Chapter 26

December 20th, 2005

Zurich

The strong cold Guntram had caught forced him to remain in the house for several days. He felt miserable and preferred to remain in his studio, working on the stories. He already was sure that he would miss his own vernissage in Berlin because of his poor health. Wagemann had been very clear; absolute bed rest for two weeks and Friederich was the enforcer.

Guntram had apologised to Heindrik for stealing his weapon, but the Swedish had taken it very sporty, telling him that he had just been unaware but next time Guntram would not be so lucky and finally both had agreed that the boy would teach him how to do it when he was feeling better. “From now onwards, you're the Dachs just as Armin is the Strolch!”

Armin returned on the 20th and went directly to Guntram's bedroom to apologise, under Friederich stern gaze because Konrad had to leave the house to refrain himself from murdering his own blood.

“I was so stupid, Guntram. I thought she loved or at least liked me. When I fought with you I knew what I was doing, but it was as I couldn't stop myself. Before we arrived to the house, she gave me one of those pills, a

“rocket” and they're incredible when you make love with someone. You feel like you're going to explode in a million suns. I took it and she had one too because we both wanted to have a great time.”

“Why do you need such a thing? You're twenty!” Guntram asked bewildered. “I bet you can turn a lady mad in bed.”

“Of course I can, but she had been complaining for some weeks that I was so boring, like my uncle Konrad; that I was becoming like him.”

“To your information, Armin, your “uncle” is not boring in bed at all,” Guntram confided with a smile.

“I'm glad he's older than I because if he were twenty, I would be a corpse already. A happy one,” he chuckled, but stopped his laughter when he heard Friederich lightly cough.

“I've been in love with her since I was thirteen and when she agreed to date me I asked my father for his permission, I really did. I wanted to do the things right as I wanted her to be my wife!”

“What happened?”

“My father forbade me to do it and uncle Konrad too. They said that she was not worthy of my affections! I spoke with Aunt Gertrud and she allowed me to visit her daughter when Dr. von Kleist was not there, of course. I thought they were old fashioned, but now I know that it was because she had insinuated to uncle Konrad when she was sixteen and was in bed with one of the associates at seventeen, just to force the man to marry her! She had a video of it and blackmailed him to make it public! His wedding was cancelled and he killed himself a month later in a car accident.”

“Could it have been a misunderstanding?”

“No, my father is sure that this was organised by von Kleist! You saved my life and I will be eternally grateful to you, Guntram. I'm sorry for all the hideous things I told you.”

“Don't worry; calling me SpongeBob was not the worst. I was going to start to call you Patrick Star.”

“I'm glad you can hit like you do. It really stopped me.”

“You were a bit out of yourself and me also. I shouldn't have used a knife at you.”

“Guntram, I was stoned and didn't kill you by sheer luck. Amundsen and Hartick had to jump on me to control me when they got there. I was absolutely crazy with that thing. I hit Marie Amélie and perhaps would have killed her when she called me impotent. It was a great luck the men arrived. I never hit a woman in my life and then, I did it with her.”

“I didn't know that,” Guntram said astonished.

“I was furious that she had suggested to fuck with you too. She laughed at me and said that perhaps with a second man, she would feel something because with me, it was like doing it with a dildo.”

“Look Armin, forget about this. Be nice and work hard and your uncle will forgive you too. I'm sorry that you were not loved back. Perhaps one day, you'll find a nice girl who copes with you.”

“Uncle Konrad is a lucky bastard for having you.”

“Uncle Konrad will skin you alive if he hears you saying such a thing,” Guntram smiled and offered his hand. “Friends?”

“Of course, my father adores you,” Armin shook hands with Guntram.

“Do you know where Marie Amélie is?” Guntram asked, but Friederich rose from his chair and only said: “I think it's time for you to leave, young Lintorff. The Duke will see you at dinner,” Abashed, Armin left the room with his head bent.

“Why can't I ask this?” Guntram nearly shouted.

“Because this woman has no relationship to you, child. She's away and her name will never be mentioned again in this house. I'm very pleased with your behaviour and attitude during this unfortunate incident. You followed our Lord's teachings and I believe your father would be proud of you. You should rest now.”

Guntram did his best to comply with the order because he wanted to be able to attend the Christmas Market organised by Pater Bruno and Clara von Ribbentrop, if only for a few hours.

At tea time, Friederich woke him up and told him to get dressed because they would drive together to the Church where it was celebrated. “Most of the people you already know from the Foundation. The one in charge is Gertrud von Kleist, so do your best to stay away from her Guntram. The Duke has granted his permission for you to go -and it's your right because you were helping Mme. von Ribbentrop more than anyone -but fears she might be unpleasant to you after her daughter's incident.”

“I understand, Friederich. I'll stay in a corner. I only wanted to see one of those Christmas markets.”

“You should see one in Vienna or in Munich, child. Perhaps, next year if your health allows it. Remain inside as it's very cold to be in the gardens.”

“Yes, Clara already told me she has a job for me, as children entertainer. I have to take pencils and paper and a good provision of Christmas motives,” Guntram said with a grin.

“Good, stay where she tells you.”

