‘They have but there are still hundreds of former Nazi scientists and engineers at large. Majestic is determined to track them down before the soviets get their hands on them. This is a race gentlemen, there are still secrets the Nazis kept which have yet to be discovered. Much of the wealth they accumulated during the war is still unaccounted for.’
‘That’s all very well General, but I’m head of British intelligence Kirov belongs to us. Majestic has no right to just waltz in a and take him.’
‘I’m afraid it’s out of your hands Mr Stanford, Dimitri Kirov is being shipped out this afternoon.’
‘What!’
Stacy pulled out his chair and stood. ‘As I said the other day, if you have any concerns then I suggest you contact Senator Barnes.’
‘What a load of bollocks!’ Stanford seethed. ‘They had plans to take Kirov all along.’
‘How do Majestic know so much?’ Frederick asked.
‘I suspect we have a mole on the ranks of MI6 working for Majestic.’
Frederick stood. ‘I suppose I better pack for this little adventure.’
Emneth – Cambridgeshire – 7:30pm
‘Paris!’ Elizabeth remarked.
‘It’s only for a few days.’ Frederick replied. ‘I have to deliver a speech to the Paris metropolitan University.’ He smiled at his wife. ‘I’m a Nobel prize winner remember sweetheart it comes with the territory.’
Elizabeth smiled at her husband kissing him on the cheek. ‘Bring back a bottle of that champagne we had on our honeymoon.’
Chapter 3
We’ll always have Paris
Paris – France
Wednesday 19th September 1945
Elizabeth Frederick looked over at the Eiffel Tower and smiled. The afternoon sun blazed down on the small cafe. Her husband appeared out of the door carrying a tray on which sat a bottle of champagne and two tall glasses. ‘Here you go my lady.’ He said setting the tray down carefully. ‘Compliments of the house.’
Elizabeth smiled. ‘How an earth did you get hold of this?’
‘I called in a favour last night. Malcom told me where I could get my hands on a decent bottle.’ He poured two glasses. ‘I’m afraid we’re only allowed one bottle, it’s still a rarity.’ He handed a glass to Elizabeth. ‘A toast.’ Frederick declared holding up his glass. ‘To our long overdue Honeymoon.’
Elizabeth looked across at the war torn landscape. ‘We’ve been through so much over the last six years.’
Frederick nodded. ‘It’s hard to imagine how we can rebuild after all this destruction.’
‘Now that the old man is no longer Prime Minister I am considering leaving the war office. A lot of the girls have already left, it’s not the same without him.’
Frederick nodded. ‘When we get back to England I’m due to start teaching at Cambridge so I guess we’ll have to start looking for a house.’
Elizabeth leaned over and kissed her husband. ‘I love you.’ She whispered in his ear.
‘Hey Professor you ok?’ Cones waved his hand in front of Frederick’s face.
Frederick pulled himself out of memory lane back to the present. ‘Sorry what were you saying?’ he asked.
Cones looked at the piece of paper he was holding. ‘According to this the Lumière Hotel was a regular hotspot for Nazi politicians during the war.’
‘I’ll wager they weren’t here to enjoy a night at the cinema.’ Frederick commented.
Cones looked at him with a puzzled expression.
‘Lumière.’ Frederick said. ‘The Lumière Brothers invented the cinematograph back in 1896. The first film they showed was of a train pulling into a railway station. People ran screaming out of the cinema believing they were about to be mown down.’
‘There was me thinking you were a science teacher.’ Cones said candidly.
‘I like films.’ Frederick replied.
Cones shoved the piece of paper back into his pocket. ‘let’s see if we can create our own little drama.’
Both men walked across the street to the main entrance of the hotel and climbed the steps.
‘Good afternoon Gentlemen.’ A tall thin man greeted.
‘Hi how you doing.’ Cones replied.
‘Ah American.’ The man smiled. ‘You’ll be interested to know that we have a theatre here and are currently screening Casablanca and King Kong.’ ‘Actually we’re here to see Emmanuelle.’ Cones said.
