“Execution, Court,” Sam sighed.
“How can you be so calm?” Court raved.
“Because Mr. Cleave accepts his fate with grace, Callany,” Yiannis told the terrified mechanic. While he spoke, Sam bolted forward, off his knees and into a dive roll toward the wall where Court's light was hanging from the hook. With one movement, he ripped the cord from the fixture and blacked out the room instantly. It happened in less than three seconds, giving Court the opportunity to grab the assassin’s weapon.
Sam heard the struggle of the two men in the dark and followed the sound.
“Court, where are you?” he shouted.
“Hanging from my hand,” Yiannis laughed crudely in the blackness. He had Court in a grip, holding him up by his throat, choking the mechanic to death. The sound of the massive blade skewering Court’s body overpowered his cries of pain. Sam used the position they were in to optimize his attack and swept his leg low to dislodge the Greek’s knee joints with a sickening crack. Not even a scream came from the painful immobilization. Yiannis merely grunted and panted as Court fell into the moist much of the floor.
“Court! Court, can you hear me?” Sam barked, getting no answer.
“I can hear you just fine,” he heard Yiannis growl from another direction, and then the excruciating anguish of Sam’s leg being repeatedly stabbed. Once the assassin found Sam’s leg, he knew where to grab. With his free hand he locked on to Sam’s other leg and pulled him closer with one powerful tug.
“Fuck!” Sam spat furiously, kicking wildly at where he guessed the man’s face would be. He got in a few good shots, but it only seemed to spur Yiannis on. More blows came with horrendous pain as the blade kept splitting flesh, forcing Sam to resort to schoolyard tactics. He gathered a handful of muddy earth, full of concrete chunks from the broken floor, which he shoved hard into Yannis’ face and eyes.
It seemed to repel him somewhat, giving Sam just enough time to find the generator against the wall. Fumbling violently, he managed to find the cap of the tank. He unscrewed it and propped himself up on one leg, tilting the tank over in the darkness. Yiannis was snorting and puffing to get the debris out of his eyes and mouth, betraying his position just enough for Sam to douse him in petrol.
“No! No, Cleave! You will never know where we are keeping the women if you kill me!” Yiannis threatened when he smelled the accelerant.
Quickly, Sam delved into his pocket for his lighter. Without hesitation, he flicked the flame on and aimed. “That is the advantage of two enforcers, you see,” Sam wheezed. “We can get that info from your buddy just before we light him up too.” He sank to his haunches as the fire rushed toward the screaming threat and he used the human torch to light the way to Court’s bleeding body.
“I did it for my wife and the children,” Court mustered the words just barely.
“Take it easy. Save your breath. I am calling the ambulance,” Sam advised, but Court was rapidly bleeding out from the broken vessels and exposed organs.
“Listen,” he persisted with immense effort. “Tell them I was only a thief for one night. Okay? I only did it to give them a better life, and Brian…a scholarship at a dandy school and all.”
“I will tell them, mate,” Sam promised, feeling utterly helpless. “You go on now. I will make sure they know why.”
“Thanks mate,” Court pushed out. A little smirk formed on his face as life gave way to relief. Sam sank his head and rested it on the man’s still chest. There was no heartbeat inside the body, but the warmth attested to the mechanic’s recent departure and Sam found a slightly macabre peace in it.
26
Clarity
Purdue woke up to the smell of black coffee and fritters. He was alone in bed, but his shower was on at full power in the en suite bathroom. It was late in the morning already, but it was weekend and he could not stop smiling. Charles had left the breakfast on Purdue’s bedroom table, along with the newspaper, as usual.
It was a dark morning with heavy rainfalls forecast throughout Edinburgh and surrounding areas, according to the weather girl at Channel 8. Purdue was anxious, though, to hear from Sam regarding Nina’s rapid departure the night before. With the silver-haired beauty in the shower, he would have some privacy while checking up on Nina.
The first notification tone came through. It was from Sam.
“Hey Purdue, just checking in to tell you we have collected Nina’s friend from Glasgow. Listen, tomorrow first thing, call me. We have a problem and we need your help.”
