Coffee and Books 2

3. The cocktailbar

I spot my target at the bar, drinking a tall Weissbier. On the seat next to him is a briefcase, I'm guessing it's his. I am lucky, all the other seats at the bar are already filled. "Guten abend, is this seat taken?" I plaster my most dazzling smile to my face, cocking my head a little to the side.

The accountant turns around to me, quickly hiding his surprise when he looks me up and down. He takes his briefcase from the barstool, putting it on the floor between his feet.

"Be my guest, miss...?"

"Anna," I tell him, taking the hand he has offered to help me in my seat.

The accountant introduces himself as Helmut Steinmeier. I already knew that of course. "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?"

"Only a little, herr Steinmeier," I smile at him.

"Helmut, bitte."

He offers me a drink and the bartender puts a Mojito in front of me. He asks me how I knew he was German. 

I gesture to his almost empty glass of beer. "Not many Americans drink Erdinger Weissbier, so I guessed you were European at least."

Chatting the man up isn't so hard. He is in his fifties, balding and a little overweight. The attentions of a young woman in a revealing dress are enough to loosen him up a little, just like Sharon told me. He tells me he is working for an investor that recently took up an interest in agricultural aid programs in Africa. He mentions working with the government of Wakanda and I take the chance to express my admiration of the noble intentions of King T'Challa.

Steinmeier huffs. "Easy for him to be noble. He is sitting on a gold mine of technological advancement."

"He is sharing it with the world now, isn't it?"

"Ah, that's what he wants you to think. Those Wakandans are playing it close to the chest."

I try to get him to say more about it, but to no avail. So I turn my attention to his briefcase, nudging it with my shoe. It helps that my dress reveals a good part of my leg when I do that. "Are you here for work or pleasure?"

"Work, I'm afraid," he says and when he does I can see his eyes dart to a table with three men. I recognise Mr. Blackstoke, but I don't know who the two other guys are. "But you add pleasure to my work," Helmut says with a sly grin, putting his hand on my knee.

I ignore his comment, deftly crossing my legs so his hand slides of my knee. At that moment, Mr. Blackstoke beckons for his accountant to come over. "Excuse me, liebling. I'll be right back. Save my seat, bitte." Steinmeier walks over to his boss, but not before ordering another Mojito for me.

At the table he opens up his briefcase, taking out some papers. The two unknown men look them over and nod. They sign the papers, taking a copy for themselves. The rest goes back in the briefcase. The accountant takes out another set of papers, but these look like plans.

"Don't stare," I hear the voice of Loki saying. I quickly switch my gaze to another area of the bar, making sure I don't look at Blackstoke's table again. Loki sits at a table near the entrance, which gives him a good view of me and most of the room.

"We need that briefcase," a female voice says. I think it's M'Teki. "Get him to leave the briefcase in his room or at the reception desk."

How am I going to do that?! I don't have much time to think on it, because Steinmeier is walking over to me again. Behind him, I can see Mr. Blackstoke watching me. When I meet his gaze, he smiles at me, holding up his glass of whiskey in a salute. I smile back, with what I hope is an innocent look on my face.