‘Thank you,’ she says.
‘Look, he’s probably out with Sarah and they lost track of time…’ I stop, realising I’m making it sound worse than I meant.
‘Sarah?’ she asks. ‘Why would he be…’ Realisation sinks in.
‘Ah,’ I reply. Oops.
‘It seems my son has been keeping secrets from me,’ Mrs Bowen says, her voice taking the ice and steel tone I hated as a kid. When she uses that voice, I remember she is the owner and boss of a multi-national company: Bowen Inc.
‘I think I need a talk with Duncan,’ she says.
‘Yep,’ I reply, already feeling sympathy for my buddy. When she says ‘talk’ she means a rollicking.
‘Thank you, Adam,’ she says. ‘Do please contact me if you hear from my son,’ she says.
‘Sure thing,' I reply, before signing off.
I quickly send a text message to Duncan.
Me: Are you with Sarah right now?
He replies almost instantly.
Yep
Me: Call your mother – she’s been bugging me
Duncan: Sarah says hi
Me: BTW….I might have told your mother you’re with Sarah
Duncan: WTF??!!!
Me: Bye!
I end the text, despite a couple more messages coming through from him. To be fair, most are just profanities. Before I can put the phone away, another call comes through. At first I think it must be Duncan or his mother, but am surprised to see it’s the boss calling.
‘Charles,’ I say, answering the call.
‘Adam,’ he greets. ‘Good, I saw your phone was active.’
‘How’s it going with the United Nations?’ I ask, wondering just how much of my life the museum now owns.
‘Not well, but it’s nothing for you to be concerned about,’ he replies. I can tell he’s hiding something but know better than to probe further. He’ll tell me more when he’s ready – and when I need to know.
‘Abbey has filled me in on your progress, or should I say destruction in Germany,’ he says. ‘How’s the team?’
‘Emma is asleep and Matt is wandering the train,’ I reply.
‘Matthew never can sleep before a mission. How about you? How are you?’
‘I’m okay,’ I reply. ‘I’ve got a few bruises, but apart from that, I’m all right. Have you heard anything on Dave?’
‘Nothing yet,’ Charles says. ‘I’ve spoken with my contacts in Berlin to explain our actions and what happened to David. They will notify us if they hear anything.’
‘We think they might be heading the same way we are,’ I say. ‘If they found the map, too.’
‘Perhaps,’ Charles replies. ‘That’s one big if though.’
‘Did Abbey mention it was Dave’s wife who was at the U-boat site and kidnapped Dave?’ I ask.
‘She did,’ Charles says. ‘That is… unfortunate. I’d hoped Jennifer, or Follia as she’s calling herself these days, was out of our lives for good. She needs help, and in the partnership of Leon Bransby and Jack Bishop, I fear the worst. Did David ever tell you he once shot Leon?’
‘He mentioned it,’ I say with a smirk.
‘It is imperative we find her and recover him,’ Charles says. ‘I wish I could do more.’
‘You’re doing everything you can,’ I reply, knowing he is already fighting our corner in New York with the United Nations.
‘If anything else happens, or you hear from David, make sure to have Abbey notify me immediately,’ Charles says. ‘And do take care of yourself, Adam – and the rest of the team.’
‘Thanks for calling,’ I say.
He rings off. It was good to hear from him and I can understand his worry for Dave. Dave may be the grumpy uncle at times, but he’s still family, and we need to get him back.
‘Look who I found stowed away in the other passenger carriage,’ Matt announces as he leads a familiar face towards me. I recognise the short black hair and piercings straight away.
‘Cecylia?’ I say with utter shock. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Who’s this?’ Emma asks with a yawn, woken from her sleep.
‘Emma Lovell, this is Cecylia Nowak,’ Matt explains. ‘Lead engineer at the Wałbrzych dig site in Poland. It seems she’s following us.’
‘Cecylia, what are you doing here?’ I ask again as she and Matt take a seat opposite me.
She does not speak at first, her gaze looking anywhere but at us.
‘I received the message that you identified a potential site north of Hamburg,’ she explains, still not making eye contact. ‘I had to see for myself and so set out to rendezvous with you. I could not pass up the chance to discover the famous gold trains of the Third Reich.’