The man took a step back eyeing the two men who had just walked in. ‘I see.’ His tone changed. ‘Do you have an appointment?’
Cones smiled at the man producing his wallet and pulling out a twenty dollar bill. ‘Of course.’ He replied handing the money discreetly to the man.
Claude glanced at the money before looking around to make sure no one was looking in their direction. He discreetly took the money. ‘Very well if you’ll step this way gentlemen.’
Frederick and Cones were led through to a small room. The man closed the door behind them. ‘I’m Claude, the manager of this establishment.’
‘How do you do.’ Frederick greeted politely.
‘May I ask what business you have with Emmanuelle?’
‘More pleasure than anything.’ Cones said.
The man stared at him before nodding. He pushed a secret button under the desk he sat at. A panel behind him suddenly slid open. ‘Please step this way.’ Claude invited. ‘It’s the last door on your left.’
Frederick and Cones walked down a narrow corridor until they came to the door Claude had pointed out. Cones knocked loudly. After several seconds a very tall and large man opened the door. ‘What?’ He barked.
‘We’re here to see Emmanuelle.’ Cones said standing his ground. Despite the size of the man standing in front of him Cones wasn’t going to be intimidated.
‘Why?’ The man stood like a stone pillar with his arms folded.
‘Look pal we didn’t come here to argue with a gorilla.’ Cones said. Frederick glared at him.
‘Marcus.’ A woman’s voice called out.
The man turned and stepped aside. A woman appeared in the doorway. She was in her mid forties with blonde hair cascading over her shoulders. She glanced at the two strangers before looking at the bodyguard and nodding.
Frederick and Cones stepped into the room. The large man stood outside the door. ‘What is it I can do for you gentlemen?’ She asked.
‘We’re looking for someone.’
Emmanuelle smiled at the two men sat opposite. ‘Sorry but I don’t do threesomes.’
‘I beg your pardon.’ Frederick stated clearly offended by what this woman had suggested. ‘I’m happily married thank you.’
The woman picked up a cigarette holder. ‘Do you have any idea how many happily married men come in here.’ She took a drag.
‘Cut the crap lady, we’re not here to sample the merchandise. We’re looking for someone.’ Cones said.
Emmanuelle looked at him. ‘This isn’t missing persons. I’m afraid you’ve wasted your time.’
Cones produced his wallet and took out the contents. He threw the notes onto the table. ‘If you can give us information then there’s plenty more where that came from.’
The woman looked at the money briefly before scooping it up. She then looked past the two men beyond the door. ‘Who are you looking for?’ Her voice became quiet.
‘A man who goes by the name of Bernard Schroder.’ Frederick said.
Emmanuelle produced a piece of paper and scribbled on it. ‘I’m sorry I have no idea who you’re talking about.’ She said handing the note to Cones. ‘Now if there’s nothing else gentlemen I suggest you leave, Marcus!’ She called out.
The door opened immediately and the bodyguard stepped into the room.
Chapter 4
7:22pm
Frederick and Cones had been sat in a small cafe bar across the street from the Hotel of for a few hours. Frederick yawned and glanced at his watch. ‘What are we still doing here?’ he complained.
‘Waiting.’ Cones replied staring at the piece of paper Emmanuelle had given him. He picked up a shot glass and bolted it down before refilling it with a bottle he had brought earlier.
‘Hadn’t you better lay off the booze Agent Cones?’ Frederick remarked. ‘We both need clear heads if we are going to find Schroder.’
Cones bolted back his glass. ‘Don’t worry about me Professor my head is perfectly clear.’ He poured himself another glass and bolted it down. Cones reached for the bottle again but Frederick beat him to it.
‘Agent Cones if there is something bothering you then I suggest we leave.’
Cones glared at him. ‘I’m fine Professor.’
‘Obviously not if you want to drink yourself into oblivion. Would you like to tell me about what happened here in Paris.’ Frederick gestured towards the bottle her had taken off Cones. ‘I suspect you are feeling guilty about what happened to Agent Baker a few weeks back.’
