Matthiassaid, “You guys are with Rogue Security.Where’s Dieter Schwarz?”
Crap.It had taken all of thirty seconds for one of theWelfenlegionguys to recognize the Rogues. Dieter had pointed out this flaw in Theo’s plan, but Theo thought it was unlikely to cause problems.
Aaron Savoie, the Israeli assassin and Rogue who stood closest to Matthias, turned his dark eyes toward him. “Shut up. We’ll ask the questions.”
Dieter said through themicrophone, “Theo, get them to stop this. Do not let Matthias antagonize Aaron.”
On the screen, Matthias stood. “No, seriously. Where the hell is Dieter Schwarz? Why are you guys here without him?”
Beside Matthias,Julien Bodilsen stood and gestured, but the webcam’s mic didn’t pick up whatever he said.
Aaron didn’t so much as flinch. “Schwarz is in the field looking for Friederike von Hannover.You know, the principal target you lost?”
“Theo!” Dieter yelled through the mic. “Noah! Get Wulf in there and get Matthias to back down! Hey Blaise! Can they hear me?”
A ripple of testosterone and rage ran through theWelfenlegionguys.
In the corner, Luca Wyss stood and watched.
Blaise’s window popped back open. The square monitor reflected in his mirrored sunglasses as he typed on a keyboard.“I don’t think they can hear us, Schwarz. I’m on it. I’ll patch you through whether they want it or not.”
On the computer monitor, Matthias puffed out his chest and swaggered right up to Aaron’s face. Dieter could hear him enunciate very clearly.“Wewere guarding Wulfram and Rae.Theyare safe and accounted for.You guyswere tasked with making sure Flicka didn’t run off or get kidnapped yetagain, like she had been just that afternoonon your watch.How did you guys screw it upagain?”
Matthias pulled back his arm like he might punch Aaron Savoie.
Dieter stood in his empty, rented office space, yelling,“Theo!”
On the computer screen, Dieter saw Aaron barely move his arm, but with that economic movement, he punched Matthias hard in the jaw.
Matthias crumpled, unconscious.
Juliengrabbed Matthias as he fell and stumbled under his weight. Julien careened backward, trying to keep Matthias’s unconscious skull from bouncing off the crowded chairs.
The men jumped toward the melee. Some leaped in, fists swinging. Others, including Luca Wyss and Friedhelm Vonlanthen, were grabbing collars and belt loops and hauling people backward.
Dieter yelled, “Dammit, Theo! Get Wulf inthere!”
A man’s shout bellowed from off the screen.“Whatis themeaningof this?”
The men who were fighting lowered their hands and backed up, wiping their mouths and rubbing their ribs.
Wulfram strode into the middle of the chaos, a tall, blond commander in a business suit. This time, his voice was low and simmering with power. “What is the meaning of this?”
The window with Theo finallypopped open on Dieter’s computer screen. Theo’s eyes were bugging out, and it looked like he was silently yelling at someone to his side.
Dieter listened to Wulfram solemnly tear into theWelfenlegionand the Rogues for acting like children when a woman was missing and perhaps in bodily danger. “Quit assigning blame and take some damned responsibility for the solution.”
Dieter sat back in hischair and scrutinized the men around the room.
All seemed chastised, or at least backing off.
No one seemed to glare at Wulfram or have a wrong, odd reaction.
Everyone except Matthias, who had perhaps seen what was coming and had thrown the first punch with a very thin excuse for a fistfight. He just hadn’t realized thatAaron Savoiewas not the man to mess with. He was weaving in his chairand rubbing his jaw. Eian Summerhays had hauled him off the floor and was talking fast at him. Julien stood beside him, glaring at the Rogue Security men.
Dieter told Theo his thoughts, such as they were, about Matthias and some of the other guys. As before, his thoughts were mostly conjecture with a few speculations thrown in for good measure, and he felt stupid even saying them.
He emailedWulf, telling him to reassign Matthias for the time being to something outside the house or to put him on administrative leave. Dieter didn’t want Matthias anywhere near Wulfram or Rae von Hannover.