Sam’s words did not rouse any concern in Purdue, but the journalist’s tone was a little off. Sam did not rattle easily, but by the sound of his voice in this message, he had discovered something troublesome.
“Good morning, lover,” Ava sang as she stepped out of the bathroom. She wore only one towel, and it was on her freshly washed hair. As much as he enjoyed the scenery and the reminiscence it brought back to him, he could not help but feel the urge to get in contact with Sam as soon as possible.
“Good morning, princess,” he smiled, watching her crawl onto the bed. How would he excuse himself from this scenario? Naturally he did not want to, but the thought of his friend’s urgent words haunted him. Ava worked her way up his left leg, planting kisses as she went. Purdue put the phone down as the rai started clattering against the windows again, opting for pleasure. After all, Sam was a dangerous, resourceful individual. He could take care of things just fine until Purdue had had his real breakfast.
“Lock the door,” he suggested to Ava.
Purdue’s phone rang, but he ignored it until it stopped. Ava locked the door and returned to his bed, and the slow temptation she had in mind. He closed his eyes and relaxed, savoring her attention. He welcomed Ava’s advances fully, eventually abandoning all intentions to get back to Sam soon.
After four phone calls ignored, Charles answered Purdue’s line when the next one came in. It was Sam, sounding livid.
“I am sorry to take this out on you, Chuck, but we have a fucking serious situation here!” Sam apologized to the butler. “Get him on the phone right now. Nina has been kidnapped!”
“Not to worry, Mr. Cleave. I shall raise Mr. Purdue immediately. Shall I have him call you back or do you wish to stay on the line?” Charles asked with his usual professionalism.
“I will hold on, thanks,” Sam panted on the other side.
Charles sprinted up the stairs, a surprising sight to Lillian, the housekeeper. She stared at him from the ground floor with wide eyes and a puzzled cock of her head. He looked back at her, seeming distraught. “Dr. Gould has been kidnapped.”
Lillian gasped. Footsteps patted toward the other side of the door. Ava yelped in disappointment as Purdue flew towards the door and jarred it open. “What did you say?” he exclaimed. He could see that his butler’s usual poker face had turned red and strained. Charles said nothing. He just passed Purdue the portable phone. “Mr. Cleave for you sir,” he announced in a timid voice. “It is urgent.”
“Where the fuck have you been all morning?” Sam shouted at Purdue when he answered the phone.
“Sam, calm down,” he tried, but Sam’s voice was shaking when he interrupted Purdue’s attempt. “Don’t you dare tell me to calm down. For Christ’s sake, she was taken, along with the boy. They grabbed them both right out of my fucking apartment! I need your help now, or else Nina is dead. Do you understand?”
Purdue’s chest ached from shock and panic. There was no time to waste. His eyes blinked profusely as he rummaged for a pen and paper. “Sam, where are you? I am on my way.”
“What is wrong?” Ava asked. “Nina was what?”
After Purdue took Sam’s direction, he folded the piece of paper. “I have no idea who the boy is Sam is referring to, but Nina was abducted along with him early this morning,” Purdue briskly explained as he pulled on some casual clothes and hiking boots. From his bedside drawer, Purdue scooped up his palm-sized tablet and slipped it into his front jeans pocket. A disappearance w
as never a case for chino’s and Italian shoes. He knew that. Purdue grabbed a bottle of mouthwash and rinsed his mouth, while Ava pulled on her dress from the night before.
“I am coming with you,” she said.
“No time,” Purdue replied as he grabbed his wallet and keys. But she was ready to go. Ava tied her damp hair in her shawl and grabbed her purse. She was barefoot, holding her shoes in her hand. “Let’s go.”
They raced past Charles and Lillian. “We are taking my Jeep, Charles. If he calls the house, tell him we are on our way,” Purdue rambled as he came to the front doors. “Security is to let nobody in, understand. I shall tell them. You just hold the fort.”
“Of course, sir,” Charles replied, following them to the door and locking it. He turned to look at Lillian, who was still frozen in shock. “Put the kettle on, Lillian. I need some tea.”
It was almost midday, when Purdue and Ava arrived at the Strathclyde Country Park, where Sam wished to meet up. They headed to the bowling alley and found him sitting in the corner with a Coca Cola. His trousers were torn to accommodate a leg injury, bandaged thickly, and his face was a mess.
