“Alex, when you get this, call me. I’m just outside Danderhall and my bike broke down. Oh, and I have someone following me. I think I lost them, but still. I don’t like this shit one bit, mate,” he spoke through the disturbance of the wind in his microphone. “Just… call me when you get this, man.” Then Jan tried one of his other brothers, ecstatic that this time he got a ring tone. After a long wait, he answered, but as Jan replied, his phone lost signal and the call was cut off.
“Jeee-zus!” he cried out, threatening to crush his phone with his tightening grip.
The low rumble of an engine haunted the oblivion of mist around him. It was coming down the road, but he could discern that it was not the sound of motorcycles. The hum was that of a car. Jan contemplated flagging the car for help, but he knew nobody would be daft enough to stop here in the midnight fog for a stranger appearing from the dark side of the road with his arms outstretched.
From the curtain of white fog, two spots grew bigger on approach, growing brighter as it pierced the creeping ghost mist on the ground. The car slowed down some distance before it reached him, staying hidden. Somewhere away, the engine idled, the sound deafening as it echoed through the almost silent night. It was driving very slowly, progressing gradually toward where Jan was. At once, it occurred to him: the occupants were looking for something. The vehicle moved too slowly for driving and too fast for a turn-off or parking.
‘My god, they must be looking for me!’ the thought penetrated his fear receptors and he fell to his knees in the long grass just as the car came into view, right next to him. Its straight six purred like a baby predator as it crept past him. Jan gasped. It was the car from the bar, the one with the three silhouettes next to the arguing couple’s.
A scrawny, bald man had his head outside his rolled down window, scrutinizing the surroundings. They had almost past Jan when his cell phone suddenly lit up. Alex called back.
“There he is!” the man shouted, and within seconds two others jumped from the car to apprehend the unfortunate motorcyclist. Jan could not do much to fend them off. His switchblade had no effect on the giant brute who accompanied the thin bald man with the fidgety hands, who stood twitching his fingers as Jan was subdued.
“Get him in the car, Gunter,” he smirked. “I wanted the one in the hospital, but since he was discharged, we’d have to make do with one of the pawns.”
Chapter 12
Val walked through the busy Chambers Street, late, as always. Even by her standards, she was late and that was saying something. By the time she walked into The Tower, the restaurant was filled with people and she had to take her time to locate Sam and Nina by a far window, looking out over the city streets below. She cringed a little when she saw their empty plates, denoting that they had elected to order in her absence and had subsequently already dined, waiting for her to arrive.
“Shit, I’m so sorry, you two,” she panted when she reached the table.
“No worries. The alcohol here is excellent. Just wish I could afford a glass so I could judge for myself,” Sam jested as he stood up to pull Val’s chair out for her.
“Don’t listen to him, Val,” Nina said, raising her eyebrow at Sam, “as always, I am buying.”
Val snickered.
“Yeah, it pays to be the millionaire’s pet,” Sam winked, and this time Nina smiled, sincerely amused.
“What are you having?” Nina asked, passing Val a menu.
“Oh, I’m not hungry, thanks Nina. I’ll have a brandy, though,” Val smiled, and shook her head at Sam’s cheerful support in the form of a yelp that had her laughing in an instant.
“Behave yourself, Cleave,” Nina said as she hailed a waiter and pointed to her pick on the menu, “Three, please.”
She looked at Val, staring out the window. Nina wished she knew what her new acquaintance was thinking. Her eyes ran along the biker lady’s neck line and fingers, noticing no exotic or rare jewelry today. It was odd. She knew Val always wore something antique.
“Excuse me, I have to go to the Boys Room, ladies,” Sam smiled charmingly and left for the men’s restroom.
“He is really handsome,” Val remarked as she watched Sam walk away. “Not my type, but darling for a girl like you.”
Nina gave her a good hard look. “Not wearing that beautiful piece today?”
“Oh you,” Val smiled, tapping the back of Nina’s hand bashfully. “Remind me to get you something similar from Christmas.”
‘I bet you could get me the chest piece Nefertiti wore to her first shindig, right?’ Nina thought as she cocked her head to the side, unable to reply readily. Again, Val seemed distracted momentarily by the street below, as if she was looking for something.
“What is wrong?” Nina asked.
“When are we going to see the exhibition?” Val asked without looking at the beautiful historian. Nina’s eyes flared at the question. Once more, Val was making it so obvious that she was eager to study the inside of a museum where another Viking collection was kept. There was no doubt in Nina’s mind that Val was not just there to see the exhibit. She had every intention to keep her eye on the biker, to not leave her side for a second.
“Soon,” Nina replied, as the drinks were placed.
“Good. I cannot stay too long. My husband is a menace. He needs adult supervision at all times,” Val laughed nervously. Something was up and Nina had a keen nose for it.
“Has he healed up?” Nina asked, playing the feigning game again.
“Oh, yes… yes,” Val nodded and took a swig of her drink, “he is doing fine, thanks for asking.”
Nina tried not to smile at the predictable behavior of the enigmatic woman. All she knew was that she was about to unveil something monumental, something that was going to make the news all over the world and she was going to be responsible, along with Sam, for exposing the culprits.
“Mrs. Joutsen?” a female voice cut the suspense.
“Yes?” Val said, surprised.
“There is a call for you in the manager’s office. It is apparently quite urgent,” the assistant manageress said.
“I see,” Val replied, reluctant to get up, frowning at Nina with a shrug. “Only my husband knows I am here,” she told Nina as she stood up, looking very uncomfortable. “He would call me on my cell, wouldn’t he?” she asked no-one in particular. Val ran her open hands down her thighs, wiping the perspiration on her jeans and then she eyed the lady who summoned her walking toward the office.
Nina frowned at Val’s hesitation. She was right, Nina thought, it was too suspicious. The woman’s husband would not have called her on the landline of the establishment. And if he did, why? Val took her purse and excused herself. As Sam came back, he passed her with a quizzical expression and looked at Nina to explain, but she only shrugged.
“Marital bliss,” Sam motioned with his head toward the manager’s office entrance after Nina told him about the phone call. Nina giggled briefly but he could see that she was worried, a look of anticipation on her face. Nina’s nails chimed against the glass she was hugging with her palms. Deep in thought, she tapped her fingertips rhythmically.
Suddenly, a few men seated by the window jumped up and pointed down to the street outside. A commotion followed from the surrounding tables as well as one by one, people in the booths came running to the window to see what was happening, including Sam and Nina.