“Frank Warner” returned too many results. He tried the names together and found no information. He continued to move about every 20 to 30 minutes. He looked for Heidi and Interpol after searching a little bit found a profile on Heidi Spellard. He found out that she worked in law enforcement in the Washington DC area in the 1980s. She was actually American and moved to Europe in the late 1980’s where she continued in law enforcement and eventually worked for Interpol.
Finally he looked for “Leland CIA” figuring there was no chance of finding anything. To his surprise, there was a story from the day before of an agent killed in the line of duty in Paris. There were no suspects in the shooting and no details as to the nature of what he was working on.
Jim went to one more location, created a new email account and sent a message to [email protected]. It stated the following:
Jim and Jenny,
According to Tim Baker, five names of those involved in the original incident:
1) Professor Samuel Thomas – died in Russia about that time.
2) Frank Warner – involved in current operation
3) Leland (CIA Leland died in Paris this week–coincident?)
4) James Corso – no information
5) Heidi Spellard – worked in DC at the time, now works for Interpol. Claimed to by Jim Conrad Sr. Wife
Where are they now?
Sincerely, A Friend
Jim hoped that Jenny would know it was from him. Nobody but the bank, Jenny, and he had the email address. He knew that she would get the email notification on her phone. He just wanted her to say it was still safe to meet on Monday.
Chapter 88 – Jenny Does Email
Jenny didn’t check the message until she was safe in a hotel room. She easily figured out who sent the message. Her response was simple. This latest piece of information made the picture much clearer for Jenny. “Thanks. It is a trap so just stay away.”
Jim would not get the email until after his encounter with Yuri. He would respond and hope that only Jenny would see his response.
Chapter 89 – Second Date
Jim lived in Chicago many years and never once visited the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. He always admired the architecture from the outside. It was a unique icon amongst the towering skyline of Chicago. He loved the fortress like beautiful stone structure with high windows. In his mind, it was not so different from the Water Tower in Chicago–although an expert architect might disagree. But he thought it had a similar charm about it. There was a huge decorative round window above the main entrance. All of the doors were heavy wood with exquisite hardware.
Jim walked the perimeter of the building a couple of times before going inside for the early mass. He wanted to know his exit options and nearby businesses and transportation just in case he needed an escape from his date with Yuri. It amazed him that there would be such a magnificent structure in the United States. It may not have been as eloquent as Notre Dame in Paris, but it was beautiful in its own right
Finally making his way into the cathedral, he stopped to glance at a book on the table that described the history of the church. Originally it was not even a cathedral, just a small Parish built in 1843. He assumed it was built as a cathedral but in fact it became one as more Catholics immigrated to the Chicago area. It had been destroyed in the great Chicago Fire and then rebuilt from donations from across the country. There were recent pictures of another fire that destroyed much of the roof. He could have read more, but his purpose was to ensure his own safety for the later encounter with Yuri.
The service had not started but Jim was surprised by the number of people in the main hall. The hall was long. The windows as seen on the outside were more vibrant stained glass from the inside and lined the main chapel area. The center piece was a cross with a statue of Jesus behind the pulpit. He had hoped for a crowd, for safety. Now he hoped for a slightly smaller crowd so that he and Yuri could have a pew near the rear where they could quietly talk for a few minutes during the service and hopefully not disrupt it.
As he looked across the room, several people were conversing. The prelude music was playing in the background. He noted the exits and tried to correspond each to what he saw from the outside and which street and businesses would be nearby. He noticed a lady, near the front, talk to someone that looked a little like Yuri, but she was in the distance and he couldn’t be sure. Making his way to the front to find her he had to go around a few people. When he was nearly half way up the pastor/father stood and started to welcome the congregation. This was the invitation to sit down and quicker than anyone could imagine, the congregation began to be seated.
Jim lost sight of the lady and decided his best course of action was to head to the back of the chapel and exit. He still had a few things to prepare and did not want to sit through two masses on this day.
He walked out the doors at the back of the chapel as the ushers were shutting them. Standing in front of him was Yuri. “Do you always come early for your dates?”
Jim did not anticipate this, neither did Yuri for that matter. “I wanted to pick out the most romantic seats in the church.” Jim responded
“I should have asked you for your real name when we were playing the game. I did not realize we were both playing parts.” Yuri said without smiling. “You have learned this undercover stuff pretty quickly–I mean staking out a location ahead of time.”
They started to take a walk. Jim suggested they find a place for a small bite to eat and maybe skip afternoon services, since they already ran into each other. They started to walk east on Superior Ave towards Michigan Ave. Jim knew the town well enough to get around, at least generally. Anyone who visited Chicago would likely know that the “Miracle Mile” (Michigan Ave) would have someplace to eat.
Jim talked as they walked. “You have learned more about me and I have learned a little more about you.”
“Really Jim, or should I say Jacob, what do you know about me?” Yuri asked. Yuri was a master at understanding that it is better to get information from someone else than to share what you know. She learned to listen a lot more than she talked.
