Assignment in Amsterdam

by Carrie Bedford

  “Sounds like the British Empire,” I said.

  “Yes, but this was just a company.”

  The doorbell interrupted him, so I started to make some tea while he went to answer it. A couple of minutes later, he came back with another man, tall, with cropped grey hair and wide shoulders. Although he wore a suit and tie, he would have been at home in a military uniform, with his rigid posture and unsmiling face.

  “This is Kate Benedict, our architect,” Sam made the introduction.

  “Ah. I’m William Moresby.” The man had a plummy London accent. “I am the Senior Controller for TBA Capital and will be handling the upcoming purchase of the property. I will also be overseeing the renovation work when it starts.” He glanced at the kettle in my hand. “And ensuring that everyone on the team adheres to the highest levels of professional conduct.”

  “We have permission to use the kitchen, Mr. Moresby,” Sam said. “Maybe you’d like a cup of tea?”

  I waited for our visitor to tell Sam to call him by his first name, but he didn’t. Mr. Moresby it was, then. After an uncomfortable pause, Moresby pulled out a kitchen chair and sat. “I’d rather get on with things.”

  Sam, always the one to find the positive in any situation, started talking about the building permit, his tone warm and open, as if Moresby had become his new best friend. I wasn’t so sure, although I’d do my best to get along with the pompous ass.

  “Any news from Pieter Janssen yet?” Moresby asked.

  “Who’s Pieter?” I looked at Sam.

  “Tomas Janssen’s nephew. He and Eline, Tomas’s wife, are the co-inheritors of the property. The nephew works in Geneva, apparently, and has been slow in signing the sale paperwork. But it’s all in hand. He…”

  A sudden explosion of noise in the living room set my heart racing. I didn’t think anyone else was in the house.

  Moresby leapt up and headed for the living room. Sam and I followed. A large gilt frame lay face down on the floor. On its descent, it had hit a wall table and taken a Chinese vase with it. Shards of flowered porcelain lay scattered over the rug.

  The painting, like the others in the room, had hung by golden chains from a picture rail about ten feet up.

  Sam picked up a length of chain that lay coiled among the broken china. “One of the links came undone,” he said after examining it. “The frame must have been too heavy for it.”

  Sam helped Moresby to balance the heavy frame on the table and lean it against the wall. The picture, appropriately enough, was of Adam and Eve’s fall from grace. Naked, watched by a smirking serpent, they trudged with heads bowed out of the Garden of Eden.

  “Can one of you clean up the mess?” Moresby said, pointing at the china shards.

  Sam bent to gather a fragment, but I told him to stop. I didn’t want him handling knife-edged slivers of china with his bare hands, so I hurried to the kitchen to find a broom, came back and swept up the remains of the vase, which had shattered into a thousand pieces when the frame hit it. Why would a painting suddenly throw itself off a wall? When Moresby wasn’t watching, I picked up the broken chain and slid it under my bag on the chair. I wanted to look at it more closely, to see if the link showed any signs of tampering.

  “I’ll get someone in to hang it again,” Sam said.

  I turned to look at him and noticed that the air over his head was rotating more quickly. That was not good. It could be a matter of days. I clutched at the edge of the table, steadying myself. The undulating air was mesmerizing, driving away conscious thought and making me feel dizzy.

  “Kate? Are you okay?” Sam asked. I realized I was staring at him. Moresby was watching me.

  “Sorry, just a bit startled by the noise.” I let go of the table and straightened up.

  “Right,” Moresby said. “Shall we resume?”

  Resume? How could I? It was impossible to imagine something terrible happening to Sam, but I’d never been wrong about the significance of that moving air before. Unless I identified the source of the danger, and soon, Sam would die. Still, I turned my mouth up in a smile and walked on shaky legs to the kitchen where we took our seats again. Sam started talking about permits and plans and schedules, and I tuned out.

