How long are you going to keep dangling that carrot?' Johnny asked. He waved at the walls of his cell. 'I've had about as much as I can stand of your nation's gratitude. 'You need to offer something new to get my attention.'

'I understand that a lady of your acquaintance went to Vienna a few days ago. She might even still be there.' Breitner handed Johnny a folded piece of paper. 'This was left for you at the Hotel Europe.’

*

Breitner was satisfied to see that Johnny was as upset by the note as he'd planned he would be and so didn’t have any difficulty hurrying him out of his cell. Breitner had paid Johnny’s hotel bill and collected together the belongings he’d brought to Sarajevo, after he’d placed him in Mrs Illic’s boarding house. He gave them to Johnny as they left the City Hall Police Station and then guided him into an official car.

There wasn’t much time before their train was due to leave and it had already taken most of the morning to obtain Johnny's release from the local police. Breitner had downplayed Johnny's significance as a source to the investigating judge, in an effort to reduce the embarrassment of having an operative of the Joint Ministry of Finance involved in the shooting of the Heir Apparent and his consort and then consequently being interrogated by Viktor Ivasjuk.

As a result, Breitner had been kept on the periphery of the investigation by Leo Pfeffer, who ignored the information Breitner gave him with the same disdain which General Potiorek had shown. Breitner’s reputation from Vienna had again preceded him.

He was, however, as a representative of the Joint Ministry of Finance, allowed to observe Princip and Cabrinovic's interrogations. The conspirators initially denied that they'd been working together, and Princip had expressed regrets at Sophie's death, stating that his target had been General Potiorek.

Not expecting to survive the assassination, neither of them had given any thought to what they'd say if they were caught and because of this lack of preparation, they let slip a few important details.

Princip mentioned that he'd been living in Ilic's house and so the house was quickly searched and Ilic arrested. Breitner had tried to tell Pfeffer that Princip was registered at that address and that Ilic had been heavily involved