Free 1503954692 by Steve Robinson

digital throwback from the 1980s with the red LED digits that had served him so faithfully all these years. It told him it was 17.14.
    Tayte waited a few minutes, and then he ambled closer to the Corinthian-columned portico that dominated the square, curious to see what the building was used for. As he drew closer to the steps that ran up to the main entrance, he saw that it was the Max-Joseph-Platz National Theatre, and having satisfied his curiosity, he turned away again and slowly headed back, thinking that Jean should be entering the plaza at any minute. He arrived back at the railings and checked his watch again. It was 17.22 and there was still no sign of her.
    Maybe there was a line at the checkout, he thought. He closed his eyes and began to think about the research he wanted to do after they checked in at the hotel. Two friends, whose friendship was torn apart by a girl—Ava Bauer . . . That was the story Johann Langner was telling them about. Was it significant? Tayte didn’t know at this point. All he did know was that his mother had seemingly been interested in Volker Strobel or perhaps Johann Langner, or maybe even the building she’d been photographed outside. He made a mental note to visit Langner’s former Hitler Youth building, now a museum and education centre, while they were in Munich. Perhaps it held some further clue as to what had drawn his mother there.
    Tayte opened his eyes and scanned for Jean again. Nothing. He checked his watch and realised he’d been daydreaming for several minutes because it was now 17.30, which he thought was too long. He strode back to the edge of the plaza onto Residenzstrasse and looked back along the shady street. There were plenty of people about, but he couldn’t see Jean among them. He walked over to the shops and began to stroll beside them, conscious of upsetting Jean’s surprise, but twenty minutes had passed since he’d left her and he was beginning to worry.
    He drew closer to the shops he’d been outside when they stopped. He recognised the jeweller’s he’d passed as he set off for the plaza. Ahead was the café, and he thought he had to be close to the shop Jean had been interested in. He kept going and came to a women’s fashion boutique, and then a shoe shop. Was that it? Did Jean want to buy him a new pair of shoes? He hoped she wasn’t about to start changing his wardrobe for him, because he didn’t think he could handle too many changes at once. He liked his wardrobe just the way it was: tan suit, white shirt and loafers. There was no need to complicate his life with anything else. He peered in through the shop window. There was a man and a woman browsing together, and there was someone else paying for something. It wasn’t Jean.
    Tayte turned away again, but before he could take another step, he saw her. She was further back along the street by the junction they had passed. He began to smile, wondering why she had gone back that way, and what had kept her so long, but when she started to run towards him, his smile changed to a concerned frown. Her hair looked wild and her eyes were glistening with tears.
    ‘Jean!’ Tayte ran to meet her. ‘What’s happened? Are you okay?’ Tayte held her shoulders and began to rub them. ‘You’re shaking.’
    She put her arms around him and began to sob into his chest. ‘I’ve been threatened.’
    ‘What? Who by?’
    Jean choked back her tears and wiped her cheeks. ‘As I left the shop I’d gone into, three men grabbed me. One of them held his hand over my mouth so I couldn’t call out. Before I knew it they’d dragged me into a passageway. They pinned me against the wall and one of them pressed a knife against my cheek. He said he’d cut me if I screamed.’
    Tayte’s blood was already boiling. He could see the impression the knife had left, still fresh on Jean’s cheek. He looked around, as though he might still be able to see who had done this, but all he saw were the curious faces of