Alexei's offered to drive them in his BMW, but Guntram wondered why another Audi was following them all the time. “Simple precaution, child,” was Friederich explanation and he refused to further extend it and started to tell a story about how Albert von Sachsen Coburg had brought the German tradition of Christmas trees and giving toys for the children to England.

The Church's garden and interior yard were decorated with many tables full with traditional wooden toys, pastries, Christmas decoration and different kinds of wooden nutcrackers. Upon his arrival, Guntram was caught by Monika van der Leyden, the Duke's private secretary who introduced him to her Aunt Sophia zu Löwenstein, the old prince's wife.

“You're the father of Johannes,” the old princess said with a playful light dangling from her eyes.

“Fortunately, he's behaving well, but we can't say the same from Oskar.”

“I'm not married, princess. I'm afraid this is a mistake,” Guntram said very nervous and the smile of the old woman broadened, while Monika was doing her best to keep he aristocratic poise.

“Claudia brought him home last Easter and she keeps it in her room. Her mother was not so sure about how convenient it could be, but then, Maria cried that she wanted to have Oskar too and we couldn't refuse it any longer. The condition was that they should remain high.”

Guntram looked desperately at Monika, but she returned him one of her cold looks as if the boy were a complete simpleton who couldn't remember something so simple. “I don't know any Johannes but Dr. von Kleist's son.”

“You created two entities like Johannes and Oskar and you have forgotten them? The girls will be most disappointed!” the princess shouted in false shock.

“Poor Oskar, he's so nice with his blue coat and red rain hat!”

“And Johannes has such a nice white tail!”

“Almost makes you consider vegetarianism,” Monika laughed, unable to keep with the joke and Guntram looked at them dumbfounded. “Johannes is the duck you draw for Claudia zu Löwenstein and Oskar is a teddy bear you created for Maria, her youngest sister. Both live now with my cousin Adolf's family. Shame on you for abandoning your creations!” Guntram had to laugh utterly relieved that he wasn't accused of fathering people.

“I've heard that Clara plans to make you work today,” the princess said affably. “My husband has already seen your work and I wondered if you would be so kind as to visit us, let's say, after the holidays and show us more.

Tita and Elisabetta have spoken very highly of you.”

“I've seen several of his watercolours, Aunt Sophia, and they're very nice. When is your exhibition in Berlin, Guntram?”

“It starts from the 8th onwards. The vernissage is earlier, on January the 3rd, but it's only for the press and collectors. I will not attend it because the doctor forbids me to fly for a few months after going to London.”

“Vernissages are very boring, my dear. Always the same people and cheese,” Sophia commented. “You miss nothing.”

“I become nervous with so much unknown people around,” Guntram confessed.

“I also, but with the years you forget they're there. Come with me, I'll introduce you to some people before Clara chains you to a table and makes money out of you.”

One hour later of meeting several people more, Guntram was very glad to sit next to a young and attractive Colombian woman, Cecilia Riganti in a table with papers and pencils and a line of seven children ready to ask for something. Realising that he will never be able to finish all the requests, he preferred to sit the oldest ones and make them draw by themselves while he painted something for the younger ones so they could colour them.

“You keep them all busy and quiet. Do you want to work for us?” Cecilia laughed, speaking in Spanish much to Guntram's surprise.

“Do you work in a school?”

“No, I'm Mme Gertrud von Lintorff's secretary at the Foundation. I overlook the bookkeeping.”

“Must be hard with all those numbers.”

“It's all right. There are fourteen of us to check what the other is doing. We present our results to Dr. von Kleist. Would you like something to drink? It's very cold and you had nothing since you arrived,” she offered when she noticed how pale and tired the young man was. 'Did Ferdinand not tell me he's seriously ill? Something related to the heart?'

“I don't want to leave the children alone.”

“I'll go for it. Tea?”

“Yes, please, Ms. Riganti.”

Cecilia went to the large table to pick a porcelain cup and some tea, when Gertrud von Kleist approached her. “Cecilia, be a dear and see if the Weissmanns are leaving. I would like to have a word with…” Gertrud feigned to be lost for a second.

“Margarette Weissmann about her donation for the project in El Salvador?” Cecilia supplied.

“Exactly, thank you, dear.”

“Ah, I was going to bring a cup of tea to Guntram de Lisle. I'll ask one of the waiters to do it.”

“No, no, don't waste your time, catch her before she runs to MSF or some other charity on the TV. I'll take care of Guntram. Which tea are you using?”

“Darjeeling, I suppose.”

“All right, now run. That woman is worth several million and I don't want another third world country orphan to steal them from me.”

'No wonder, Ferdinand says she's a witch.' “Yes, of course Madame von Lintorff,” Cecilia answered curtly and left the room, leaving the tea on top of the table.

'Time to get rid of the little pest.' Gertrud discreetly got three small white pills, saccharine size and threw them into another teacup, adding two spoons of honey to change the bitter taste and took an apple-cinnamon flavour tea bag before adding hot water to it. She carefully stirred so everything would be well mixed. She took the cup in her delicate hands and walked to the other side of the room where Friederich Elssäser was speaking with Pater Bruno. 'If I give it to him, he might suspect. I need someone else.'