Cones stared at the bottle in Frederick’s hand. ‘He gave his life for me.’
‘Yes he did.’
‘No you don’t understand he gave up his life willingly for me.’
‘Do you know that for sure?’
Cones stared at the bottle of whiskey before nodding.
‘How?’
‘Perhaps you’re right Professor we need to stay on mission if we’re to locate Schroder.’ Cones stared at the note Emmanuelle had given him.
Frederick decided not to push the American. ‘You’ve been staring at that all afternoon yet you still haven’t figured out what Ladyhawk means.’
‘She wrote this for a purpose.’ Cones explained.
‘Yes but what purpose?’
Cones shook his head looking at the words on the paper together with a time, 7:30pm. He then looked up and saw two men entering the bar.
Frederick noted the look on his face and turned around to see what he was looking at. Two men had just entered sat at the bar. The bartender placed two shot glasses in front of them and produced a bottle of Vodka. Frederick turned back and saw that Cones was reaching for his gun. ‘Agent Cones what are you doing?’ He glanced back at the two men, one of whom was the large man from the hotel. The other man had blonde hair which was swept back and a chiselled jaw. ‘Who is he?’
‘Shinski.’ Cones seethed, placing the gun on the table.
Frederick looked down at the weapon. ‘Agent Cones listen to me, we have to go back to the hotel and talk to Emmanuelle again to find out if she knows anything about Schroder and what this Ladyhawk means.’
Cones placed his hand over his gun, a woman walked passed heading for the restrooms. ’Sure Professor, right after I do a friend a favour.’
Frederick could feel his heartbeat quicken. ‘I know he killed Jack, but we have to focus we have to carry out our mission.’
The two men sat at the bar finished their drinks and headed back out of the door. Cones clasped his gun and put it back in its holster. He got to his feet and marched briskly towards the door. Frederick got up and followed him.
Shinski and the bodyguard entered the hotel entrance watched by Frederick and Cones.
‘There’s no way he’s here just to hook up with a couple of whores.’ Cones speculated.
‘The man with Shinski could be a Russian informant.’
‘Well let’s find out shall we.’ Frederick and Cones jogged across the street towards the hotel.
‘Ah welcome back gentlemen.’ Claude greeted.
Cones ignored him and watched as Shinski and the bodyguard walked into Claude’s office. He hastened his step heading straight for the door.
Frederick urged himself on following Cones through the office door which immediately slammed behind them.
‘Stay where you are!’ A voice demanded.
Before Frederick had time to face the man he felt a sharp pain in his neck. He instinctively put his hand to where the pain was. The bodyguard glared at him and was holding a syringe. Within several seconds the room began to spin violently, then Frederick dropped to the floor.
Chapter 5
8:59pm
Frederick’s eyelids felt like lead, as he wrestled to keep them open. For a few moments he drifted in and out of consciousness. Frederick’s mind tried desperately to process the situation. The first thing he noticed was that he was tied to a chair. Frederick fought against whatever they had injected into him. He gazed around surveying his surroundings. Frederick was situated in the middle of a large room. Down one side ran a long mirror that had a long wooden bar attached to it. The other side of the room was lined with large windows allowing maximum amount of light to illuminate the room in the day. The room was dimly lit with wall mounted lights. Frederick tugged on his bindings but was unable to move, and his feet were also tied together.
The main doors to the room suddenly opened revealing a dark slender figure standing in the doorway.
‘Hello!’ Frederick called out.
A spotlight switched on as the figure glided into the room revealing her identity.
Frederick watched as a flame haired woman walked seductively towards him. She wore a red basque which was attached to suspenders.
‘What’s going on?’ Frederick asked as the woman walked up to him.
‘Relax Professor Frederick and enjoy the show.’ A voice called out over a tannoy speaker.
‘I don’t understand, where is the man I was with?’
‘Agent Cones is being taken care of.’
Frederick’s mind tried to concentrate on the voice which sounded strangely familiar. The woman circled him like a bird of prey. She reached out and ran her fingers through his hair.
‘Please, what is it you want?’