‘And did Professor Lainson ever receive our message?’ Matt asks.
‘No. If she had, she wouldn’t have let me leave,’ she replies.
‘I am afraid we can’t take you with us,’ Matt explains. ‘It’s too dangerous for you…’
‘No! You cannot abandon me now,’ she pleads.
‘There’s more to this than just wanting to find the Nazi gold trains, isn’t there?’ I ask.
‘Yes, there is,’ she states, without even attempting to hide it. ‘I told you of the crimes the SS Totenkopf Division committed throughout the Second World War. My home was among those targeted by the Totenkopf Division. Once the Nazis had taken everything of worth, they burned down the village and killed almost everyone. Those they didn’t kill were taken, never to return again. My great-grandmother escaped by pretending to already be dead. Her husband and her son, her entire family, were taken and she never forgot their screams.’
‘You want to find out what happened to your ancestors?’ Emma asks.
‘Exactly,’ Cecylia says. ‘Hundreds of people were taken simply because of their beliefs. None of them were seen again. They deserve to have the truth exposed.’
As she says this, Cecylia pulls out the necklace she is wearing. It’s a Star of David pendant.
‘That’s why you volunteered to join Professor Lainson’s expeditions in Poland?’ Matt asks.
‘I need to know,’ Cecylia states. ‘That and the fact that the crew the professor hired would have failed miserably without my assistance. I am a skilled engineer, top of my classes with two doctorates. Professor Lainson’s work crew were lazy idiots in comparison.’
‘So you’re clever and modest,’ Emma says.
‘I don’t understand what you mean,’ Cecylia replies blankly. ‘What I can say is, in my home village, the walls are still marked by the bullets of the Death’s Head. I must know what happened to them and bring the culprits to justice.’
‘Well, we can certainly help you with that,’ Matt says, ‘but I must warn you about the dangers again. We’ve already lost one of our team.’
‘Lost?’ Cecylia queries.
‘Taken captive, by others who are also seeking the gold trains,’ I explain.
‘That is unfortunate,’ she replies with a lack of empathy before asking bluntly. ‘Are you up to the task of completing your mission?’
‘We certainly hope so,’ Matt replies, surprised by the question.
‘I hope so, too, especially after the mess you made in Berlin,’ she replies.
‘Honest, too,’ Emma says. ‘I like her.’
‘Dave would, too,’ I add, catching Emma’s glance for a second and seeing that smile of hers.
‘Are you two an item?’ Cecylia asks.
‘Now, that’s a question.’ Matt laughs as I look embarrassed.
‘He wishes,’ Emma replies.
‘Am I that obvious?’ I try to laugh it off.
‘Yes,’ Cecylia says bluntly, drawing laughter from Emma and Matt. Thanks, friends.
‘Anyway, so, Cecylia…’ Matt begins to say.
‘I don’t have many but the friends I have call me Cee,’ she says. ‘You should too.’
‘Honoured,’ Matt says. ‘So, Cee, where…?’
Matt’s questi
on is drowned out by the droning of a helicopter’s rotors overhead.
‘That was low,’ Emma says, as we clamber towards the windows. The sun is not far from rising and the sky is already glowing golden in the distance, giving enough light to see the terrain ahead and the helicopter circling above. Fields stretch out on one side of the tracks and a vast lake on the other.
‘Can you make out the markings on that thing?’ I ask, looking up towards the helicopter.
‘Not really,’ Matt says, before a searchlight activates on the aircraft, focussing on the train.
‘Berlin police,’ Emma warns as the side of the helicopter comes into full view.
‘Is this you?’ I ask Cecylia, knowing the Police could not have tracked us this far.
‘No,’ Cecylia replies and I can see from the fear in her eyes, she is telling the truth.
‘I don’t like this,’ Matt says. ‘Grab your gear, guys. We’ll get off at the next…’
He stops at the flash from the side of the helicopter. A stream of smoke surges down towards the locomotive where it explodes on impact. The burning wreckage is hit again, tumbling from the tracks and pulling the containers and carriages with it. Before we can react, our carriage buckles and pulls to the left, rising up and tearing from the tracks.
