DON'T LOOK DOWN

by Barbara Scott Emmett

  With a jolt, he remembered that Ingrid would be home tomorrow – well, later today actually. She wouldn’t be too pleased if he wasn’t around when she got back, but that couldn’t be helped. He’d call her. Later. To explain. She’d understand.

  Twenty-six

  Wolf’s home telephone rang and rang. Lauren imagined it jangling in an empty apartment. She’d found some change in her pocket and held extra coins ready to insert into the payphone. He couldn’t be sleeping through it, surely. Maybe he’d stayed at his mother’s place after all, maybe there’d been some development with Katti. If only she had his mobile number.

  Indecisive, she held onto the telephone for a few moments longer, listening to the long breeep-pause-breeep of the German telephone system. They must have stayed at Clara’s. She rang the operator again, got the number, got put through.

  But there was no answer there either.

  She hesitated, still holding the phone. Shattered by the day’s events, she hardly knew what to do for the best. The term‘scared out of your wits’ is an accurate description, she thought. She felt thick-headed and dull. Exhaustion swept over her as the earlier adrenalin surge faded. Her eyes prickled with tiredness. If only Wolf was there to take control, to do what needed to be done.

  She considered ringing the police but was afraid it might put Katti in danger. Could she explain about the goons without letting them know Katti had also been kidnapped? She didn’t think so. Not in her present state anyway, she was too weary to concoct a story for the police. Would it matter? Maybe Katti was free by now. God, she was confused. She needed a good night’s sleep before she made any major decisions.

  She rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath. Think, she told herself. Think. She had to let someone know where she was. She could call her parents but they would only worry and lose sleep and what good would that do?

  She put the receiver back then immediately picked it up again. She’d call Paul. She knew her brother’s number off by heart. And he would surely be in – it was almost two in the morning.

  The phone rang and rang. Come on, Paul, wake up! She closed her eyes trying toget her thoughts in order.

  ‘Hello?’ A sleepy, vague and irritated voice answered at last.

  ‘Paul? It’s Lauren.’

  ‘Uh? Who?’

  ‘Lauren. Your sister. Lauren.’

  ‘Oh Lauren. Oh! Lauren! What you ringing me at this time of the froggin night for?’

  ‘I’m in a spot of bother.’

  ‘Espotta – ? Where?’

  ‘It’s not a place, Paul, it’s a situation.’ Lauren leaned her brow against the cold metal of the phone booth and closed her eyes.

  ‘I thought you were in Germany visiting Katti.’

  ‘I am. But listen. Listen. Some weird things have been happening. I was kidnapped.’

  ‘Are you on drugs? I always suspected Katti of –’

  ‘Paul! Shut up and listen.’ Her voice was urgent but low. ‘It’s not a joke. Katti’s been kidnapped as well.’

  ‘You’re winding me up.’

  ‘I’m not!’ Tears sprang into Lauren’s eyes. She had to make him take her seriously. ‘Two men grabbed me and took me to some chalet somewhere. I don’t know where…’ She realised she didn’t know where she was now, either and a wave of misery engulfed her. ‘Paul, it’s the truth. I was kidnapped but I escaped.’

  ‘Oh yeah, like you do.’

  Lauren groaned. He must have sunk several pints last night. Friday night with his workmates probably. Just when she needed him to be sensible.

  ‘This is not a joke, Paul. Please. I’m in a service station somewhere. I just wanted someone to know. In case I go missing again.’

  ‘How will I know if you’re missing again? I didn’t know you were missing the first time.’

  Frustrated, Lauren forced a long breath out through her clenched teeth.

  ‘I’ll find out where I am and ring you back,’ she said, biting back her anger. ‘If, after five or ten years go by, you chance to wonder why you haven’t seen me for a while, this will be the last place anybody ever heard of me. Okay?’

  ‘Okay what?’

  ‘Oh I’ll – I’ll ring you back in a minute. Don’t go back to bed. I won’t be long.’

  ‘Lauren, it’s nearly two o’clock in the froggin morning and it’s bloody freezing –’

  Lauren slammed the phone down and glanced over her shoulder. Gunther was sipping coffee at a far table, reading an early edition of Die Welt. Maybe she was being over-cautious but despite the temptation of allowing someone else to take control, she couldn’t let herself trust him yet.

