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they deserved. Brocarax was Berliner’s soon-to-be-launched miracle cholesterol drug, and Janperin was a revolutionary anti-obesity drug. He should be talking about them to the board right now, not reliving the past with his old henchman.
    Hans went on as if he hadn’t heard. “When Lars received the research, he informed Hiram’s lawyer that all he would do about it was keep it safe. True to his word, he did nothing. We considered the matter closed.” Hans took a breath, shifting in his seat. “Now Lars has developed a conscience, I’m afraid.”
    A point made at last. Schultz let out a soft curse. “Even if Lars is suddenly interested in fulfilling Hiram’s wishes, without the key to decode it, the research is still useless.”
    Hans didn’t respond.
    Schultz’s brain kicked into problem-solving mode. It was what he had been raised to do, and did well. This matter would have to end with him.
    “What is Lars doing about it? And what is this key? Obviously you’ve been up to something.” Schultz picked up the key Hans had placed on the table.
    “It’s the reason I’m here,” Hans said. “Lars went to Chicago to see Hiram’s daughter.”
    “Does Lars think she has the text to decode the work? I thought she knew nothing of the matter.”
    “It would seem that she knows nothing. Lars merely wanted to hand over the research to her since he’s dying. I tried to check with you about going to Chicago, but you weren’t available. You did say I could take action if needed.”
    Schultz nodded.
    “I managed to get this locker key from Lars and frightened him a little. Heavy-set men speaking English with a German accent can be scary.”
    “I didn’t know you had a sense of humor, Hans,” Schultz said with a small smile.
    Hans continued. “Anyway, I used this key to access the locker where Lars said he kept the research.” He pulled a sheaf of papers seemingly out of nowhere and placed them on Schultz’s desk.
    Schultz’s eyes scanned over the documents. “I cannot be sure if this is Hiram’s work or not. Get these looked at by an expert. At any rate, we must get all copies of the research from Lars, once and for all.”
    “Ya, mein Herr .”
    “Drink?” Schultz opened a small cabinet by the desk, considered its contents for a while, and took out a bottle of Pierre Ferrand cognac. “I don’t usually drink cognac at this time of day, but it is what calms me.” He offered Hans a glass.
    Hans began sipping his drink.
    Schultz considered his glass. “Can you taste the anise, sense the sandalwood?”
    “Years of eating bratwurst and sauerkraut have dulled my taste buds,” Hans offered.
    Schultz put down his drink. “How about the person who has the second supposed copy of the research?”
    Hans shook his head. “The action has all been on Lars’s end. There may not even be a second copy.”
    “Let’s not underestimate Hiram,” Schultz said. “Continue the taps on everyone’s phones.”
    Hans agreed with a tilt of his head. “What if the Rosen girl gets involved?”
    “We wait and see what she does,” Schultz said. “Find someone in Chicago to keep an eye on her.” He swirled the golden liquid in his glass, stood up and paced the room. “We have too much to lose if Hiram’s findings about the Indus pills see light. I hope you know that.” Schultz held out his hand for Hans to shake and end the meeting.
    Hans didn’t move. He said with some hesitation, “ Mein Herr , five years ago, we didn’t speak much about this.”
    Schultz looked askance at his faithful man.
    Hans’s father had worked for Berliner on an assembly line after the war. During the war, he had been a young SS guard. When all former SS were being prosecuted and jailed, Schultz had used his influence and given Hans’s father and a few other low-level SS guards jobs at Berliner. In the process, he had saved the Altgeld family and won their undying loyalty.
    Schultz clenched and unclenched his fists. His arthritis was