I grab onto a seat as the world around us spins and we’re thrown towards the ceiling before it crashes into the lake. The windows smash on impact and cold water surges in, causing the electrical lights to short out and plunging us into darkness.
My eyes clamp shut. My heart thunders. I’m shutting down in panic. Everywhere I reach, I feel walls or floor and no way out. I’m alone in the darkness and drowning just as in every single one of my nightmares. My lungs are burning. I need air. I need to escape. I need to breathe.
Just as I am about to give up hope, a hand grabs and pulls me. I swim with all the energy I have left until I reach the surface, gasping for air.
‘Are you…okay?’ Emma asks, my saviour revealed. She has a few cuts and scrapes at her cheek and neck but nothing too deep.
‘I really…hate…water!’ I yell back.
Cecylia emerges next, spluttering for air but unharmed. It’s raining, pouring it down, but I don’t seek shelter because there’s no sign of Matt.
‘Get yourself and Cecylia out of the water!’ Emma yells at me.
‘What about you?’ I ask.
‘I’ve got to find your brother,’ she says before diving back under the water.
Matt. I can’t do anything for him, not with my fear taking hold of me. I’m useless – and I hate myself for it.
‘Come on,’ I say to Cecylia, leading her towards the shore and beyond the mangled wreckage of the rear carriages half submerged in the lake.
‘Who did this?’ Cecylia asks, shaking.
‘Stop,’ I warn her. ‘Stay behind me.’
The German police helicopter has already landed in the field beyond the train tracks.
‘Such a gentleman.’
It’s Follia.
‘Come on now, Adam. Don’t hide from little old me.’
‘Why are you doing this?’ I yell back at Follia, raising my hands as she, Bishop, and a couple of other armed men and women train their guns on us. I try to keep Cecylia behind me, to protect her in any way I can, but our attackers quickly surround us.
‘You know something I don’t know,’ she sings like a maniac. ‘Come on out of the water and we can chat.’
I have no choice and Cecylia follows me up to the shore where we are forced to our knees in the pouring rain.
‘You got a little wet, didn’t you?’ Follia mocks us. ‘Sorry about that.’
‘No you’re not,’ Cecylia replies.
‘I don’t know you,’ Follia says, pointing at Cecylia, ‘but you’re right, I’m not sorry at all. In fact, my friend Leon here has had so much fun with his little rocket launcher that I’m going to let him use it again. You see, I only have use for one of you Hunters.’
Leon steps out of the helicopter, patting a hand on the launcher as he reloads it and takes aim at the train carriages submerged in the lake.
‘No, don’t!’ I yell.
‘Sorry, what?’ he replies before pulling the trigger, firing the launcher and sending the explosive into the lake where it detonates amongst the train and carriages.
Matt. Emma.
‘NO! STOP!’ I yell.
I try to wade back into the water, caring nothing for my fear, but the gunmen stop me. I try to push through, to grab them, to stop and hurt them but the grip of Follia’s Katana thunders across my face. I stumble to the ground but rise up again, the tip of her blade between my eyes.
‘Sorry, kid,’ Follia says with a disgusting grin
‘You don’t have to do this!’ I plead.
‘Yes, we do,’ Leon replies as he fires another rocket, the wreckage of the train exploding again. I cannot bring myself to look. Tears fill my eyes as I fall to my knees. Nobody could have survived that.
‘Someone get him up,’ Follia orders.
‘Murderers,’ I mutter under my breath, anger rising within me. ‘MURDERERS!’
I charge them, knocking down one of the armed thugs, and take his handgun.
‘YOU MURDERED MY BROTHER!’ I scream, ready to pull the trigger and kill them all in vengeance. ‘YOU MURDERED EMMA!’
‘Now, now, Mr Hunter,’ Follia says, handgun raised to Cecylia’s head. ‘I know this is an emotional time for you but you really must calm down.’
I can’t do anything, not with an innocent at gunpoint. I turn back towards the burning wreckage of the train, praying to see any sign of Matt or Emma. There is nothing but twisted metal, flames, and water. They’re gone. I drop the handgun to the ground, vowing to myself that I will see Matt and Emma’s killers brought to justice.
‘Now that all the excitement is over, I have need of something from you, Adam,’ Follia says. ‘Where were you heading? Where are the Nazi gold trains hidden?’
