Poor Mike Bocalora, how the hell am I gonna tell him his kid’s dead… and like this too. Jesus, sometimes I hate this job!
Nick forced himself to study the photos once more, committing the details to memory, and then reached for his cell phone. He needed to call two people right away, one was Rita Maro of the district attorney’s office, and the other was Jan Phillips.
Thirty-Eight
MARIO stopped the van at a small airport terminal.
As Louis got out, he said, “Get to the plane, and get these brats inside. I’ll be there as soon as I file my flight plan. I won’t be long.
As instructed, Mario guided the car past the terminal building where a female clerk sat looking out the window.
Arriving at a lone plane waiting on the weed-crazed tarmac, Colin knew this was just another leg in a journey of terror. He knew, too, that once inside, escape would be impossible.
The fear of Ben’s threat to hurt them only went so far.
Ben stood by the van, watching while Mario stowed a small carry-on bag in the plane.
Colin looked around and spied a light in a window of the airport terminal building.
It’s now or never.
He broke away, grabbed Alexandra’s hand, and said, “Come on!”
His bravado earned each of them a blast from Ben’s stun gun. Moments later the two lay on the Beechcraft’s main cabin floor. The thick pile carpeting did little to dampen the vibration of the plane’s jet engines as it coursed through Colin’s aching body.
How long they had been shocked into an electronic stupor he could not tell. All he knew was that he and Zan were captive, it was his fault, and his whole body hurt.
He opened his eyes and watched Alexandra as she rocked back and forth, crying. She wouldn’t look at him, even when he begged her to forgive him. Forgiveness was what he needed most right now. She had tried to warn him, but he was too obsessed with escaping from a comfortable home and from a man who had shown him only kindness, patience, and yes, even love. He knew he had been wrong, stupid, and arrogant, but that didn’t make up for the situation in which they found themselves.
“Zan,” he whispered in a voice made hoarse from shouting.
“Leave me alone, Colin. Please, just leave me alone.”
Colin lay silent for a while. He tried to sit up until he heard Ben say, “No. No. You must remain down.”
Colin eased himself back to the floor and looked up at Ben. Through his tears he said, “W-why? What do you want with us? We never hurt you.”
“You must keep quiet and do as I say. Your feeble attempt to escape was an unfortunate move. I must speak with Louis now. I trust you do not wish another punishment—yes?”
Colin merely nodded.
“Good boy. You learn hard but fast.”
Ben stood and steadied himself before moving forward to the cockpit where Louis sat at the controls.
“Any trouble back there?” Carew said.
“No trouble. Have you programmed the coordinates I gave you?”
“I did, but those coordinates aren’t for the Reykjavik airport. I thought….”
“We are not going to land at Reykjavik. There is a small airstrip near the Murderküll glacier. Volcano watchers use it part of the season. We will land there.”
“Why Iceland, and why a glacier? Wouldn’t it be easier to just fly to Algeria or Spain?”
“My associates have established a colony of devoted followers. The glacier is so inhospitable that we can work in relative isolation.”
“I still don’t understand what you want with the Phillips kid, or the girl, for that matter.”
Ben said impatiently, “Louis, just fly the plane.”
Not willing to give up the subject, Louis said, “Oh, I get it, you want the girl for yourself, but if you want the girl, why the boy?”
Ben shook his head wearily.
“Louis, you understand nothing. The boy will be killed. I assume you have at least grasped that.”
“What about the girl?”
Louis had visions of enjoying her himself.
“At first, I was unhappy about her presence. An unexpected wrinkle, if you will, but she has provided an unexpected bonus, as she is useful in keeping the boy cooperative until he is, how shall I say it—released? After that, we shall see about the girl.”
“Well, you’d better tie them up, or you’ll have a fight on your hands when they figure all this out.”
“I have the stun gun. They will not wish to experience that again. Binding them is not an option. We will be climbing onto the glacier, and we can’t make such a climb carrying two bodies. No, it is better they remain able to move on their own. When we reach the first plateau, we will be met by my superior.”
“We? What we? You gotta mouse in your pocket or somethin’? I’m not climbing any glacier. No sirree!”
“Your four million American dollars depend on you delivering the Phillips boy. As I recall you did not specify the location. If you had the presence of mind to place limits on the delivery point, you could argue this. However, as it is, you have no choice, unless you are ready to forfeit the money.”
Louis sat chewing the inside of his cheek. It was a nervous habit he had developed whenever his father scolded him. Now he found himself scolded by a stranger! He needed the four million dollars promised for the Phillips kid. He needed it desperately.
I’ll show that old man he’s not the only moneymaker in the family. I’m just as good as he is!
“You win,” Louis said sullenly.
An air pocket bounced the plane, and Ben nervously looked at his watch. Louis read the Arab’s mind and said, “We’ve got another hour and a half flying time.”
Louis flipped a switch on the plane’s control panel, checked the reserve fuel level, and then looked out the side window. He scowled at a thick bank of gray clouds off to the north. Subtle flashes of light burst within the dark mass. Nature at war with herself.
“That’s gonna mean trouble,” he muttered.
