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THAT EVENING SUE LEE and Jane sat in a corner booth watching Meg's clientele drifting into the bar. It was a mixed bunch, some in traditional clothing but a majority were dressed in a ragbag style from paint stained smocks to partially left-over Army uniforms.
Sue Lee was wearing a long green skirt with a matching waist jacket. She purchased on their shopping trip. It went well with her form-fitting sweater, she wore under the jacket and tucked it into her wide leather belt.
Jane was less formally dressed in high-waisted cream-colored pleated slacks with a matching long sleeve silk blouse with a very open collar. She said it was daring and bold but not too brassy.
After a time it was apparent strangers, seemed to go unnoticed. Sue Lee mentioned this to Jane.
"I agree. It's almost unconditional acceptance. Not so much as a leering glance!"
"Good for a clandestine meeting,” Sue Lee said while watching Meg, who nodded towards the two men walking in.
They fit the description that López had given to them. One guy was short and hard looking. He had a bald head and bushy eyebrows that matched his huge mustache. He was beady-eyed, and they gleamed maliciously when he gave them their first leering look of the evening.
"Did you see that," Sue Lee asked?
"I did! I say, do we still have our clothes on or did that ugly hairy Munchkin just steal them?"
"That tall guy must be the pilot, wait, another guy is joining them. I didn't notice him when we arrived, he must have followed them in."
"He's overdressed compared to those two," Jane whispered.
“Let's go and refresh our drinks. It would be interesting to hear their speech patterns," Sue Lee said before standing.
"Okay, but keep away from shorty with the hairy hands, if he makes a grab for you shoot him!"
“Oui,” Sue Lee said, touching the shoulder holster under her jacket, a gift from Alex. He had it specially made to carry her small automatic.
"I'll try talking to the tall one that looks so cocksure of himself—He's got to be the pilot. Don't forget, Meg is snapping pictures with her camera hidden behind the bar. We need to get these guys, looking that way." Jane said adjusting her pistol in her large pants pocket.
"Just walk sexy towards the camera, I know we will get a picture of the hairy one, leering in the background."
"I'm glad we decided to contact Alex, Jane whispered as they stood up, but I wish he were here!"
Alex told them to be cautious, be well-armed and photograph everyone involved. He was sure this was part of the French ratline still helping hidden war criminals escape.
Currently, he was in Italy; he would arrive as soon as possible.
Jane learned the hot-shot flyer was from Spain. He claimed he owned an aircraft apparently a gift from his influential father.
Sue Lee engaged the well-dressed man in a conversation. Jane knew how easily her friend extracted information from people without causing suspicion.
Within a few minutes, Meg nodded to them indicating she was satisfied with the pictures. Now they had to disengage from these guys and make their exit. It worried Jane, how the hairy one was watching them closely, but never talking. If he was the leader, it was hard to read him.
Meg came to their rescue telling the ladies' Madam Laurent was here to do their fittings. "Please follow me." She said leading them out of the bar to a storage room where the camera was hiding. They could see everyone in the bar through the small opening when she quietly removed the camera to extract the film.
Sue Lee noticed the hairy one was more relaxed after they left. Perhaps, he thought they were two society broads out slumming.
Meg signaled them to follow her again to her private office where López was waiting to take the film to the developers suggested by Alex. After López left, she anxiously asked. "What did you find out, who's the third man?"
"He claimed he was from Switzerland, from a small village outside of Geneva. However, his clothing is expensive, and he kept looking at the time at a gold pocket watch. He definitely didn't fit in with those other two clowns. His speech and mannerisms were that of a gentleman."
"Switzerland was neutral during the war, why would he be seeking refuge,” Jane asked?
"I considered that too, but I remember how carefully intelligent's monitored noncombatant countries. Two things protected Switzerland from invasion by Hitler's regime. One was the alpine railway system connecting Germany to Italy. It was vital for German supplies. In the event of an attack by Hitler, Switzerland could easily destroy the bridges and the tunnels crippling Germany. The second reason was banking. German currency during the war was no longer accepted in the national marketplace Switzerland legally purchased German gold at a bargain rate in exchange for usable currency. That system left room for corruption, and an investigation is underway. He could be a banker escaping prosecution." Sue Lee told them.
"What you’re saying is. This banker stepped out of his element to use his partners in crime to help him escape. Why my place, are they waiting for some signal to proceed? Do they pay for their trip here? Hairy and the beanpole don't look the part.”
Meg was more frustrated, and Jane held up her hand and said. “The kid is a pilot and claimed to have his own plane. He possibly could be part of the transportation route. Mr. Mustache could be the collection department and the enforcer? Your bar is a mixed bunch—strangers come and go unnoticed; that’s probably why they chose it.”
"Was there any way to ask him about what happened to Garcia?” Sue Lee asked? Jane shook her head no. “Then I suggest we search his room. Are any of those other three staying here?"
“No, but I have Missy in the office checking with other hotels in this arrondissement to find out where they are staying. Let's go take a look at Garcia"s room.”