  These wretched auras had first appeared to me about three years ago, not long after my mother died. Most, I’d soon realized, represented a death sentence, but I’d managed to change the fate of the victim if I had enough time. Not like that poor chap on the train last week. I’d seen his aura too late to be of help. On other occasions, however, I’d been able to intervene by persuading someone to change their plans for a trip, or by calling for an ambulance before anyone else knew it would be needed. And I had prevented a couple of murders from taking place. I straightened up, remembering those I’d managed to rescue. I could save Sam. I had to. I didn’t know what to make of Tessa’s aura, but I’d do my best for her too.

  At that point, Moresby closed his notebook and stood up, saying we could reach him at his hotel if we needed him. “I’ll expect your progress report this evening,” he said brusquely.

  With a nod in my direction, he stalked off. When we heard the ping of the lift button, Sam sighed and leaned against the counter.

  “I was warned that Moresby might be difficult to work with.” Sam looked at me. “But don’t let him stress you out. I’ll deal with him. It’ll be fine.”

  Nothing would be fine. Not until Sam was safe. I wouldn’t tell him yet about the aura, not until I came closer to understanding where the risk lay. Besides, if I blurted out the news right now, he’d think I was crazy and probably ignore me. It wouldn’t be the first time my warnings had gone unheeded, or worse, been laughed at. I needed to think about how and when to tell him.

  “Vincent!” Sam called out suddenly, making me jump. A loud meow gave me a clue as to who Vincent was and I looked down to see a large grey and black cat with intensely green eyes gazing up at Sam. The kitty wound around his legs, purring.

  “He makes an appearance every so often,” Sam said as he opened a cupboard under the sink. “There’s a cat flap in the door that leads from the lobby to the garden so he may belong to the Janssens. Or he may be a stray. I’ve been feeding him.”

  “That’s why he’s so nice to you,” I said. “But how do you know he’s called Vincent?”

  “I don’t. That’s just what I call him.”

  I watched as Sam poured cat food into a dish and set it on the floor. Vincent devoured every last scrap before curling up at Sam’s feet. A minute later, the ping of the lift arriving sent the cat darting for cover.

  “Are we expecting anyone else?” I asked. The kitchen felt like a bus station with all the comings and goings.

  We both walked to the living room to find out who our latest visitor was. I guessed at once that this must be Eline Janssen. Attractive, in her early fifties perhaps, she was elegantly dressed in black wool trousers and an expensive black and white designer jacket with large gold buttons. As she walked into the room, she pushed aside a wayward blonde curl that had escaped from her chignon.

  An aura coiled in the air over her head.

  “Oh!” I exclaimed, and then bit my lip.

  After shooting a questioning glance at me, the woman smiled. “I’m Eline Janssen,” she said.

  Sam and I introduced ourselves and invited her to sit down, which seemed awkward, considering it was her apartment.

  “Would you like tea, Mrs. Janssen?” I asked.

  “Please call me Eline, and yes I’d love some, but don’t go to any trouble.” Her softly-accented English was excellent. “Shall we sit in the kitchen? It’s more comfortable.”

  Under the kitchen lights, she looked tired, with dark circles under her eyes, a reminder that she was mourning her husband.

  “Oh, it’s no trouble.” I set out three mugs and put teabags in a china pot. The activity was soothing and gave me time to recover from my shock at seeing Eline’s aura. Three auras in one place. That was a first. And it scared me.
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  “How is the project going?” she asked once she was seated at the glass-topped table. She picked at a piece of lint on her jacket while she crossed and uncrossed her legs. She seemed really anxious.

  “Very well,” I said. “We’re making progress, aren’t we, Sam?”

  Eline’s features relaxed a bit. “That’s good to hear. I was very excited when TBA Capital approached me about the purchase. I might buy something else in Amsterdam later. It will be a relief to not be responsible for this big old house. After Tomas died, I was anxious to sell up as quickly as possible. For now, I’m staying with my friend Karen because I don’t want to live here alone.”

  “I can understand that,” I said. “Even though it is a beautiful place.”