“Aunt Gertrud!” A young girl pulled unceremoniously her dress. “It's me, Claudia zu Löwenstein!”

“Yes, dear. How are you? You've grown so much.”

“Thank you, Aunt. I'm in the third class now.”

“Impossible! You look like a young lady. I thought you were in the fifth class!”

“No, Aunt, that's my sister Katherine.”

“Could you make me a favour, I'm in a hurry and Pater Bruno is still speaking and does not look like he's going to stop any time soon. Could you give this cup of tea to the old gentleman with him and tell him its the tea Cecilia prepared for Guntram but she had to leave?”

“Yes, Aunt Gertrud,” the girl answered, happy to be useful, especially to Guntram who had been so nice to her. She held the teacup and the dish with great care as she didn't want to spill the tea and be called clumsy and walked toward Pater Bruno very slowly and lightly treading.

“Pater Bruno?”

“Yes, Claudia?” The priest interrupted his conversation with Friederich and another man.

“This tea is for Guntram.”

“I'm not Guntram, Claudia,” he answered and the girl just froze, clutching the teacup stronger than before.

“Perhaps she doesn't know where he is. Last time I saw him, he was drawing in one of the tables,”

Friederich said.

“Miss Cecilia said it was for him, but she had to leave.”

“All right, I'll take you to him.”

“It's too far away, I'm afraid I will drop it,” Claudia confessed, embarrassed.

“Oh, don't worry, I'll carry it for you and then you can give it to him,” Friederich said kindly.

“Thank you very much, sir,” she said, enthusiastically passing the cup to him and almost spilling the hot liquid on the man.

Guntram was glad to see Claudia again and thanked her for the tea as he confirmed the story that Cecilia Riganti had gone for it. He only took two sips to avoid offending the little girl, because he hated honey in the tea, and continued to work for the smallest ones, now helped by Friederich who could understand them much better than him.

Some thirty minutes later Guntram felt his head turning around and an acute oppression in his chest.

First he tried to dismiss it, but the dizziness was overpowering. “Friederich, I don't feel well at all, can you excuse me and we drive home?” He had some difficulties to pronounce the words and the man saw how pale Guntram was. He offered his apologies quickly and had to help Guntram to stand up. “Too much punch, child?” he joked to release his nerves because he felt something was very wrong with Guntram. “No, I attacked several of these macaroons. I'll pass dinner tonight.”

“Can you walk to the car?” Friederich asked when he had to steady the faltering boy.

“That sentence is for the pub, not for the Church,” Guntram smiled weakly and wondered how the lights could have diminished so much in so little time.

“Are you all right, Guntram?” Adolf zu Löwenstein asked when they passed by his side on their way to the entrance door.

“Just dizzy, nothing to worry about.”

“I'll help you to your car, Guntram, you don't look well,” Adolf said when he noticed how pale the youth was and how he needed to lean himself against the wall for support.

“Thank you, Adolf.”

Guntram managed to leave the room on his own but he nearly collapsed on the foyer. Adolf was quick enough as to catch him and Friederich dashed for Alexei. “Did you take your pills?” asked zu Löwenstein, “you look exactly as my father did the first time he had a heart attack.”

“I have no pain or any numbness. Must be something I ate.”

“Did you drink champagne or something? It's bad for the heart medications.”

“No, nothing, just some tea and macaroons. Perhaps those.”

Alexei arrived almost running and unceremoniously checked Guntram's pulse and cursed softly in Russian. “It's very fast and erratic. To the hospital with you!”

“It's not so bad. I just…” and Guntram couldn't say more as he collapsed in the Russian's arms.

“I'll call an ambulance!”

“No time. Can you drive us to the Hirschbaum Klinik? It's ten minutes from here.”

“Of course, give me your car's keys. Mine is parked away. Is it a heart attack?”

“I don't think so, not yet. His pulse is very bad. He was doing just fine!”

“Father told me the last week was very stressful for him,” Adolf said while he opened the car's back door so Alexei could get inside with Guntram and Friederich took the passenger's side.

“If it's that, it would have affected him much before,” Alexei mumbled and decided to control the hypertension before it could cause real damage. “Mr. Elssäser, do you have his pills? Give me one orange that looks like hard jelly.”

“Are you sure, Antonov?” the man asked, but gave him the pill.

“It's this and hope it works or risk a heart attack, if it has not started yet,” Alexei took the pill and punctured it with a small Swiss army knife and forced Guntram's mouth open and squeezed it inside his mouth and to his relief the boy swallowed it in a reflex movement. “That's great boy, just hold a little more till Dr. van Horn sees you.”

“Until we have the lab results, we can't explain his condition. His catecholamines levels are fine and there was no heart attack, only a severe episode of hypertension and angina. My Duke, Guntram's latest tests are not three weeks old and everything was fine, and his cardiac arrhythmia was under control with the medications. Although his condition is serious, it was stabilized,” Dr. van Horn explained to a very upset Konrad von Lintorff very late that night.

“Could the wine have been the cause?”