“First, the man that you thought was your father is really my biological father.” Jim said as though it might be a revelation to Yuri.
“Yes, and I know who my biological father is also. You aren’t telling me anything that I don’t know.” Yuri said a little impatiently.
They walked across Michigan Ave to Gino’s pizza place. It just opened and they decided to head in and get something to drink.
Jim answered. “I don’t know who your father is. Who is it?”
My real father was just some professor at Maryland. He died while on sabbatical in Russia.” Yuri continued. “But what can you tell me that is helpful?”
“Professor Samuel Thomas?” Jim asked.
“I thought that you didn’t know who my father was.” Yuri said a bit angrily.
“I know who Professor Thomas is; I didn’t know he was your father.” Jim felt a little uneasy. He was not sure how tight the connection was between her and her biological father. “How close were you?”
“I didn’t know him.”
The waiter arrived and after a brief discussion, Jim decided it was best if Yuri try a true Chicago style pizza. They ordered a small. Yuri was not that interested but Jim was persistent.
Yuri continued, “Jim, how did you know my father’s name?”
Jim hesitated, not wanting to give up everything he knew. It might be his only leverage. “I got a list of names of people involved in trying to steal money from Jim Conrad.”
Yuri considered the answer. She leaned against the table. “Who?”
Jim was nervous so he put the gun that was in the waist of his pants onto his lap. “I don’t think I should tell you that.”
Yuri leaned in even closer. “This is one date I will not forget. I know that Jim Conrad was my father that I grew up with and it was not really his money. He worked for the CIA. I suspect that you were r
ecruited by them. Somebody is responsible for their death. I want to know who.” Yuri had a look of determination that frightened Jim.
“Your biological father was one of the names on the list, but I will not give you the rest of the list.” Jim responded.
“I also know that James Corso’s name was on the list.” She paused to see if there was a reaction. She could see by Jim’s eye movement that she had likely gotten name number two correct from the list. “If you won’t give me the remaining three names, then tell me who gave you the list.” Yuri was now just inches from his face.
Jim picked the gun up from under the table and pointed it at her under the table. “Tim Baker left a note for me in a safe deposit box in Des Moines with the names.” He paused and then said. “I have a gun pointed at you and I think it is time for me to go. We can continue our date another time.”
“I will expect flowers and my Chicago style pizza next time.” Yuri said. She could easily kill him and could probably disarm him. But if he got lucky then she might have an injury that was not necessary. So she let him walk out the door.
She was not more than 20 steps behind him. Jim immediately headed for Michigan Avenue where he knew the street would be busier. He had his gun back in his underneath his belt before he got onto the busy street. He immediately turned south looking for a taxi or a police officer. Jim knew that Yuri would not be far behind him.
Jim passed the Disney Store. He was nearing the Omni when he saw a police officer about one block down the street. He picked up his pace slightly and then felt the end of a gun point at his side as Yuri matched his pace. “You may be reluctant to use your gun in a public place but I am not.”
Jim slowed to a stop. He looked at Yuri. “I think this is the first date that I have been on where my date pulled a gun on me.” He said with a charming smile. He understood it wouldn’t help his situation, but it was all he had to offer at the moment.
Yuri responded. “It’s not the first time a date has pulled a gun on me, but it might be the first time a date pulled a gun on me and didn’t actually shoot at me.”
Chapter 90 – Cheap Motel
Slowly, Jim started to regain consciousness. He tried to rub his eyes but realized that his hands had been secured to a chair. His legs were also secured. He was not going to move anytime soon. It took Jim a few moments to realize the sequence of events that put him into this position. He hadn’t been hit so somehow Yuri must have drugged him.
His eyes were beginning to focus. He could see a flowered pale green curtain that was in constant movement from the fan below. Every once in a while the blowing curtain would open wide enough that he could make out that it was still light outside. He could see the cheap alarm clock from the side but couldn’t make out the time. The room was worn and old; the type of motel that likely attracted a much lower form of criminal than Yuri.
The focus of his eyes shifted to the table directly in front of him. There was a makeshift folded piece of paper that had been used as a sign. It simply read “Date 3?”. Behind the makeshift sign was a small bouquet of flowers trimmed to fit into the ice bucket. There were two beds in the room. He couldn’t get his neck around to see the one directly behind him, at least not very well. On the other bed he saw his computer and his case that had his money and a few alternative identifications for him and Jenny in it.
He was gagged so that he could not scream. The television was off, but he could hear the televisions from other rooms. At least he hoped they were watching television since there was someone being tortured. Jim would need to wait for what seemed like a very long time in that position. It was in all actuality not more than thirty minutes.
Yuri walked in the door with a bag of takeout Chinese and a couple of waters. She pushed the flowers to the side. “Oh Jim, you are awake.” Jim shook his head as Yuri reached over to remove the gag. “Are you hungry? Lunch out didn’t work to well for us so I thought we could eat in for dinner.”