‘Do you think I’ll tell you that after you killed my brother?’ I say, grief and anger still raging within me.
‘Yes, I do,’ Follia says with a smile as she raises her samurai sword. ‘You will, because if you don’t, then your little friend here will meet the pointy end of my blade.’
‘And if that’s not enough incentive,’ Bishop calls from the helicopter, ‘then your colleague’s life will also be forfeit.’
Dave, chained and blindfolded, is dragged from the helicopter and thrown to the ground, Bishop’s gun aimed at his head.
‘Think fast, Adam,’ Follia tells me as she wipes her face of the rain. ‘We haven’t got all day.’
‘Don’t,’ Dave calls out to me. ‘Don’t tell them, kid.’
‘Aw, bless! Always the selfless hero, hubby,’ Follia calls whilst signalling to Bishop to begin beating him. Dave cries out in pain.
Follia grabs hold of Cecylia by her hair. ‘And what of
this pretty little thing?’
There is sheer terror in Cecylia’s eyes. She doesn’t understand this and is utterly terrified by the violence around her. Words escape as whispers, as she cries out in Polish. I understand fear all too well, especially when Follia presses the tip of her Katana blade against Cecylia’s neck.
‘Thirty-eight miles north-west of Hamburg,’ I state with my eyes closed in guilt and surrender. I had no choice.
‘Any more details?’ Follia asks. ‘I need a little more to go on, Mr Hunter.’
‘Mountains on the coastline,’ I state. ‘The train lines lead into the mountains.’
‘There’s nothing on the maps,’ one of Follia’s men states.
‘It’s not on the map,’ I explain. ‘The German government tried to cover it up.’
‘Oh, this is exciting,’ Follia says with a squeal of joy. ‘See, I knew we could be friends.’
‘Will you let us go now?’ I ask.
‘Hell no,’ Follia replies. ‘What if you were just lying to me? You all stay with us unti
l we find the gold trains.’
‘I will make you pay for what you’ve done here,’ I vow.
‘I’m sure you’ll try,’ Follia says with a barely contained smile.
Her men grab me, tying my hands behind my back and dragging me towards the waiting stolen helicopter. I look back one last time at the wreckage of the train, praying I see some sign of life, anything. I clamp my eyes shut, fighting rising tears. Follia and her thugs will pay for this.
32
CORPORAL ANDREW COOPER—Colleville Sur Orne, Normandy, France. D-Day 6TH June 1944
‘Smokes anyone?’ Thompson offers.
‘Where’d you get these?’ McClair asks as he takes one.
‘There’s some friendly French folks around here,’ he replies.
‘Just keep your thieving hands to yourself,’ Lathbury warns.
‘I hope you’re not accusing…’ Thompson begins to say innocently.
‘I am, so heed my warning,’ the lance corporal replies with a chuckle.
It’s near midnight and we have taken shelter in one of the houses in the village captured by C and E Company earlier. The men are gathered in the kitchen as we get some tea ready. All of us are glad to be resting after what feels like the longest day in memory.
Other rooms in the house are occupied by a platoon of engineers. Snores are already emanating from upstairs. C and E companies faced little resistance, apart from a couple of snipers hiding in the church tower, when they took the village. A few tank shells quickly rooted them out, leaving a gaping hole in the stonework.
Most of Hillman fortress fell a few hours ago with only a few of the underground levels of the larger bunkers still holding out. Lieutenant Colonel Goodwin ordered F Company to stand down and rest up in the village whilst the rest of the regiment took positions in and around Hillman in case of enemy counter-attack. F Company was ordered to wait in reserve unless called on. The lieutenant colonel received no arguments from us.
A few of the villagers emerged from hiding after the Germans were driven out. They were extremely welcoming. Some were in tears to see us after so many years under German occupation. Food and hot coffee was quickly offered and some of the men flirted with the women until corporals, like me, warned them off. I’ve had to have words with Smithy twice already. As the evening drew on, the drone of engines thundered overhead. Dozens of planes and gliders bring in reinforcements. It was a hell of a sight and a dramatic display of our airpower.
War of the Damned (Relic Hunters) Page 17