“Sir, even if he would have drunken one glass of whiskey, it wouldn't be sufficient as to provoke such a rise in blood pressure. Even after the pill, and in the way your bodyguard gave it, it works in less than ten minutes, he had 160-210 mg! It's very high, even for a healthy person. Normally, Guntram has a low blood pressure with values slightly below the standard. We thought it could be an allergic reaction, but he had none of the other symptoms, therefore we need to wait for the drugs screening tests. In the moment, he's sleeping and I would like to keep him here for a few hours more. He could go home in the morning.”

“Thank you doctor. May I see him?”

“Yes, of course. A nurse is with him. Excuse me, please,” the doctor said before going away at full speed.

“Konrad, Guntram is sleeping now, why don't you take a coffee and eat something? I'll stay with him.”

Friederich said very softly, placing his hand on his pupil's shoulder.

“I don't understand it, Friederich. This morning, he was fine, happy with only a cold which Wagemann told me was not dangerous!”

“The cold has nothing to do with what happened.”

“Was he not taking something against it? These things have substances to make you feel active when you should be in bed.”

“Konrad, there are no contraindications with those pills. I'm also shocked. One minute he was drawing for the children and the next he asked me to excuse himself and go home. He told me that he felt very dizzy and that perhaps the macaroons could have been bad, but the doctor said that it couldn't have provoked such a reaction.

According to Adolf zu Löwenstein, he also had a salmon sandwich at the beginning of the party. He didn't touch the alcohol, only a tea with honey which Cecilia Riganti, sent him. I remember Claudia zu Löwenstein, asked me to carry it because she was afraid to break the cup.”

“Cecilia Riganti? Ferdinand's mistress?”

“I don't pry on other people's lives, Konrad,” Friederich said very stiff. “Guntram only took a sip because it had honey and he hates it. I've been trying to make him take some for his sore throat, but he's worse than a child.

Can't stand it at all!”

“Stay with Guntram, Friederich. I have to speak with Goran,” Konrad said and left the room in the private suite the youth was staying.

“Goran… Yes, he's stable and fine. He will come out tomorrow. I need you to investigate something.

Discreetly. Cecilia Riganti, sent a tea to Guntram through one of the Löwensteins girls… Of course the child has nothing to do! She must be six or seven years old! Her own father drove Guntram to the hospital! I don't understand why she had to send the thing through a child when she had offered to bring it by herself… Exactly, don't involve Ferdinand. Perhaps he's sore about this incident and used her to get rid of Guntram… If there was something, it should appear in the blood or urine.”

Dr. van Horn couldn't believe the tests' results: an unknown amphetamine from the 3-Methoxy group?

What the Hell was the boy thinking? Didn't he know it was dangerous even for a normal person! These youths were impossible! Even the small dose present in his urine was sufficient to provoke a severe episode of hypertension, something deadly for him.

He hated when a patient disobeyed so blatantly and the Duke will hear him what he had to tell. Furious, he crossed the corridors with the papers in the hand, to find the man, sitting in the boy's room, watching him sleep.

For a second he felt sorry for the man, so in love of a stupid junkie, exactly like his nephew, not even a week ago in the clinic for almost overdosing. Both boys must have been sharing their pills.

“May I speak with you? In private,” the doctor growled and increased the speed of the IV line and went to the suite's living room with Konrad behind him, closing the door softly.

“Have you found out what is the problem?”

“If you have a heart condition you shouldn't do drugs. It's basic knowledge!” Van Horn couldn't help to let all his frustration flow. “This is the most stupid thing I've seen in my life! Read the results yourself!” he said, extending the paper to a full brooding Konrad.

“Is this an amphetamine, like speed?”

“Yes, traces of it. Very low dose, almost imperceptible, but taking less, will not help in his case!”

“I'm convinced that Guntram didn't take it.”

“Your nephew had a large dose of methoxatamine! This one is also from that kind, but not the same. The structure is similar, but according to our biochemist, it's different to anything he has seen before.”

“When did you take the samples?”

“Immediately after he entered the hospital.

“But here writes traces, not the full dose as it should be, if he were in the middle of a trip.”

“Sir, I understand that you can make one hundred doses with only one gram of this substance. This is not precisely done in a pharmacy and who knows what precursor was employed! I've heard they use window washer fluid and water! Or perfumes!”

“How is it sold?”

“According to the biochemist, it's a powder that can be eaten, smoked or injected intravenously in case of real large doses.”

“What would happen if you dissolve this substance in boiling water?”

“I've never heard of these things put in hot water. Very rarely people mix them with room temperature water, but as they're highly soluble in water, the crystals go to the bottom of the glass. Very unpleasant taste and smells horrible, like nail polish remover or paint thinner. Will have to stir it while drinking to get something in. I know that people who want a purer kind of speed put the powder in acetone, warm it and add alcohol to dissolve it. They filter it several times and always keep the liquids in the refrigerator to allow the crystals to be formed. In theory, the hot water should lower the effects because it burns it. Amphetamines are medications! More than 35º C ruins them!”

“How long does it take to affect you?”

“Depends on how it's taken, sniffed a minute or two, as a pill, thirty to forty minutes, like any other medication.”

“What if Guntram took it with his tea?”

“No one would be so stupid! Water boils at 100ºC! Teas range from 70º C to 95º C and I know it because my wife is a fan of such things. Have you ever heard about taking your medications with hot liquids? Never! It's basic!”

