Chapter 2

"Joshua, don't you think it's a little too dangerous?"

Joshua looked at his mother with a smile. “Not more dangerous than usual. And actually I'm on vacation. "

"This is not a vacation, and we both know that."

“I'm not going to do anything, I'll just spy on him a little while on vacation. This is my chance to finally get him. I also like to snowboard. "

"Did Liam at least find you a house?"

Joshua nodded. “He'll find houses everywhere. And I'm even Mason's neighbor. "

"How did Liam manage that again?" Now Josef wanted to know, who just came into the kitchen.  

"He made such a good offer to the owner that he did the free all-inclusive vacation in LA."

Father and mother shook their heads. "Why is Liam doing that?"

"He agrees with me."

"Which would be?"

"This man is dangerous to the public, he belongs behind bars and if everyone turns a blind eye to his machinations then I have to investigate on my own."

"There is no evidence against him," his father reminded him.

"I know, and I'll find some now." He said this with such a determined expression that even his mother shivered. "Where is my little Joshua who only ever wanted to play the drums?"

Josh grinned. "It's still in there somewhere." He said and hit his chest with his fist.

"Why are you flying alone? Take Janik with you. "

“I wanted to, but he was shot last week. I have to do it without him, but maybe he will come to visit me for a few days. "

"He was shot?" Anna looked at her son, startled. "And are you just mentioning that by the way?"

"It was an accident. Really. We were called to a gas station robbery because we were nearby. Janik is clean and wanted to calm the boy who was waving a gun. I snuck in through the back entrance and pretended to be a customer. ”Anna sat down on the chair behind her. "Then everything went very quickly, the boy was drugged and when J tried to take the gun from him, a shot went off and hit him on the upper arm." When he looked into the frightened faces of his parents, he added: "It's just a flesh wound , all good. J even wanted to handcuff him himself. ”That made his parents smile. Her son's partner practically belonged to the family since they graduated from police school. "So folks, I have to go now if I don't want to miss my plane." They said goodbye to each other and Joshua promised to take care of themselves three more times.

A few hours later he landed in Austria and took a rental car. It took a while to find the chalet. But at last he arrived tired and exhausted. Just as he was about to unlock the door, a young woman opened the door for him. “Good evening, you must be Joshua Herzog. Welcome!"

Joshua didn't expect anyone to be there. But greeted the woman and let her show her around the house. "And where will you sleep?" He asked when she showed him his bedroom. When there was no answer from her, he turned around and saw that she was standing in the door, blushing, looking at him nervously. He scolded himself for asking the question so carelessly. But he didn't want anyone in the house, he needed his privacy and no annoying employees. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I just wanted to know whether you also have your rooms here in the house. "

She shook her head. "The cook and I live in an adjoining apartment on the property."

"That's good." Josh nodded, indicating that she could leave. He took his cell phone out of his pocket and dialed his brother's number, on the second ring he answered. "Hello! Did you arrive safely? "

"I was a bit surprised when I was welcomed here by a young thing."

"Was she pretty?" Liam wanted to know right away.

"You're married!"

"I know, but you don't." This quick-witted replied.

"I have no time for women." He said then and went to the window to look at the neighbour's house.

"Was she pretty then?"

"May be. I wasn't paying attention. ”At least he wasn't paying too much attention to her, he couldn't afford a distraction. “What's that supposed to mean? I told you that I need my rest. I can't work when staff are running around me. "

"It won't be that bad."

"Can you tell me how to explain it to my employees when I watch my neighbor's house with binoculars?"

“They aren't there around the clock and they just don't live on the property in the house. That's enough privacy. You also need someone to cook for you, otherwise you will starve to death. And I don't want you to fill up the chalet either. "

“I can cook and clean up very well. In contrast to you, I helped our mother around the house! "

Liam laughed. "OK. But you still need staff, who should clean up after the parties you give? "

"I don't give parties, I'm here to shadow a suspect."

“But it is normal to have parties and invite the neighbors. Does the guy actually know you? Does he know that you're after him? ”Liam suddenly wanted to know with a slight unease in her voice.

"Do not worry. He doesn't know anything about me, has never seen me. "

"Okay, then get in touch if you want to know how to throw parties."

"Yeah, I love you too!" Josh grumbled and hung up. He could see outlines of people in the house, they went to the front door, then the door opened and two women stepped onto the terrace. Was it guests? Mason didn't have daughters, he knew that. He couldn't see them well because they were wearing thick jackets and woolen hats. They went to a car and drove away. He was still wondering whether he should follow them. But then decided against it, he had to concentrate on Mason.

Alissa looked from the car into the next house and then she saw him. Was he watching her? "Did you see the man too?"

"Which man?" Hannah looked in the rearview mirror. "I don't see anyone."

“Not on the street. From the neighboring house. "

“Oh then Frank is back, nice man. You can have a good conversation with him. "

"Does he live here alone?"

“He's only there a few times a year, his wife hates the cold and is as good as there and when she does, she just hides in the house. I, in turn, love the snow. Do we want to go skiing later? "

"I don't have the money for this kind of fun and besides, I've never done it before."