“Sam!” Purdue exclaimed, hurrying to his side. “What in God’s name happened?”
“Cut myself shaving,” Sam replied with no humor. He was still stewing about Purdue being unavailable, but he was relieved that he had finally arrived. “Sit down. Get cozy. We have to sort this shit out right now.”
They obliged. Sam looked like he had been through hell. After recounting the kidnapping, he gave them a concise description of the atrocious incident he had endured after he lost Nina and the boy. With Ava’s sensitivity to violence, Sam omitted the more gory details, but Purdue got the gist of it.
“Did they say anything that could indicate where they are keeping them?” Purdue asked.
“Nothing,” Sam said. “We have to do something.”
“What do you suggest?” Purdue asked.
“I cannot think straight. My bladder is drowning me,” Sam said. “I am going to the restroom.” As he said the words, he looked at Purdue in a certain manner, a speechless language the two men had cultivated through their years of allegiance.
Purdue winced. “Actually, I have to take a leak as well. Ava, my dear, do you mind waiting here for us?”
“Of course not. Just hurry up. I am not keen on places like this and the idiots who hit on me,” she said casually.
“Don’t blame them,” Purdue winked and kissed her cheek. He jogged to the men’s room and disappeared behind Sam. Together they hit the urinals for a piss and a quick discussion.
“You do not want her to know the details,” Purdue said.
“Not that,” Sam answered. “I just do not trust her.”
“Oh God! You never trust the women I sleep with,” Purdue sighed.
“No, think with your brain just for a moment, Purdue. I am not saying she did anything wrong. I just need to run this by you in private.”
“Alright, run it by me,” Purdue said, washing his hands.
Sam spoke in a hushed tone. “Look, I wonder how the kidnappers knew where I lived. How did they know Nina and I have that boy with us?”
Purdue shrugged. Sam answered his own question to clarify. “Only if they followed us, they could know that. Question is…who could follow us all the way from Wrichtishousis to Glasgow and back to my place?”
Sam glared at his friend, waiting for the penny to drop, but Purdue was ahead of him. He smiled at Sam. “I do not always let my cock do my thinking, old boy. You and Nina…and Charles…underestimate me greatly in this regard.”
“Look at your track record with women,” Sam advised. “I rest my case.”
Purdue reached into his jeans pocket and showed Sam his trusty tablet.
“Ah! The magic match box,” Sam said. “For why?”
Purdue smiled deviously. He pressed the slider that opened up the tablet to a bigger size and adjusted the resolution. With elegant sweeps, his trained hands navigated the super-technological device. A map screen opened up, marked by several colors, indicating routes taken.
“You see these lines? Each color traces the time and route of Bernard’s car,” he grinned.
Sam’s mouth was open in disbelief at the fortunate turn of events. “You fucking genius!”
He clutched Purdue’s head in the bend of his arm and gave the playboy a proper kiss on the forehead, just as two high school boys came into the toilets. They looked surprised and a little spooked, but just kept walking to the nearest stalls.
“Now we know where to find him, so we can ask him ourselves where he is keeping Nina,” Purdue said.
“Oh, I intend to talk with my knuckles today,” Sam replied. “I am certain we will find Court’s family and the scabbard there too.”
“His car has not moved in twelve hours, so he is still there. Just do not tell Ava about Bernard’s involvement. Let her see for herself,” Purdue cautioned, as they exited the men’s room.
“No wonder she wanted to get out of the business they were in,” Sam remarked. He saw the pretty woman sipping dreamily on her Coca Cola at the table.
“How can you even walk with those stab wounds?” Purdue asked.
“They were mostly superficial. The emergency room nurse told me so, but geezuss, did it hurt at the time!” Sam cringed, reliving the pain. They joined Ava at the table.
“Ava, we have an idea where to start looking. Do you want us to drop you off at home?” Sam offered.
“No, thank you. I think we should start as soon as possible,” she suggested.
“You are not going home?” Purdue asked.
“No, my darling. I am going with you…to find Excalibur,” she said nonchalantly.
