She glanced at the graffiti, and asked, “Do you want to go in?”
“We have nothing to lose but our euros.” He opened the door and they walked in.
The place felt warm compared to the frigid street, and Brodie scoped out the dimly lit lounge.
A long bar ran along the left wall of the large room, but only two people sat there. Neon beer lights hung on black walls plastered with flyers, and electronic dance music played from wall-mounted speakers. Café tables were scattered around the concrete floor, all empty except for one where a couple sat, obviously having a tiff.
A red curtain hanging on the far wall must have led to the music venue in the back room, and Brodie could occasionally hear electric guitars and drums.
Taylor walked to the bar and Brodie followed. She sat and unzipped her coat. Brodie sat beside her.
Behind the bar stood a full-bodied woman in her mid-twenties with dyed, henna-red hair and arms covered in tattoos. “Was kann ich dir bringen?”
Either Brodie was starting to understand German, or the barmaid was speaking English with half a load on. He asked Taylor, “Vas is du drinkin’, comrade?”
She ignored him and said to the barmaid, “Ein Whiskey, bitte.”
“Make it zwei,” said Brodie.
The barmaid grabbed two glasses and a bottle of something and doled out two generous pours. She slid the glasses to them and said, “Zwanzig euros.”
Taylor put a fifty on the bar and asked the woman, “Do you speak English?”
She hesitated, then replied, “Yes. A bit.”
Taylor said, “We are looking for an American friend.” She put her cell phone on the bar. “This man.” She added, “An American soldier, stationed here.”
The barmaid looked at the Army photograph of Harry Vance, then at Taylor, but said nothing.
Taylor took a chance and said, “We know he comes here. When was the last time you saw him?”
“This morning.”
Taylor looked at her. Unless she worked in the morgue, she hadn’t seen Harry Vance this morning. “Are you sure?”
“He… I saw this photograph. On the television.” She looked at Taylor again, then at Brodie. “On the news…”
Brodie asked, “Had you seen him before that? In here?”
“No. I never seen him.”
Taylor pushed the fifty-euro note toward her. “Keep the change.”
The barmaid hesitated, then took the money. She moved off to take another order.
Brodie picked up his glass of whiskey and Taylor did the same. They clinked glasses and Brodie said, “Well, Ember Berlin was a piece of the puzzle.”
Taylor sipped her whiskey thoughtfully. “A small piece. In a big puzzle.” She asked, “Will we share that?”
“We don’t share. We trade.”
“Don’t get yourself in trouble.”
“I live there.”
“I guess I better keep my distance.”
Brodie smiled, then said, “We did our due diligence here. Do you want to finish this shit whiskey or head back to the hotel?”
