The Prague Plot: The Cold War Meets the Jihad (Jeannine Ryan Series Book 3) by James E. Mosimann

skin of her hands had red blotches that matched, in part, the holes worn in her rubber gloves from strenuous rubbing. As far as she could tell, Vaclav’s bathroom was spotless.
    She had achieved her goal. The bathroom sink and tiles were free of visual traces of blood. She poured the last bucket of dirty water down the toilet. Then she sat on the edge of the tub and wept.
***
    In the Red Roof Motel on Shady Grove Road in Rockville, Maryland, a disheveled Johan Zeleny finished lunch in his room. On the end table, a near-empty vodka bottle lay on its side dribbling its remains onto the wood.
    His phone rang. It was his son, Peter.
    “The clinic in Chicago gave me your message. I’m still in North Carolina. Did you talk to Dr. Harris?”
    “I talked to her. She knew nothing. Your cell phone wasn’t working, so I called Chicago.”
    “It’s charged now. What do you want?”
    “My friend, Gustav, wants you to meet him in Maryland.”
    “Father, Gustav is an assassin. He killed Vaclav!”
    “Don’t you want to see your father?”
    “Yes, but why are you with Gustav?”
    “We represent a Czech company.”
    “Not Hus-Kinetika? You hate capitalists.”
    “These are changed times. We cannot always choose the company we keep. Even Hus-Kinetika has good projects. Some of my old comrades work there.”
    “Like Karel Moravec?”
    “Moravec is a swine. He was in the Party, but never believed. His grandfather was a Nazi, a friend of Reinhard Heydrich.”
    “But Gustav?”
    “You are wrong about Gustav. He did not kill Vaclav, Karel’s men did that.”
    Johan continued.
    “Peter, do not forget how Gustav helped us when you were a boy. He believes you can help him against Moravec. You must meet him here, tomorrow.”
    “But what can I do?”
    “He thinks Simek will tell you where Vaclav’s papers are.”
    “Anne doesn’t know about the papers. Besides, she won’t see me.”
    “She is a liar, like her father. Simeks are not capable of the truth. But she is our only possibility. Patekova gave Vaclav’s carryon bag to Gustav. Gustav tore it apart. It had nothing.”
    Johan swept the vodka bottle off the table. It bounced on the soft carpet with a dull thump. His voice rose.
    “Simek has the documents. Find out where. Don’t anger Gustav. We are old comrades, but I can’t control him.”
    “What of my complaint against Hus-Kinetika and Xolak. I cannot drop that.”
    “That is no concern to Gustav or me.”
    “All right father. I’ll be there tomorrow.”
    Johan took a breath.
    “And Peter, do not get attached to the Simek woman. She is Havel Simek’s daughter.”
    Peter hung up.
***
    Minutes later, Gustav Slavik entered Johan’s room. He noticed the empty bottle of vodka on the floor and frowned.
    Johan Zeleny waved him to sit. Gustav remained standing.
    “Well Jan, you and I again. It is like old times, is it not? Tell me, will Peter help us?”
    “Of course. He is my son.”
    “Good. But Jan, Karel’s men once were our comrades. They are ruthless. Does Peter know how to use this?”
    Gustav held out a 9 mm Makarov.
    “He stopped practicing with me after his second year of Medical School. I doubt he’s shot a weapon since.”
    “All right, I won’t count on him.”
    Gustav put the Makarov away and went to the door.
    “Make sure Peter is here tomorrow. And Jan, that company, Ryan Associates, the one with the Harris woman that you met, what is Peter’s connection with them?”
    “Peter wanted their help to prove that Hus-Kinetika lied about Xolak. Harris told me they can prove that the Xolak data are faked. Harris and Ryan only know about Xolak.”
    “You’d better be right. But you didn’t tell Peter they had proof that Hus-Kinetika fabricated the Xolak data. Why not?”
    “Aileen Harris didn’t like me, so I didn’t help her.”
    Gustav frowned. Jan, you’re too old for women now.
    “It’s set then. I’ll be back tomorrow to see Peter.”
    Johan nodded in acquiescence. Gustav