by K. T. Tomb
The cruisers in pursuit caught up with the inert vehicle. All of the officers surrounded the sedan with weapons drawn.
Both front car doors opened slowly. Huber and Selig raised their hands.
Selig glared at his partner. “I told you that posing as the C.I.A. only works in America.”
Phoe was no longer in the back seat.
* * *
Simon was talking with the local authorities. He made sure that there would be no repercussions on himself or Sampras for the ruckus.
It was a good thing that he had connections everywhere.
Sampras stood by the open doorway of the jet with his arm around Pam.
Simon smiled as he placed his hand on the shoulder of the officer he was talking to. The officer returned the smile and then, they shook hands.
Simon walked up to his employees as the coroner arrived. “I’m proud of both of you. You will be receiving a special bonus for having to deal with something that should have never happened. I apologize for letting you endure moments like this.”
Simon always knew exactly what to say. That was one of the many reasons why he had loyal employees.
Sampras’ look changed to one of concern. “Did you find out who did this?”
Simon kept his smile. “Yes, I did. It was the same man who is looking for Phoe’s brother for repayment of a debt.”
Sampras and Pam could see that Simon held back his anger.
However, his eyes were a dead giveaway.
“The same man who killed my limo driver and replaced him to force Phoe into telling him where her brother is located,” Simon continued, as his eyes turned black.
This was the first time that either employee had ever seen their boss so upset.
“He’s also the same man who doesn’t care who he has to inconvenience or hurt to get what he wants. He is the kind of man who doesn’t contemplate the collateral damage of his actions. He also believes himself to be unstoppable. I prefer not to soil my hands by getting personally involved with the matters of others and yet, I have now been irrevocably pushed into this situation against my will,” Simon proclaimed.
Sampras and Pam remained quiet.
“Whenever I join a new game, I like to play by my rules and will, therefore, manipulate the game board.” Simon’s smile returned as his employees breathed a momentary sigh of relief. “You two stay here. I will wait for my car.”
Sampras felt that he knew Simon Kessler. He had worked for him for more than a decade and he had always been a kind and straightforward man.
Sampras now had a reason not to cross his boss.
“I will take care of Arnie’s family and give him the funeral he deserves for being a loyal driver. But for right now…it’s time to join the game.”
Chapter Eleven
Nuremberg Castle.
The sun had started to set. Phoe looked up at the majestic imperial castle known to the locals as Kaiserburg.
That was the section of Nuremberg Castle that she assumed would attract her brother. The Burgraves of Nuremberg and the municipal building of the Imperial City at the eastern site were wondrous additions to the complete picture, but she wasn’t here to sightsee.
Maybe someday.
But not today.
Not while her brother was in real danger.
She looked down at her wrists that were rubbed raw because of the handcuffs. She had a sufficient amount of blood on her hands and pants. Her hair was dirty and stringy and she had dirt and scrapes all over her where she had traversed through bushes and shrubs.
That’s what happens when you travel as the crow flies.
She was also cold, hungry, and sore.
Mostly cold.
She had stayed out of sight of the tourists and with dusk fast approaching, she decided to try to find Eric and the Spear of Destiny.
She was frustrated with all of the delays in her mission.
Was it because she was on her own?
Did she really need to be part of a team to succeed?
The Sinwell Tower caught her eye because it resembled a centuries’ old castle tower.
The kind that had a damsel somewhere inside.
If nothing else, she could get an amazing view of the rest of the castle grounds.
She made it past the well house and to the base of the tower. She circled it until she found an entrance on the north side.
She was about to step inside when a man and a woman with cameras around their necks exited. They had thick jackets and expressions that screamed tourist.
Phoe stopped and smiled as she looked up in wonder. “Wow. What a beautiful piece of history. Don’t you think?”
The couple looked panicked as they focused at the bracelets on Phoe’s wrists. They avoided her and ran down the walkway.
Great. So much for stealth.
She figured that they would report her to the nearest authorities so she ran into the tower. She immediately looked up in awe as she saw the wooden spiral staircase.
She knew it was eighteenth or nineteenth century just from the craftsmanship. The stairs led to a wooden platform situated under the wooden roof.
She hurried up the stairs as quickly as possible. She reached the top of the tower right as the lights all over the castle grounds came on.
Phoe was briefly mesmerized by Nuremberg Castle at night. The beauty of the preserved and still utilized ancient architecture was breathtaking.
At least what was left after the bombing in 1945.
Phoe was so amazed at the view, she didn’t hear what she would have normally heard.
She was no longer alone.
Her back was to the spiral staircase.
She was thankful for the creaky old wood used for the platform where she stood.
She tensed and cursed the handcuffs.
Still had her legs.
Whoever was coming up from behind her was trying to be quiet. They either were oblivious to the wood creaking, or they were too preoccupied with getting to Phoe.
She closed her eyes and tried to pinpoint the proximity of the intruder. If she was right, then he or she was about three feet behind her.
A tourist would have made himself known with inane banter about the castle or how beautiful Germany was this time of year.