Getting no response, Louis turned to see Ben had returned to the main cabin.
BEN’S absence gave Colin the opportunity to once again try to talk to Alexandra.
“Zan, are you okay?” he whispered.
“Compared to what?”
“I deserve that. I’m so sorry, but please don’t hate me. It’s killing me that you won’t talk to me… please!”
“What do you want me to say? I screwed up by not calling anybody before I came looking for you. I screwed up by not telling my mom where I was going. Colin, nobody knows where we are! Added to that, I ache like one big menstrual cramp. I’m not much in the mood for chitchat.”
“I bought you something at Hip’s.”
Alexandra looked over at Colin. She knew he was trying to make up.
Her heart said, Give him a break. After all, you love him.
“What?” she said.
“What, what?” Colin said, confused.
“What did you get me?”
“Oh, it’s that Nectar album by Black Azalea. You said you wanted it, so I got for you.”
After a pause, Alexandra said, “What’s going to happen to us, Colin?”
“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on. At first, I thought Lou was going to make me have sex or something, but now I don’t know. I don’t think this has anything to do with sex.”
“Colin, I’m scared.”
“Me too, I….”
“I told you two to be quiet!”
Ben stood towering over the prostrate teens.
“Must I punish you again?”
“I was just telling Colin I have to use the bathroom,” Alexandra said, her earlier defiance tinged her voice.
“Bathroom? Oh, you mean the toilet.”
Ben regarded Alexandra for a moment and then silently caressed his stun gun for her to see. Alexandra looked at the weapon, then up at Ben. She nodded her understanding. One false move like before and I’ll zap you again.
Alexandra nodded again and stood on cramped, unstable legs. She staggered to a door near the tail section of the plane. Moments later she returned, red-faced, as she realized the man had heard her every movement.
“Get on the floor,” Ben ordered.
Once Alexandra was back in her original position, Ben said to Colin, “Now you.”
Colin wobbled to the toilet with Ben right behind him.
“You don’t have to watch me!” Colin said.
“I think I will anyway.”
Colin blushed.
“Please don’t,” he begged.
Ben looked into Colin’s eyes and considered his plea. He stepped out of view and said, “Do not close the door.”
Thirty-Nine
JAN drove a zigzag course through the crowded Philadelphia streets in the hopes of spotting Colin. Perhaps he had simply lost track of time. The traffic on Broad Street was unusually heavy. Night delivery vans, limousines, police patrol cars, pedestrians, and cyclists all competed for space on one of Philadelphia’s main arteries. Jan sat impatiently at the corner of Pine and Broad Streets, waiting for the light to change. He checked his watch. It was after ten o’clock.
“He’s got to be back home by now,” he muttered without conviction.
Back at his waterside home, Jan pulled into the building’s underground garage, turned off the car’s ignition, and sat for a moment in an anxious daze. He realized he had no recollection of driving the last few blocks.
Guthrie walked over to his boss.
“Sir, you look all in. Is everything all right?”
“No, Guthrie, nothing seems to be right tonight. Have you seen Colin?”
“No, sir. I haven’t. I was just wonderin’ where he could be. It’s gettin’ real late.”
Jan ignored the old man’s last remark as he hurried across the wood brick floor and into the elevator. Moments later, he slammed his left hand against the blue screen that scanned his palm print and muttered, “Come on. Come on!”
A split second later, the electronic latch released its hold, and Jan plunged through the loft door calling Colin’s name.
He searched the living room, the study, the kitchen, and then headed toward the spiral stairs calling once more, louder this time. Instead of his son, Amal appeared.
“Amal, has Colin returned?”
“No, Effendi, he has not. You have a call from….”
Jan turned away, waving off his loyal friend with an impatient hand.
“I don’t have time for that. I have to find Colin!”
Amal grabbed Jan’s arm with a strong grip.
Jan stopped and looked at the Egyptian’s hand on his arm. Then he looked into Amal’s serious eyes.
“Effendi, you must read the message.”
Jan accepted the square scrap of paper and read Amal’s neat handwriting. “Call Mr. Flamingo. Urgent.”
AS HE dialed Nick Flamingo’s office, Jan’s heart banged in his breast. Four rings, five rings, and no Flamingo. Jan swore, “Damn you, Nick! Where the hell are you?”
Then Jan heard a click and a robotic voice, “Your call will be transferred. Please hold the line.”
Jan had little choice than to wait as instructed.
“Flamingo here.”
“Nick, it’s Jan Phillips. What’s going on?”
“Bad news. Your boy was here….”
“Where’s here? I don’t know where you are,” Jan shot back, his patience having long since departed.
“I’m at Louis Carew’s warehouse.”
Jan began to sweat. Carew again! What the hell is Colin doing with that man!
“I’ve got that asshole’s business card,” Jan said. “I’m on my way.”
“Don’t bother. The boy isn’t here now.”
Jan collapsed into a chair and hung his head. He felt as if his chest would split. He took a long breath.
“How do you know he was there? You could be wrong.”
“Jan, I’m sorry. I’m not wrong. Louie’s got a porn operation going on here. There are cameras everywhere, and I found a camcorder….”