“I can’t eat unless you untie me.” Jim said.
“I need some assurance that you won’t run. You see I need you to help out a friend, a very dear friend.” Yuri responded.
Jim agreed not to run. He hadn’t decided if he would keep that promise or not. As he listened to Yuri over egg rolls, broccoli chicken and rice, he became more convinced that he might need to break the promise. Yuri explained that she drugged him so that she could find his hotel. Finding the car took a while. He parked in a fairly good place for hiding a car. It was the temporary plate that gave it away. He still had a dealers tag on the key chain, so she knew she was looking for a recently purchased vehicle.
Yuri told Jim that finding the hotel was pretty easy once she found the key in the car. From there she had access to the letter, money and his computer. Jim’s only bargaining chip had been the rest of the five names and she had those now.
Yuri continued. “I need to just hand you over to them so that I can get Amir back. He may be my closest friend. They need you to access some bank account and steal a lot of money. I don’t really care about that. They thought they took my money, but I have plenty stashed that they cannot find. When Amir is safe, I will find the remaining three and kill them.”
“They will just kill me when they have what they want.” Jim explained.
Yuri had devised a plan, more of a negotiation that would protect him from being killed. There was still a chance, but it was an unavoidable risk in Yuri’s mind.
Jim was frustrated. “Why did you tell them about Iowa? If they hadn’t come to Iowa then Jenny would be here and we could figure something else out.” What he really meant, and Yuri knew it, is that Jenny would not have let Jim get captured by Yuri. Yuri felt the outcome wouldn’t be any different, just maybe Jenny would have to be eliminated but she understood his sentiment.
Then it hit her. “I didn’t tell the Captain about Iowa. I assumed that you told them or Jenny did.”
“No, of course not.” Jim hesitated. “Jenny and I have avoided telling anyone that we even had a translation of the codes on the plate. We left the translation with Professor Borden in Switzerland.” Jim insisted that Professor Borden was so scared for his life he would not call anyone.
“Amir killed Professor Alto after he translated the plates. It was only the two of us with him when he did. Amir would never . . .” Yuri stopped in mid-sentence. Amir had been close to her for many years. The contact for this job originally came through Amir. Perhaps he made a copy. She kept thinking through the sequence of events in the hotel when the translation occurred. There was time. She could not be sure, but he could be the source. Nevertheless, she determined that even if he were the source, she would need to rescue him just to understand why. She also realized that sacrificing Jim to do that might not be in her best interest.
Jim already devised an alternative plan. Yuri listened and did not believe that it had a chance to work. It was something almost as crazy as what she would come up with. That, of course, made it the perfect plan.
Chapter 91 – Yuri’s Play
Yuri stepped out of the motel room to take care of business. She was paranoid that Jim might just take off, but she had to make her phone call in a place with a little less noise. The outside was nearly as noisy and she went down the street to a park to get a little privacy. She made a few phone calls to arrange an appropriate location before calling the Captain.
Then she called the Captain. He answered “What do you want Stephanie?”
Yuri resented that he would always refer to her as Stephanie. She had been Yuri for many years and reserved the name Stephanie for no one. Maybe if she got married, she would use that name again. “Captain, I have Jim within my grasps.”
“That is good news. Is he with you right now?” The Captain asked.
She told the Captain she would have him in the morning for a trade. Yuri described the location of an empty warehouse on the south side where they should meet at 9:30 AM “Bring Amir with you. It is an even trade.” Yuri concluded. Then she hea
ded back to the cheap motel.
Chapter 92 – Upward Mobility
Frank and Jenny were engaged in a career conversation, at the request of Jenny, over dinner. She discussed how she hoped her performance and trust on both of these assignments would help move her up the ranks and provide additional opportunities. Frank agreed that it might, but reminded her that she had not been able to reach Jim all day. He was worried and still viewed this as her responsibility.
Jim called Jenny right in the middle of dinner. The phone rang from an unknown telephone number. “Jim, where have you been?” Jenny sounded frustrated and intense. She was focused and did not get up from the table.
The volume was just loud enough that Frank could catch pieces of what Jim was saying. “Jenny, I am truly sorry. I ran into Yuri today–we met and I got the impression that she was looking for me. I am not sure what for. I am away from her now. I am a little worried though. I think that I am safe for now.”
Jenny expressed sympathy and then told him that he ought to just come in and they can protect him. Jim was not at all comfortable with that suggestion. He told Jenny that he locked himself in a room and didn’t want to come out until it was light outside. Jenny conceded and then told Jim that they could meet at the Chase bank downtown at 9:30 AM.
Jim responded, “Ricardo has set-up another purchase for us at 9:00. I think we should do that first and then go to the bank.” After explaining to Jenny that they were to meet in a conference room in a hangar at the Lake County airport, he further explained that they should get one more criminal out of the deal before he went back to accounting. “Besides,” he said, “the bank will be open all day. Ricardo’s contact has to leave town shortly after the meeting.”
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