  Eline nodded in agreement. “Tomas was passionate about this renovation, even though we never got any further than this apartment.” She gazed around the kitchen as though she were looking for someone. “That was fine with me though. I couldn’t see the point of remodeling all those rooms upstairs, and even Tomas seemed to lose interest in that idea by the time we’d finished in here.”

  I set the mugs of tea on the table and sat down next to Sam. Eline took a sip of her tea. I noticed her hand tremble as she lifted the mug to her lips.

  “How long did the renovation take?” I asked after a long silence.

  “A couple of years,” Eline answered. “It was a lot of work. We wanted to honor the history of the house by preserving as much as possible, like the floors and the wood paneling. We had to redo the walls, but we used a specially prepared lime plaster that matched the original, and we even refurbished a lot of the fittings, like the lighting and the mirrors.” For a moment, Eline’s dark brown eyes shone. “Tomas oversaw every detail. He only had one craftsman working at a time so that he could watch over him. He said he didn’t want crews of workers running around unsupervised.”

  That seemed a little over the top to me, but Eline was clearly proud of her husband’s achievement.

  “The history of the house is fascinating,” Sam leaned forward towards her. “It was built by a VOC founder, I read.”

  Eline nodded. “That’s right. Jacob Hals. I’m sure it was spectacular when it was first built. Tomas found a few old documents recording some of the original purchases for wood and tile. The sums of money were astounding, but then Hals was a billionaire by today’s standards.”

  “Do you know what happened to the house over the last few decades?” I asked. “It seems as though it stood empty for quite some time.”

  Eline blinked a few times. “Does it matter? Tomas bought the place legally, you know. All the purchase documents are legitimate.”

  “Oh, I never meant to imply that anything was wrong,” I said, a little taken aback by her response. “I love history and old buildings, so I’m always interested in the backstory. I just wondered who’d owned it and why it was abandoned. It’s sad to think of such a splendid house being left empty.”

  Eline nodded. “I agree. But Tomas handled the purchase and he probably knew more of the house’s history than I do. I’m sure Arte could tell you more. He’s our lawyer. He dealt with Tomas’s will and he’s managing all the paperwork for the sale.”

  “Arte Bleeker?” Sam asked. “We’re hoping to meet him soon.”

  “Yes. He’s been a rock for me since Tomas died. I’m not sure I would have got through all this without his help.”

  “Do you know when we might hear from your nephew?” Sam asked. “He’s been a little difficult to reach.”

  “I don’t know, sorry. Mr. Bleeker will know more than I do.” She set the cup down, her hand trembling slightly. “Oh, I meant to ask. Whatever happened to the painting and the vase?”

  “The painting just fell off the wall. Scared us to death.” Sam smiled to show he was joking. But it was no joke. Here I was, staring at two people with auras. Two people who could die any day now. And there was Tessa too. The danger had to have something to do with the house.

  “That’s very odd,” Eline said. “Tomas was very fastidious about things like that.”

  “We met Tessa earlier,” I said, my mind on auras. “She seemed nice.”

  “She’s wonderful.” Eline smiled. “I don’t know what I’d do without her. If you need anything at all, just ask her. She’ll be happy to help. Anyway, I’d better get on.”

  “Oh, do you have a cat?” Sam asked. “We appear to have one. He comes in through the cat door at the back of the lobby downstairs.”

  Eline looked surprised and then she nodded. “Ah, that’s right. Tomas wanted a cat and he had the cat flap installed but he hadn’t realized that I’m very allergic. The one you’re seeing must be a stray. I hope it’s not bothering you. I can have the door sealed up the door if you like.”

  “Oh no, don’t do that. I love that cat.”

  Eline looked dubious. “Well, if it’s all right with you.” She finished her tea. The mug clinked on the table as she set it down too fast. “I’ll be coming in to pick up more of my things, if you don’t mind. I’m not far away and can drop in each day. If there’s anything at all I can do to help you, I will.”

  It was Eline who needed help, I thought. “Please do,” I urged her.

  Perhaps I could do something to avert disaster if I got to know her better.