“The last thing Guntram had was a hot tea and nothing else. My butler was with him all the time, Dr. van Horn. It should have been there.”

“It might well explain why they found traces and it only provoked a sharp increase in his blood pressure when a full dose would have killed him instantly. But why did he put it there? Normally such things are taken with juices!”

“Perhaps he didn't know it was there. He complained about the taste and didn't drink the tea,” Konrad pondered more and more convinced that it was a poisoning more than Guntram trying recreational drugs. “Will he recover?”

“Yes, of course. The drugs will flush out of his body in twenty-four to forty-eight hours. The main effect is over. He will feel very bad tomorrow, but fortunately there are no further damages to his original condition. I will increase his medications for a month, just to be on the safe side. He will need a lot of rest and should not move around much.” The doctor felt his indignation melt away and an increasing sense of guilt overtaking him because he had believed that the boy was into drugs. 'How can I be such an idiot? He's like a little mouse.'

“One more thing, doctor. I would prefer if we keep these lab results to ourselves. It would only stress Guntram more. It was only an acute episode of high blood pressure.”

“What if this incident repeats again? We should call the police. This is almost like murder.”

“The police would only make him more nervous. We will investigate this and I will appreciate your cooperation and discretion.”

“Of course, my Griffin. I'll brief Dr. Wagemann.”

Guntram woke up feeling weak like a beaten kitten, all his body was aching. 'The worst hangover ever.'

He turned his head to the right and saw an IV line attached to his arm and a few metres away, Konrad totally asleep on the couch. 'He looks so sweet with his messy hair and undone tie. I hope he has not worried himself about me.'

Guntram turned to his side, just to get a better view and the small creak woke Konrad up.

“Hello, kitten.” He stood up, stretching his stiff neck muscles and approached the bed, carefully kissing the boy. “How are you feeling now?”

“I don't know. I swear I was in a Church's party and not in disco in Marbella.”

“Shh, don't worry, the doctor has everything under control, my love. You'll be fine in a few days and I'm going to stay with you at home for the holidays.”

“What happened? I remember I felt very sick and then nothing else. Were the macaroons guilty?”

“No, Maus, you can still attack them, within reason, of course. It was just a high blood pressure episode.

Perhaps it was the excitement and the stress of the past weeks. You only need to rest. I'll call your nurse. She has to get some more blood samples and give you breakfast.”

“That would be nice. I'm kind of hungry. Strange.”

“Probably because of all the sugar you took, how many of those sugar bombs?” Konrad joked.

“After the second, I stopped counting.”

“Children eat such sweeties without restraints, Guntram.”

“Someone sat me at the children's table. While in Rome do as the Romans do.”

“Don't get too tired. I'll get your nurse and she's quite bossy, so be nice to her.”

“Did you finally meet your match, Konrad?”

“Almost. If she had a bank, I would be very concerned.” Guntram laughed at his sour expression, thinking how cute he was. He had to repress a sigh when he only got a kiss in the forehead and Konrad left the room.

Contrary to his expectations, Ferdinand's mistress was willing to help, believing that Guntram had suffered an allergy attack. She was desolated and told him that she was sure she had prepared a black tea cup because

“that's what normally people take”. Goran was sure that she was telling the truth because he could not catch any inconsistencies in her story. What truly disturbed him was why Gertrud von Lintorff had sent her away to speak with the Weissmann woman when they had paid their share to the Order and added some more later.

“What did you do when Ms. Von Kleist ordered you to go away?”

“I went there because she offered to bring the tea for him. Do you think that he could be allergic to black tea? Could it have not been something else?”

“Did you speak with them?”

“Yes, of course, I convinced her to visit us after the holidays so we can show her our projects in El Salvador. I'm convinced that the authorities will let us name the schools after the benefactors. I'm hoping to start a war between the ladies, so we get something larger, Mr. Pavicevic.”

“Did Ms. von Kleist join you?”

“Yes, of course. She's very dedicated to her work.”

“Thank you, Miss Riganti.”

Logic would tell that Ferdinand might have been in league with his wife, but he knew the man for more than eighteen years and he would have never moved a finger for his wife or daughter. For some reason, he despised the little snake since her birth no matter how many times the Duke was telling that she had “all the traits of a real Lintorff”. Gertrud von Kleist would have never dared to do something so stupid as to try to poison Guntram! She was well aware of the risks and the Duke would kill her without a second thought.

Where would a lady like her find a newly designed drug like this one? It was the next generation and not produced in Europe: imported from South East Asia and in very small quantities because it was very expensive. What Armin had taken was the old type from the same family; old traditional “speed”, but this one was “exactly like that one, but you don't get depressed while landing. It's gonna be a bust!” according to one of his sources. “You feel like you're going to explode in bliss, but your body is catatonic at the same time. Everything seems to be funny.”

He took out his mobile phone and dialled the Duke's number. “My Griffin, I need your permission.”

“What is it?”

“I need to speak with Claudia Löwenstein.”

“No, leave the child out of all this. I'll talk with her father and he will ask her. Something else?”

“Gertrud von Kleist had the teacup for a moment. Should I speak with her?”