“My God! Nick, Louis didn’t force Colin to make a porn video, did he?”
“Jan, I didn’t say that. I checked the camcorder, and he’s not in any of the vids.”
“Thank God,” Jan gasped.
“Yeah, well, as I was saying, I was searching the place when I came across a stash of photographs—heavy stuff—kids. Some were badly beaten. Then I found a surveillance photo of your boy. At first, I thought it was you, until I looked at the back of the picture. It said Colin Phillips. Later, I found the video recorder.”
Nick could hear Jan’s ragged breathing become erratic.
“Jan, I need you to calm down. Do you hear me?”
“Yeah, I hear you.”
“Okay. Now, your boy wasn’t on the camera video, but I got an audio. Most of the sound is garbled, but some girl with a crazy name like Zanadu called out his name—Colin. That’s how I know he was here.”
“Zan.”
“What?” Nick said.
“Her name is Zan. It’s short for Alexandra. Her mother is my office manager. Okay, so he was there, but how do you know he isn’t still there? I mean, he could be locked up or something.”
“Sorry, Jan. I checked the place before I found the video cam. Neither one of ’em is here.”
Silence.
A weary voice forced itself from Jan’s throat, “Nick, you’re the best in the business. What does your nose tell you about where they went?”
“There were voices saying something about leaving and something about taking thirty minutes and there being a field, some kind of rendezvous.
“Field? An airfield?” Jan suggested.
“That’s what I’m thinkin’, but an airfield just thirty minutes away? That leaves Philly International out because it doesn’t take that long to get there from here.”
Frustrated with the circular logic that twirled between the two men, Jan said, “What are we talking about here, Nick? We don’t even know if this field is an airport.”
Nick sat back in Louis’s desk chair and gnawed on a fingernail. Then he sat bolt upright and said, “Jan. Hold on a minute. I have an idea.”
“I don’t have time for ideas, Nick!”
“Make time—don’t go away.”
Nick set his cell phone aside and pulled the desk phone in front of him. Again, he began his one-way conversation.
A guy like Louie likes convenience, right? Speed dialing is convenient, right? Single digits, right? Okay, let’s see what numero uno gets us.
Nick lifted the receiver and pressed one. A man’s voice answered, “This is Victor Carew. Leave a message.”
His old man, well that one’s no good. Let’s see what number two does for us.
“Blue Mountain Airport. This is Pamela, how may I help you?”
Nick had to think fast. You’d better make this good, ol’ buddy, he told himself.
“Hello?” the woman said. “Are you there?”
“Uhh, yeah. This is Victor Carew calling. I need to get an urgent message to my son, Louis.”
Nick chose his words carefully. “Has he arrived?”
“Why yes. He arrived a while ago. In fact, he’s already airborne. Why do you ask?”
The PI scratched his brain for an excuse.
“Oh, I see,” Nick said. “Well, I have a business contract he forgot to sign before he left the office, and if it doesn’t have his John Hancock by tomorrow he stands to lose a great deal of money.”
“I don’t know what to say, sir. I’d radio him, but I’m sure he’s beyond our range by now.”
Nick tried one more gamble.
“Oh, yes. I see. Well, I could try to meet him. Umm, I’m sure he filed a flight plan. I don’t know any other way to save this deal, but to try and catch up with him. Can you help me with that?”
; There was a long pause.
“Miss, I’d really appreciate your help.”
“Well… I suppose it would be all right. Let me check the log.” A minute later, the airport clerk was back on the line.
“He had three other passengers with him. His destination is Reykjavik, Iceland.”
“Iceland? Oh that’s right, he did mention he was taking a trip there. You say he had passengers. Fine son he is, not inviting the old man along,” Nick joked.
Pamela giggled. “I don’t think his children were too thrilled to go.”
“His children?” Nick said.
“I think they were his son and daughter.”
Click.
“Hello? Hello? Sir, are you there? Hello!”
Nick redialed Jan’s phone.
“This is Jan.”
“I thought I told you to hang on!” Nick said.
Jan stood and walked the room in circles.
“I did, the line went dead on your end.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Jan said, “Nick, Joachim Nussbaum just got here. Between the three of us, we should be able to turn Louis Carew’s world upside down. So did you find what you’re looking for?”
“Yeah, I did, but it ain’t good.”
Jan’s hand gripped the phone. He took a deep breath and prayed, Oh God, please let him be alive.
“You were right about the rendezvous being an airfield. It’s Blue Mountain Airport. Louis keeps a plane there. I found out where he’s taking your son and the girl.”
Jan stopped his pacing and stood stiff as a barge pole.
“Tell me,” he said.
The detective replied with one word, “Iceland.”
Jan swayed on his heels.
“Say again?”
Nick repeated the name. Iceland.
Jan stared at Joachim Nussbaum. The ex-Mossad spy had been listening to one side of the conversation.
As if in a trance, Jan dropped the phone to the floor, where it spun around on its back.
Joachim retrieved the phone and said, “Nick, this is Nussbaum. What’s going on?”
The big man listened to Nick’s summary of events, then said, “Thanks. We’ll be in touch.”
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