  I suppressed a sigh. Three auras and three people who seemed to have no obvious connection— other than the house. Eline seemed desperate to sell it. Sam’s client was anxious to buy it, and Tessa worked for the woman who owned it. Yet, Moresby didn’t appear to be in any danger. For myself, there was no way of telling. Because I couldn’t see auras in mirrors or photos, I’d never know if I had one, which, right now, was a very sobering thought.

  Eline stood up, sliding the kitchen chair noisily across the expensively tiled floor. “I’ll be in our— my— room, packing a few things. Just personal stuff. They advised me to leave the apartment furnished and decorated until the sale is completed, just in case it falls through and we have to continue looking for a buyer. But I certainly hope that doesn’t happen.” Her hands were clenched so tight that her knuckles were white. “I’ll let you know when I’m leaving. Oh, and can I give you my mobile number? Just in case you need me for anything?”

  We all exchanged numbers and, when she’d gone to her room, Sam collected our cups and put them in the sink. “That poor woman really wants this sale to go through,” he said.

  “There’s no reason why it won’t,” I said, catching the tea towel he chucked at me. I stood up to dry the mugs he was rinsing out. “Is there?”

  “I hope not. TBA Capital has paid a hefty deposit which they’ll lose if they back out now. We just have to clear the final contingencies and it should all go through. Fingers crossed. This is a big project for me, and I’ll get a bonus if I meet their timetable. Everyone wants this project to be successful.”

  “I hope so too,” I said. “Selfishly, I need a big design hit to help convince my boss I deserve a raise and a promotion. I’m not sure he takes me very seriously.”

  “Really?” Sam turned and leaned against the sink. “But you’re the superstar. Top of our class and all that. It seems to me that your boss is lucky to have you.”

  I blushed. “You’re exaggerating. And Alan is hard to please.”

  I couldn’t explain that my employment had teetered on the brink several times when I’d got caught up in trying to save someone with an aura and taken days of unauthorized leave from the office. For now, I couldn’t mention auras at all.

  “Onward, then,” Sam said. “Shall we go over the plans one more time?”

  “Okay. I just need to make a call first.”

  I went down in the lift to the lobby and called Josh. I knew he’d be working too, but I was missing him. After one ring, he picked up. “Hello, sweetheart, how are you doing?”

  The sound of his voice made my skin tingle, and I swallowed a lump in my throat. The pause was just long enough for him to worry.

  “W
hat’s wrong? Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine,” I said. “But Sam has an aura. And so does the lady who owns the house we’re working on.” I stopped. There was no point in mentioning Tessa. That would just make Josh worry even more.

  “Do you think they’re connected?”

  “I don’t know yet. I only just met Eline. I’m keeping an eye on Sam while I try to figure out what’s going on.” My throat clogged up again. “I can’t bear to think of anything happening to him.”

  “God, no. He’s a good guy.” Josh went quiet for a few moments. “Can you send him home? Get him out of there?”

  “I’ll try. If there’s any chance that the danger is linked to the house, then that’s the best thing to do. I don’t think I can do anything about Eline, though.”

  “Are you in any danger yourself?”

  “No,” I said firmly. “I’m just terrified for Sam.” Just then I heard the lift descending.

  “Sorry, I want to talk but I have to go,” I said, ringing off as Eline stepped into the lobby, pulling a Louis Vuitton suitcase behind her.

  She smiled when she saw me there. “I’m glad to have met you and Sam,” she said. “You seem like good people.”

  “Thank you,” I said. “We’re excited to be working on this project.”

  Something struck me. It may have been indelicate, but I asked anyway. “Eline, I’m sorry about your husband. Did he… er, was his death unexpected?”

  Eline nodded. “A heart attack. His family had a history of heart disease and he was older than me by ten years… but still. He was too young to go like that. The doctors did what they could, but he didn’t make it.”

  “I’m sorry,” I said again. It seemed, from what she’d told me, that Tomas’s death was a natural one and quite probably unrelated to whatever it was that threatened her.

  And Tessa and Sam.