‘What we want Professor Frederick is for you to enjoy the moment.’ The voice said.
The woman stopped circling and straddled Frederick placing two hands on his shoulders. She started to gyrate, her sweet smelling perfume was intoxicating.
Frederick fought against his restraints but to no avail. ‘Please don’t do this.’ He pleaded fighting against this visually stunning woman.
She curled her arms around his neck placing a hand on the back of his head. Leaning forward she whispered in his ear. ‘I want you.’
Frederick’s wrists felt sore from trying to break free of his bonds, images of a school bully flashed across his mind, endless Chinese burns. ‘Please let me go.’ He whimpered.
The woman suddenly stopped gyrating and for several seconds she locked eyes with Frederick. Then she thrust his head forward pushing her tongue into his mouth.
Frederick had never felt such a rush of adrenalin. For a few fleeting moments he fought against this woman but then found himself locked in ecstasy. Never before had he experienced such a kiss.
All of a sudden a man entered the room holding a camera. He circled the couple as they embraced. The camera clicked away furiously.
All of the sudden the woman stopped, staring at Frederick for a moment before dismounting.
Dazed, Frederick watched her walk out of the room giving him a fleeting glance before disappearing. A mixture of dread and adrenalin surged through Frederick’s body. Two more men marched into the room and untied him. Frederick was hauled to his feet and frog marched out of the room.
‘Professor Frederick, so nice to see you enjoying Paris’ more exotic sights.’ Colonel Yuri Konev smiled at Frederick.
Thoughts of his family now flooded his mind. Frederick began to process what had just transpired. ‘I’m sure your wife is fully aware of what you do in your spare time.’ Konev remarked.
Focussing his mind Frederick glared at the Russian. ‘What do you want Colonel?’ Guilt started to pave the way for anger.
‘Just a little information that’s all.’
‘Information regarding what exactly?’
‘Your purpose for being in Paris. You’re out of your comfort zone so to speak. Unless of course your reason for being here concerns a matter of an unearthly nature.’
‘What have y
ou done with the man I was with earlier?’ Frederick demanded to know.
Konev got to his feet glancing at a man stood behind Frederick. ‘Bring him.’
Frederick was marched back into the dance room. As he entered a wave of shock surged through his body. Sat in the middle of the room was Agent Cones. His bloodied head lolled about on top of his shoulders. Frederick rushed forward to offer what little comfort he could to the badly beaten American. ‘Agent Cones, can you hear me? It’s Professor Frederick.’
‘Hey Professor, how you doing.’ Cones had been drugged. ‘Great party they got going on here.’
Frederick stared in disbelief at Cones. His cheek bone was shattered and his left eye was bloodshot. ‘You bastard!’ He seethed looking back at Konev.
‘You should count yourself lucky Professor, in our little game of good cop bad cop you got the good cop. Now I will ask you one more time. What were you doing here tonight?’
Frederick remained silent, he glanced back at Cones.
‘Bring the woman.’ Konev ordered.
A few moments later Emmanuelle was thrust through the doorway. She tumbled helplessly onto the floor. Frederick lunged forward to help her. Horror enveloped him as he picked her up. She had been so severely beaten her nose was caved inwards. Nikita Shinski stepped forward and wrenched the woman away from Frederick. He produced a handgun digging the barrel into the side of her head.
‘I’m only going to ask you this once Professor, is this Ladyhawk?’ Konev pointed at Emmanuelle.
‘What?’ Frederick gasped. ‘What are you talking about?’
Konev produced the piece of paper Emmanuelle had given to Agent Cones earlier that day.
‘Is this Ladyhawk?’ Konev repeated.
‘Colonel Konev do not do this.’ Frederick pleaded.
’Then tell us what we want to know.’
‘I don’t know anything!’ Frederick screamed.
Konev took a deep breath. ‘Very well.’ He looked at Shinski and nodded.
The gunshot was deafening, Frederick dropped to his knees at the sight in front of him.
The Angel Conspiracy (The Angel Cronicles Book 2) Page 2