“Um, no,” Sam argued, “we are going to rescue Nina from the ape who took her.”
Ava scoffed. “Sam, that ape is sitting in David’s Jeep right now. He will be my bodyguard while we join you and David on a little excursion to find Excalibur.”
“Excuse me?” Sam sneered. Purdue listened in amazement at the unbelievable things coming from his beloved Ava. She nodded with a gentle smile.
“If we do not deliver the scabbard to our superior, Major Rian, he will have my brother killed, you see. On the other hand, he does not know that Warkadur’s etchings point the way to Excalibur, the fool! We are going to find Excalibur before we hand over the scabbard to Major Rian, understand? I was not going to leave this wretched business without the ultimate artifact – the very object of sovereignty and power.”
“Excalibur,” Purdue gulped. “My God. This is what all this was about?”
“Told you so,” Sam quickly slipped into the conversation, earning him a defeated leer from Purdue.
“Thanks to Court’s stalling in searching for the scabbard, Bernard has won some time to hand over Warkadur to Major Rian,” she explained the timeframe for them. “Major Rian will not know that Court is dead and he will not know that Bernard already has the scabbard. While he waits for my brother to obtain the scabbard, we will procure Excalibur for ourselves. Bernard will babysit the Callany family and dear, sweet Nina until I return with Excalibur. If I do not, well…you do the math.” Sam and Purdue wanted to obliterate her at once, but in the public venue they chose to meet, they had to stifle their eagerness – or just postpone it. Her smile faded and she laid her pristine eyes on both men. “Am I beginning to make sense here, gentlemen?”
27
Imprisoned
Nina awoke to see a blurry face in front of her. Her eyes felt thick, just like her tongue. The repulsive taste of the drug still sat hard in her nostrils and palate. Without warning, she convulsed on the dirty floor where she was lying. An empty regurgitation shook her, forcing her tongue out of her mouth to convey the meager trickles of bile her body rejected. With her eyes pinched shut, Nina could hear an echo in her spluttering. That would account for the cold, wet atmosphere, she thought. She imagined that the place was large and empty.
“Welcome t
o the Channel Islands,” she heard from a familiar voice.
Nina did not react. She was still too disorientated to focus on her whereabouts, let alone to think up a snappy comeback. The wind howled in her ears, but she kept her eyes closed, because she wanted to be asleep again. Nothing could make her want to get up from wherever this hell was. She listened keenly for signs of Brian being alive, but all she could hear was that wind. And then, a bell. It tolled in melancholy cadence from a distance away, but it did not announce the time. Only the emptiness of the ruined tower it hanged from could steer the wind to rock the bell.
“Come on now, Dr. Gould. You and I both know you will perish if you do not get up and have some soup,” he said again.
“Fuck you, Bernard,” she growled from the floor, still keeping her eyes shut. The rustling of his feet rapidly approached her and he fell to his knees behind her. Nina cried out in pain as Bernard grabbed her hair in his grasp and pulled her upright with one violent jerk. Still behind her, he hissed into her ear. “You might just earn that privilege, Dr. Gould. I have had my eye on your delicious little ass since I first found out you had my scabbard.”
“Your scabbard?” she deliberately mocked. “Well, I suppose blokes like you are inclined to have sheaths instead of swords.”
“You are very close to finding out,” he sneered desperately.
She opened her eyes reluctantly. If she was going to escape and find Brian, she had to be awake and alert to her surroundings. ‘May as well play along,’ she decided. ‘Might even successfully win his trust. Just pretend to be weak. The dumb woman angle always works.’
“Where am I?” she asked with sudden compliance Bernard appreciated. He had read about Dr. Gould’s exploits in those books Sam Cleave wrote. She was not to be fucked with, according to Cleave, but Bernard was yet to meet a woman who could render him powerless.
“Like I said, Guernsey,” he replied.
Nina’s hands were tied together behind her back, and so were her ankles. “Where is Brian?” she inquired, surveying the cell she was in. An arch held the cast iron gates, locked tight. The walls and roof were all crude rock and mortar, like that of an ancient ruin or fortress. Against the walls, she could see several slogans carved, but time had worn the words down.
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