Konrad's fury rose to an unknown level, but he hid it as Guntram was in the same room with him, drawing peacefully with the dog sleeping next to him. “No, Goran. I'll take care of the matter by myself.” He hung up almost punching the phone.

Guntram felt that something was amiss with his lover and looked at him and asked: “troubles?”

“No, kitten. Everything is fine. I'll go to my studio. I have to make some business calls.”

“I can go to my studio.”

“No, stay here where is warm. Friederich will bring tea very soon.”

“All right, I promise to leave the macaroons alone,” Guntram smiled and stretched his body to get a kiss, but it didn't loosen Konrad's righteous fury.

The Duke went to this private studio and closed the door before dialling Adolf zu Löwenstein's private number. The man answered at the second ring and asked about Guntram. “He's much better now, but we believe that some allergens could have been in his food. I understand that your daughter brought a teacup for him. Friederich saw her.”

“Yes, she did. Claudia was very proud that Gertrud asked her to carry it. She's dying to be like her older sister, Katherine,” Adolf answered. “My wife has to stop a fight almost every day because Claudia touches her things.”

“Must be exhausting for her,” Konrad commented lightly to conceal his murderous rage. “Are you certain that it was from Gertrud and not from Cecilia Riganti? I understand that she was helping Guntram with the children.”

“No, it was your cousin. Cecilia was with the Weissmanns, my wife was there too. Gertrud came by later. Do you think that it was the tea?”

“No, no, of course not. Guntram had a hypertension episode and with his general condition, it can very taxing for him. He's much better now.”

“My father sends his best wishes for him. He would like to know, when it would be suitable to visit him.

I think, he's jealous that Guntram got more pills than him.”

“The Prince will get more if he insists on his escapades to the Königshalle like he does. I saw him yesterday keeping company to a large steak,” Konrad said. “Guntram will be delighted to see your father at his convenience. The doctor has grounded him till further notice. Why don't you ask him to come for lunch? I've taken holidays till the New Year. The Princess can be sure that her husband will stick to the diet for one day.”

“Thank you very much, my Griffin.”

“Good-bye and send my regards to Helena.”

Still unable to believe that he had been attacked once more by his own inner circle in less than a week, Konrad thought about his next step. Everything pointed in Gertrud's direction, but it was only a child's and an outsider words' against her. Why would she attack Guntram? He had saved her two boys and Ferdinand's position within the Order. Guntram had not spoken against Marie Amélie although he had many reasons to. For some reason she was against his kitten since the first day. He had always preferred men to women and that was no secret. The succession had been changed but her sons would get all the money he had promised. Guntram had only made him happy and given him the greatest present of his life.

He was unsure.

He hated to be disoriented. He took his mobile and once more called the Serb. “Goran, could you come to my house now? I want to speak with Ferdinand and his wife and I need you to moderate us.”

Konrad took a deep breath but he couldn't find once more his inner steel core; the one he had built over the years and allowed him to treat the rest of humans as what they were: greedy, impulse driven creatures, using only their intelligence for their selfish purposes. Once more he had a snake in his own nest, but this time from his own blood and flesh.

Ferdinand had not yet left his briefcase at the foyer's table when his mobile had rung loudly. He sighed before answering because he was too tired to speak with Konrad about the deal in Dallas. “Hello, Konrad. I've just arrived home.”

“Bring your wife to the house, Ferdinand. Now.”

“What has Marie Amélie done now?”

“One of your women tried to kill Guntram and I will set things right. Bring her or I will send someone for her.”

“What? Are you out of your mind?” Ferdinand roared.

“You have an hour or someone will take care of your new slut,” Konrad said in a very cold voice before hanging up the phone.

Still frozen in his spot, Ferdinand mechanically closed his phone and put it in his pocket. A cold sweat wet his forehead and he felt dead. He would not let Konrad touch his Cecilia. More determined than ever he went to fetch Gertrud and this time he wouldn't care if he had to hit her in order to drag her in front of her cousin.

“Friederich, give me the key for the small house. I need it now.”

“Dinner will be in an hour, Sire,” he protested softly but removed the key from its ring.

“Cancel it! Stay with Guntram! He should never know what happens now!”

“Is this related to yesterday's events?”

“Yes, it is. Stay out you too. When Goran arrives, tell him to meet me there. Let him say hello to Guntram.”

“Konrad, don't do anything that you might regret later.”

“If I don't stop this, I might regret much more later. Guntram has been attacked twice in a week and the source is always the same! I will not risk all what I've fought for and my greatest dream because of a woman's ambition!”

“Always rely on the physical evidence, my child. The rest is immaterial.”

“I will do what I have to do to protect my family, Friederich.”

The Serbs were nervous. To be called at this hour without any kind of explanations could only mean one thing; an execution. Milan looked at Ratko and only grunted inquisitively.

“Not the boy. He has done nothing bad. He's sick in bed.”

“Good. Where's Goran?”

“Out, looking for his lady friend.”

“Mighty one, it seems. The royal treatment.”

“Seems so, but the council has not been called. Strange.”

Still alone, Konrad sat at the large dinning table in the small lodge. He closed his eyes, utterly tired.