"Then it is high time!" Hannah smiled and turned on the indicator and steered the car into the shopping center parking lot. “And there are all sorts of old skis in the shed, some of which will suit you. The ski lift is included, these are the advantages of a chalet girl. "

“We work late into the night and get up at dawn to please the gentlemen and you still find advantages? I am very tired."

“You will get used to it. Now come on. ”She got out of the car and Alissa followed her with a sigh. “I don't spend more than € 50 on cosmetics, I have to save. Unlike you, I don't have a full-time job here. "

Hannah nodded, took her hand and pulled her energetically into her favorite shop. In the end, Alissa had spent more than she wanted, but Hannah promised her that the next house party would make more tips, as the season was just getting started and this time the big welcome party for all neighbors at the Masons was on. On the way home, both of them lingered on their thoughts and there wasn't much talk. Hannah neatly steered the car into the driveway and parked in the same lot. "Are you coming?" She asked Alissa when she made no move to get out of the car. "Immediately." She let her head sink against the headrests and wondered what would become of her when this job was over. Hannah was long in the house when Alissa finally got over herself and left the warm car. She went to the front door and just as she was about to push the doorknob the door opened and Samantha Mason stood in front of her. "Alissa right?" The woman wanted to know and Alissa nodded. "Please come with me, I just wanted to speak to you." She walked down the long hallway, sure that Alissa would follow her. Immediately the worst thoughts made their way into her. Did she do something wrong? Had one of the guests complained about her? She almost ran after the housekeeper, who cut a remarkably good figure with her high-heeled shoes and made very quick progress. She sat down on the beige leather sofa and motioned for Alissa to take a seat across from her. "Is something bothering you?" She asked when she noticed Alissa's uncertain look. “No, everything is okay. I just don't know why you want to talk to me. ”She admitted, whereupon Samantha's smile formed around the corners of her mouth. “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. It's just that I keep talking to the new girls. Before they start working actually, but yesterday I just had too much on my mind. ”She said apologetically. “How do you like your work? Is everything okay? "

Alissa nodded in relief. It was all good! She could still do the job for a while. "Yes, everything is okay."

“I found you very professional yesterday, you were very courteous and attentive to our guests. How long have you been doing the job of a chalet girl? "

"This is my first job as a chalet girl, but I've been to events like this before and I know what matters." She knew how snooty the rich and beautiful thought and what they wanted, it was easy for Alissa to guess exactly what a person was wanted to. She had already attended countless social events to know how to behave as a staff and only stayed in the background, invisible to the more privileged society.

"You are definitely doing your job very well." She put a € 200 note on the table. “It's for you. Keep it up and you will be well rewarded. "

Alissa stared at the bill, then at the woman across from her. "That's really very ..." She faltered. "Thanks," she mumbled and pocketed the money. "This is just the beginning, if you continue to do a good job and fulfill our guests' every wish, then we will continue to reward you." Alissa nodded and Samantha allowed her to get up. "I have to get ready for the evening now and you should help Hannah in the kitchen." She got up and walked out of the living room. Alissa shook her head in disbelief and a radiant smile played on her lips. Then she went to Hannah's room and told her about the conversation and dressed up for the evening together. It would only be a small dinner. The Masons were expecting no other guests for their six visitors.

He had to somehow get invited to their house by the Masons. He absolutely had to go to Hendrik Mason's office and go through his files. By now he had found it to be on the first floor, across from his own office. The houses were similar in layout and he had obtained a map of Mason's house. How good that he had spent a lot of time with Luke, his cousin's husband, and that he had shown him how to hack. He grinned as he thought back to the time. How many evenings they'd spent together when Luke lived with them. When they got bored they started to mess around on the internet and at some point Joshua was as good as Luke himself.

Lara, his chalet girl came into the living room. "Herr Herzog, the meal has been served."

"Herr Herzog is my father, please call me Josh."

"As you wish." She nodded and looked at the floor. How formal everything was here, he thought and almost expected Lara to curtsy as he passed her. Thank god she didn't. "Is there anything else I can bring you?" Came her voice from behind him. "No thanks, I'll be fine." It was on the tip of his tongue to say that he knew where the kitchen was, but Liam had impressed on him how important it was to keep appearances. He had to play the rich snooty guy. He fiddled with the chicken with a fork and knife, but gave up at some point, he looked over his shoulder and noticed that Lara was gone. Then put his cutlery aside and ate with his hands, as he did at home. A little later, grinning and full, he wiped his hands on his napkin and leaned back exhausted on his chair. He hadn't gotten much sleep the last night from watching the house next door, but he hadn't seen anything suspicious. Today he would go to sleep a little earlier and get up at night when Mason's guests would retire. At half past twelve his alarm clock rang and peeled off his bed. He walked into his office in boxers and took the night vision device out of the desk drawer. The lights were still on in the Masons' living room and people were sitting comfortably on the sofa with a glass of champagne in hand and talking. But within half an hour the guests broke up and Mason went into his office. Joshua followed him with the binoculars, but he just sat at the table and made a phone call. If only he had been in the office and had his bugs attached! Since Hendrik wasn't doing anything special, he let his gaze wander over the house. Then he saw two women cleaning up the living room, they were probably the two who drove away in the car today. So the servants of the Masons their Lara ... Mason got up, switched off the light and disappeared from his field of vision. Nothing would happen there today, so Joshua went to bed again.