Gabriel's Horn Read Online Free PDF

them.”
    “Well, that was certainly foolish.”
    “I didn’t want them to get away with what they did.”
    “So now you’re going to identify them for the police and be a witness at some time-consuming trial.” Garin’s distaste for such a prospect was clear.
    “I don’t want them to get away with this,” Annja repeated.
    “Then find them and kill them yourself. It’s much simpler and not as dangerous as you might think if done properly.”
    Annja sighed. “Not exactly my choice of solutions.”
    “I find it very comforting,” Garin said.
    “Getting caught could be a problem.”
    “Did I need to mention that you’d have to be clever about it? You needn’t claim your kills.”
    Annja rubbed the back of her neck. The headache wasn’t going away. She wanted a hot bath and time to enjoy it. Stanley Younts, the writer she’d met while looking to solve a friend’s murder, had couriered a draft of his new book to her because he wanted her to fact-check the history in the text. He was paying her quite handsomely. She’d had hopes of spending some time with it that day.
    “I can have an attorney there in twenty minutes,” Garin offered. “You’ll be out five minutes after that.”
    “No,” Annja said.
    Garin cursed again.
    “I’ll handle this.” Annja stared at the thick books of photographs. “And I’ll be on time for dinner.”
    “I’ll send a cab for you.”
    “You don’t have to do that.”
    “I know. It’ll be there.” Garin hung up.
    The quick dismissal stung Annja. She almost called him back. But she suspected she wouldn’t get past Garin’s personal assistant. Garin had an infuriating habit of becoming inaccessible.
    Just get through tonight, she told herself. Then the debt’s paid.
    * * * *
    In the end, Skromach wasn’t happy about releasing Annja before she could identify the guilty parties, but he didn’t have a choice. He politely and patiently confirmed her hotel’s information and told her he would be in touch.
    A short cab ride later, Annja paid the driver and got out in front of her hotel. She’d chosen to stay in the Old Town where the surroundings were more Gothic than industrial. She loved the older sections of European cities. All she had to do was look at the buildings and she could imagine the wagons, carriages and horses clattering down the cobbled streets. History, hundreds of years of it, was ingrained in the architecture.
    Her hotel boasted a collection of gargoyles that perched along the roof and looked ready to swoop down on her. She frowned a little when she realized they made her think of Garin. She didn’t know if it was because they looked like predators or simply devious.
    “Are you all right, miss?” the cab driver asked in hesitant English. He held the door open and stood with his cap in his hand.
    Jarred back to the present, Annja looked at him. “I am. Thank you.” She reached back into the cab for her backpack. She never went anywhere without it. Her notebook computer, GPS locater, extra batteries, cameras and other electronic equipment, as well as the change of clothes she habitually carried were inside.
    She gathered the backpack by the straps and strode up the stone steps leading to the hotel.
    “Ah, Miss Creed.”
    Barely in the foyer, Annja turned and found one of the hotel’s assistant managers standing there. “Yes, Johan?”
    The old man smiled. “You remember my name.” He clapped in delight, then smoothed his long silver mustache with his fingertips.
    Annja suspected he was old enough to be her grandfather, but he was thin and elegant and moved like an athlete. His dark suit was immaculate and fit the antique furnishings of the refurbished hotel. Soft yellow light gleamed against the surface of the stone floors.
    “You’ve gone out of your way to make my stay here pleasant,” Annja replied. “Of course I’d remember your name.”
    “You flatter an old man.” Johan put a hand over his heart.
    Annja smiled. During the past