'Since I was born I never knew one moment of true happiness till now. I've wasted forty-seven years of my life for nothing, just to enrich the same people that want to kill me. I did my best to fulfil my duties, but it's never enough.

They want more and more from me. I'm on the limit of my endurance.'

The soft footsteps he heard could only be Goran's. He looked at the approaching man who sat next to him but said nothing.

“Guntram is unaware of everything,” Goran said.

“I prefer it that way. Whatever happens now, stays here.”

“Milan and Ratko wait for your orders.”

“My cousin Gertrud did it. She gave the tea to the girl. I want to hear her before I finish this.”

“The substance used is very rare, my Griffin. Not from here. I've asked around and it's something that comes from Repin's lands. We should also consider that he might have tried to kill Guntram. “If he's not mine, no one else shall have him”. He's unstable.”

“That's plausible, but Repin loves Guntram. He would go against me first before touching a single hair of him.”

“She has nothing to gain from his death. Her children were never in the succession and they still keep all the money. Guntram has no interests in the Order; he's just your companion and your children's tutor when they're born. They will be the next Griffins.”

“Without Guntram's presence, everything would have been passed to Albert's line and let's do not deceive ourselves; he's unable to keep the power. Georg and Gertrud could finish him in less than a year. This way, Armin will only act as surrogate Griffin in case of my death and until my children turn twenty-five. Or perhaps she was only furious that her daughter had been expelled.”

“Using the same method employed with Armin? No one could be so stupid.”

“Or bold, Goran. We finish this tonight.”

“Who will replace Ferdinand, sire?”

“I don't know. He's my best friend.”

The sulk face of Friederich when he asked Ferdinand and Gertrud to go to the far away house for the meeting raised all the alarms in Ferdinand. The five armed men standing next to his car convinced him that this time there would be no escape for him. “Come Gertrud, let's go now,” he said softly.

“Why? I'm not moving from here!”

“Woman, move if you don't want to be shot in the middle of the courtyard! This way your sons still stand a chance!” Ferdinand whispered and took her by the arm with force before pushing her inside his car. Without saying one more word, he drove to the lodge, parking in front of the house. Milan opened the door for Gertrud as Ratko placed at Ferdinand's side.

“The Duke awaits for you, madam,” Goran said from the door and advanced toward her, taking her by the arm.

“Remove your hands from me! I'm a Lintorff.”

“We're aware of this, therefore you will be judged under the Code.”

Gertrud ignored Goran and entered the house with her head very high. She walked purposely toward the dinning room, the only lit room in the house. Inside, Konrad was sitting at the head of the table, wearing a blank expression in his face.

“This is outrageous! How dare you to accuse me of this?” she shouted. “Your little whore feels sick and you believe that I had something to do with this?”

“Sit down, Gertrud. No need to be vulgar or forget your upbringing. Ferdinand, sit next to your wife as this also concerns you.”

Ferdinand took his place and pulled Gertrud down so she would obey her cousin. Goran sat next to Konrad.

“We found a potent drug in the Consort's blood which endangered his life. Had it not been by the wrong dosage, it would have killed him.” Goran used his sternest voice.

“Nice story, Serb. What else?” Gertrud answered.

“You're accused of poisoning our Consort, Gertrud von Lintorff. You will be judged and punished according to our laws,” Goran continued to speak, ignoring her retort.

“Your laws? They are useless and I do not recognise them! You're only a band of lunatics, brandishing swords around! If you have any accusations against me, go to the police, Pavicevic! Your little whore provides drugs to my daughter and Armin, overdoses and you blame me, Konrad? I'm your own blood! Can't you see that he plans to take all for himself! You're like a zombie, following his every command!”

“Shut up, woman!” Ferdinand shouted, enraged and afraid now for his sons' fate as he knew where all this was leading he and his family.

“I will not be quiet like all of you! You're a mockery of your titles! You, Ferdinand do nothing more than follow my cousin's orders without questioning and flatter him all day! Pavicevic, you kill whoever is in your path and Konrad, you're nothing more than a sociopath, egocentric, hedonist, megalomaniac control freak!

“You poisoned Guntram de Lisle. You used a child to bring the poison to him!” Goran exclaimed, his patience wearing thinner.

“I was not even near the boy! I wouldn't waste my time and credentials by coming near him!”

“Mind your words, Gertrud. He's my Consort, therefore your superior,” Konrad said emotionless.

“Another joke! He's nothing more than your Catamite! Consort! What an insult to our traditions! You run like a pathetic old man after a boy who could be your son, if you were able to produce offspring, but nature is wise and never allowed it! You're a pervert throwing your money after the former whore of a Russian!”

“Guntram's reputation is much better than yours, woman!” Ferdinand roared.

“He's just a little slut. At eighteen he was jumping into the man's bed and took all the money he could from him! I've investigated him. One luxurious flat in Buenos Aires, another in Paris, several good paintings and a very long list!”

“He has nothing of those!” Konrad roared. “He had the decency of returning them after he broke up with Repin!”

“He destroyed that man's marriage! He destroyed your engagement with poor Stefania! She's heartbroken! She gave you her best years and you threw her out like a useless thing!”

“Did you or did you not give the cup of tea to Guntram?” Konrad asked seriously.