The wood stopped creaking.
It wasn’t a tourist.
She wasn’t about to wait to see what happened next. She clasped her hands together and spun around. She aimed her hands for what she assumed should have been the head of this person.
She connected with a strong jaw.
A man’s jaw.
She felt a sharp pain in both hands as the figure fell to the platform.
It was definitely a man.
Now, he was angry.
“What the hell did you do that for?” asked the man she’d knocked to the floor.
He was thin with defined muscle tone. He was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt and a heavy blue jean jacket. He wore red tennis shoes.
One of the laces was undone.
His face was hidden behind a full beard and mustache. His long brown hair could have seriously used a comb and a really good conditioner. His blue eyes stood out.
Something familiar…
Phoe’s mouth dropped. “Eric?” she asked softly.
He squinted as he looked Phoe up and down. “No fucking way!”
He staggered to his feet as he kept looking at her like she was his long-lost sister.
Because she was.
They immediately smiled and hugged each other. Phoe placed her hands over Eric’s head to hug him.
She then pulled away quickly and held her nose.
“Eric…wow. When’s the last time you had a bath?”
“Hah! I knew the first time I saw my sister again, she would sound just like Mom!”
He walked around his sister in amazement. “You look crazy gorgeous, sis. And look at you! All Bruce Lee and shit! You really have grown up, haven’t you?”
Phoe tried
to hold back the tears, to no avail. “Where have you been? You big jerk! Not a phone call, or a letter, or even a postcard!”
The postcard.
“Look, squirt. There were good reasons why I didn’t contact you or Mom. The people I owe money to are not family oriented. Especially my family.”
“That’s no excuse, Eric! Mom and I could have helped you! I know of at least two people that work for our moth...”
“Why do you keep pushing Mom on me?” Eric interrupted. “Don’t you know anything about her?”
Eric paused when he saw Phoe’s confused expression. “You don’t. Do you? You don’t know anything about what Mom does. Son of a bitch!”
“What Eric? What? So, tell me all about how much you know about Mom, since I’ve been the one dealing with her evasiveness and mind games since you left! Tell me!”
Eric shook his head. “She’s in the C.I.A. Retired, I think, but she still has connections. Big time!”
Didn’t know that.
The sound of several vehicles could be heard approaching. Phoe looked down and saw three black Mini Coopers outside. Armed men got out of each one.
Phoe turned to Eric. “Quick! Are you armed and…” She held up her hands to show him her handcuffs.
* * *
Lukas Mueller had been a small-time criminal from Frankfurt, Germany, until he ended up being at the right place at the right time.
The former head of the German Mafia was gunned down right in front of Mueller. Up until that point, he was a gofer. He was told to leave the mafia and never look back.
He gave up on the mafia and started his own organization. He decided that coming up with a name would limit him. He chose his crew from the discarded bodyguards and mafia personnel that he found all over Frankfurt.
Things got a little too hot for him to stay in his hometown, so he went to Nuremburg. After he showed dominance over the Russians and Albanians, he settled into his new domain.
He hadn’t looked back since.
He seldom went on missions, personally, but Eric Phoenix was a special case.
Five men entered the tower. Two guarded the entrance while one took point.
The man who took point made no sound, except for the staircase creaking under his weight.
The remaining two men followed slowly.
The first man arrived at the wooden platform at the top of the tower and looked around. He moved close to the edge where he could see out, while the two behind him stopped midway up.
* * *
Mueller ran his hand across his bearded face. He thought about finally exacting his revenge on Eric. He had saved the special Cuban cigar for that occasion. He pulled it out of his coat.
It was his last one.
It would be an almost impossible task to replenish his supply. Even with all of his contacts.
He would savor this one.
He removed it from the special plastic covering and looked for his lighter. He leaned back against the driver’s side door of one of the Mini Coopers and lit the cigar.
Something large smashed into the windshield of the car that Mueller was leaning against. The force of the impact knocked him to the ground. As he staggered to his feet, he mourned the cigar broken in two, lying on the street.
It was almost poetic.
Mueller saw one of the men he had sent in to retrieve Eric. The man was lying halfway sticking out of the windshield. He wasn’t moving.
Mueller seethed with anger as he looked skyward.
He saw his white whale, Eric Phoenix, hanging on for his life on an overhang attached to the tower.
To add insult to injury, Eric smiled at Mueller and waved nervously.
* * *
Phoe had the advantage on the staircase because it restricted the movements of the armed men.
Her hands were also free, which made things much easier.
Phoe jumped toward the two men on the stairs. She could see the two guarding the entrance. She knew they wouldn’t shoot at her, because they could hit their own men.
She seized the first man by his gun arm, while she kicked the second man in the face. The second man was knocked back into the wall, lost his balance, dropped his handgun, and tumbled down the stairs.
She grabbed the first guy’s gun with both hands and twisted until he released his weapon. She kicked his legs out from under him and he fell to his knees. She gave him a shove down the stairs, and quickly scooped up both guns. Firing them simultaneously, she ran down the spiral staircase, leaping over them at the bottom.