“Of course not! I'm not a maid!”

“Cecilia Riganti affirms that she asked you to do it.”

“Never! Can't you see that it's a lie from another whore? Ferdinand's whore! I've tolerated his repeated infidelity with that woman, right under my nose, to avoid a scandal and she accuses me of murdering? Konrad, that woman wants me dead to get rid of me!”

“Another witness said that you gave the cup to her telling it was from Cecilia Riganti,” Goran said.

“Who? It's a lie!”

“Claudia zu Löwenstein.”

“Are you accusing me on the testimony of a six-year-old little girl? Children lie all the time!”

“Her father would not lie to me,” Konrad said.

“What more proof do you have beside some gossips and a little girl's word? Fingerprints of mine? The poison I used? Did someone see me pouring the arsenic? Any videos from the party?”

“The drugs found in Guntram are similar to the ones your daughter supplied to Armin von Lintorff,”

Goran stated.

“Marie Amélie never used drugs! They got them from de Lisle! He used them on himself and it was a pity they didn't work!”

“Armin said that your daughter provided the drugs. We found her fingerprints and his on the bottle, never Guntram's,” Goran pointed out.

“He was living with a drug dealer! A mobster! He threw a knife at Armin!”

“To defend himself, woman!” Ferdinand shouted. “I saw the security recordings!”

“Armin would say anything to keep his place here! He lied to fool you Konrad! Those two are in tandem! Ferdinand confiscated all the pills my daughter had! This man ruined her with his lies and now you're so blinded that you accuse me for his own deeds! This is insufferable, Konrad!

“I'm not a fool, Gertrud! For some reason, you're against him and decided to kill him to punish him for your daughter's actions! I will punish you, myself!” Konrad said without flinching a muscle in his face. “This is all your doing and I only need to see if Ferdinand was in league or not with you.”

“I swear I had nothing to do with this mess. I was in America! I didn't speak with my wife!”

“There are five calls from you to Cecilia Riganti,” Goran said calmly.

“Yes, I know. I call her every night!”

“Can't you see it, Konrad? They did it together and blame it on me so you can kill me!” Gertrud said desperately and burst into tears.

Ferdinand was speechless and could only look in disbelief at his wife, her sobs echoed in the room.

Konrad felt uncomfortable to hear his own cousin, cry so much. “They want to kill me and get all my money! She will leave my children penniless! She's from Colombia, all of them drug dealers! It would be very easy for her to get the poison!”

“That's a stereotype, woman!” Ferdinand cried. “My Cecilia is unable to hurt a fly! Konrad, I swear on my boys' heads that I had nothing to do with this! I like the boy and I supported you on the 16th even!”

“I'm aware of it, Ferdinand,” Konrad only said.

“How did I do it? When did I do it? Which were my motives? What real evidence do you have against me? If you were so sure about your accusations, the whole council would be here!” Gertrud shouted through her tears.

“It's a game that those two devised against me! It's not a secret that I don't like this boy for you! I've always told you the truth in your face, Konrad. He's not good for you! He's just an adventurer, looking to squeeze out up to the last penny from you!”

“Guntram is not like that, Gertrud,” Konrad said softly, his resolution not so strong as before. It was true.

He had not a single material evidence against her and to execute her on such weak grounds could endanger his own position. No, he would have to find another punishment that could be as horrible as this one. “Call the Executioners,”

he said and Milan and Ratko entered the room.

“You have insulted my Consort and me in front of the Council. You have been unable to educate your daughter, the same I accepted although she was born out of the established line. You do not respect our decisions, Gertrud von Lintorff and your line has been involved in attacking another line and mine. Therefore, our punishment is as follows. You will resign from your duties at the Foundation from tomorrow onwards and you will never be admitted by any of us. No member from the Order or from his family is allowed to speak with you or help you in any way. Your fortune is confiscated until your death, when your children can inherit it. You must leave Europe and never return here. This is our decision. As for you, Ferdinand von Kleist, you have proved to be a weak leader of your house, therefore you will send your mistress away tomorrow. She will return to New York and you will never contact her again. You will resign from your duties at the bank and if the Council agrees, you will resign from your position as Magnus Commendator. Your sons will remain with us if they want so,” Konrad said and sat again in his chair.

“Our Hochmeister has spoken,” Goran intoned. “Executioners! Take them away from our presence!”

Milan and Ratko took Gertrud away before she would have jumped on her cousin and Ferdinand followed them meekly.

“Is your decision final, my Griffin?”

“The Council and the Board should decide if they want to keep Ferdinand. I will not vote or say a word against him if he presents his resignation tomorrow. If he gets their support, he will continue with us.”

“And if not?”

“Michael Dähler or Adolf zu Löwenstein will take his place.”

“Ms. Riganti has nothing to do with this, my Griffin. I'm sure.”

“I know, but Ferdinand should be punished somehow; my cousin acted right under his nose. The woman is out. Elisabetta von Lintorff will take Gertrud's place temporarily.”

“Georg von Lintorff will not accept this. He will revolt against us.”

“He will do nothing that could endanger his own money. He's perfectly aware that I can destroy him in a matter of weeks. He will not lift a finger for his sister.”