The two men at the entrance ran outside.
Phoe stopped firing, and she heard gunshots continue to ring out.
Eric!
She ran down the rest of the stairs and outside. She saw a young German man dressed in fatigues fire a Ruger semi-auto pistol toward the tower roof.
The two men who had just run out pulled auxiliary guns from their boots and aimed them at her.
Phoe shot two rounds at each of the men. She hit the two men that she recognized. They each dropped to the ground. The one with the Ruger was grazed.
Mueller got up and ran to his car. He gunned the engine as he glared at Phoe, and then peeled out.
Once the car was out of sight, Phoe looked up.
Eric had moved to the edge where she stood. He peeked out carefully. “Is it clear?”
She smiled. “Your bad guy seems like a wuss to me. Get your ass down here, Eric. We have a spear to find.”
His response was a thumb’s up.
Chapter Twelve
Phoe was doing her best to drive under the speed limit. After all that time, she figured she would have more to say to Eric, but there was an uneasy silence. “Is Mom really in the C.I.A.?”
Eric looked out at the scenery as he answered, “Yep.”
“Is that it? ‘Yep’? Come on, Eric! Give me more than that!”
Eric looked at Phoe with sympathy. “You really don’t know? I mean, I thought she would have explained everything to you once I left.”
“Well, she didn’t, so out with it!” she demanded.
Eric looked back out the window. “Mom has been in the C.I.A. for what seems like forever. Once Dad left, she turned to me to look after you, but I had my own problems. No offense. I love ya and all, but I had to find my calling. My future. Mom wanted to train me so that I could follow in her footsteps, but that wasn’t for me. I don’t even know how to fight. That’s why I let you take all the bruises just now. Mom put you through all kinds of training.”
Phoe glanced over at her brother. “How did you know that if you were gone?”
“She kept in touch with me, hoping to change my mind. She told me that she was training you. I guess you became a female ninja. She put you through training that most agents don’t even get to see. She did it to bring me back. She thought that if she put you through the grind, I would come back and take your place. I didn’t. I couldn’t! All I had to do was pay off a few debts and I would go after my dream.”
“Going after the Spear of Destiny?” Phoe pushed.
“Not really, squirt. I told you that so that you would think that I was a great adventurer.”
“You never looked for the Spear, Eric?”
“No.” He laughed. “Look, I needed something that I could turn over quickly. Something that wouldn’t take me forever to find and sell. That’s fairytale stuff anyway. The Spear of Destiny? Really? Come on! I make my own destiny!”
Phoe stopped the car. Eric flinched.
“I’m not going to hit you, Eric. If you don’t believe in the Spear, then why did you send me this?” Phoe pulled out the postcard and threw it at him.
He looked confused as he read it. “I don’t know what this is, squirt. I promise. Whoever sent it has a crazy shopping list, though.”
* * *
Phoe and Eric returned to the Mini Cooper after liberating a telephone directory from a nearby market.
“I hope you can read German, Eric.”
“Seriou
sly, sis? I’m sure there were some language courses in all of that training you went through.”
“No, Eric. There weren’t any.”
“You seem like you’ve done this Indiana Jones thing before. Why didn’t you take the time to learn…?” He stopped himself and started laughing. “You have a team! You have people to do this for you! Don’t you, squirt? Ha-ha!” Eric couldn’t contain his amusement.
Phoe gritted her teeth as they drove off. “We’re looking for stores that would carry all of those items.”
“Aren’t you even curious about who sent the postcard to Mom, little girl?” He jabbed at her with his words, just as he had when they were younger.
“I’m not a little girl, Eric. If you didn’t send it to Mom, then I’m at a loss to know who did.”
“Use your brain, squirt. You still like to be called Phoe, too? That’s funny. Ha-ha!” There was sarcasm in his laughter.
“Yes. I still want to be called Phoe. I had my name legally changed to T. Phoenix.”
“Wow. You must really hate Gram-Gram. Mom sent the postcard to herself. I didn’t send it, so she must have. She knows how much you love that adventure crap. Think about it, Phoe.”
It made sense.
Phoe thought a moment, before she spoke. “Okay. I’ll give you that one. Who’s the German guy who’s after you?”
“Some guy with whom I may or may not have done business in the past. Where to now?”
“We need to go back to Portland, Eric. If that postcard is associated with Mom, then I’m betting that she gave us the right information, but the wrong place.”
“Oh, I get it. She sent it from Nuremberg, knowing that you were after the Spear and that it was, at one time, kept in a vault under the castle.” His tone was condescending.
Phoe’s suspicions became aroused. “How do you know that much about the Spear? You didn’t even try to locate it. You told me that! Or was that a lie?”
“I’m not stupid, you know. Poor little Phoe. Are you sure you want to play with the big boys? You don’t know who to trust. Mom lied to you and, given my past, you didn’t know what to believe. I’ll bet she even told you I was a con man, or something just as stupid.”