  ‘Excuse me.’ Lauren stopped a wizened little woman who was about to go into the Ladies with a bucket and mop. ‘Where is this place?’

  The cleaner gave her an odd look, drawing her head back as if Lauren was about to bite. ‘Here? Elf Tankestelle. Petrol station.’ When she saw Lauren’s exasperation, she added,. ‘By Annenburg.’ She was tiny, with nut-brown skin and a scarf tied peasant style around her head. Her dark eyes were deep-set. She had a look of being old before her time. God, I know how she feels, thought Lauren.

  ‘Thanks.’ she said, going back to the phone and redialling Paul’s number. He picked up on the first ring. Good lad. ‘I’m near Annenburg apparently,’ she said. ‘Mother Theresa just told me.’

  ‘Uh?’

  ‘A tiny cleaner, she looks like – oh never mind, I’m rambling. Annenburg. Got that? Write it down now or you’ll forget.’ She heard fumbling and the rustle of paper at the other end. ‘It’s south-east of Munich, I think. Near the Austrian border. And Paul, don’t tell the folks unless... Well, don’t tell them just yet, okay? Got to go.’

  Twenty-seven

  ‘Are you running away from something Lauren?’

  ‘Running away?’ Lauren gut clenched. ‘Why do you say that?’

  Gunther sat with his chin on his hand studying her face. Lauren wanted to look away but the urge to maintain eye contact was stronger. She smiled as best she could and looked into his eyes – they were blue after all, and somewhat concerned. The little crease between his brows was back.

  ‘Why do I say that?’ he said. ‘Well, there are several reasons. One, you seem on edge. Two, you seem distracted.’ He counted the points off one by one on his long fingers. ‘Three, you were driving around alone on a dark, icy night.’

  ‘So were you.’

  ‘Yes, but I’m –’

  ‘What? A man?’

  It was Gunther’s turn to raise his eyebrows. ‘No. Experienced is what I was going to say. I drive long distances all the time, in all conditions. I’m used to it. You,’ he paused and gave her a stern look,. ‘obviously are not.’

  ‘Why? Because the car skidded on ice when you suddenly appeared? I was caught unawares, that’s all. I’m an experienced driver too as it happens.’

  ‘I’m sure you are. I didn’t mean to suggest you weren’t... under normal circumstances. And incidentally, you didn’t have your lights on.’ Gunther drained the last of his coffee. ‘It all seems a little strange, that’s all. If you’re in trouble, I wish you’d tell me. Maybe I can help.’ He reached across and patted her hand.

  ‘I’m not in any trouble.’ Lauren withdrew her hand. Why could she not trust him? What a relief it would be to tell someone, to have someone say there there, to allow them to take over.

  ‘I’m fine,’ she said. ‘If I choose to go driving around in the middle of the night, that’s up to me, isn’t it?’ The guy was a total stranger. It had nothing to do with him anyway.

  Maybe I should have called the police, she thought. What’s the matter with me? Christ, if only I could think straight. I needn’t have mentioned Katti at all. Wolf would have reported what happened to me without bringing her into it. The police are probably out looking for me now. She had to go back to the phone.

  ‘Forgive me, I don’t mean to pry into your affairs.’ Gunther folded his newspaper up neatly. ‘If you prefer not to
tell me what’s going on, I’ll understand. You don’t know me, after all.’ He smiled. ‘Though I wouldn’t be averse to rectifying that.’

  Lauren’s mouth fell open. He found her attractive? In her present state? She was right not to trust him.

  He stood up. ‘Where can I take you, then?’

  Where to go next was not something Lauren had given any consideration to. I’m definitely still in shock, she thought. I’m not acting rationally. She looked up at him, knowing the indecision was visible on her face. Why was she so wary of him? His explanation of what he was doing turning into that lane was as reasonable as her own. Yes, but her own explanation was a lie.

  Then again, his explanation was probably more reasonable than her own. He could be a sales rep who travelled up and down the country every day. He could have been looking for a Gasthaus, like he said.

  Gunther tapped his open palm with his folded newspaper and inclined his head in polite enquiry, waiting for her response. Lauren made a decision. He couldn’t be Mr Big. Mr Big was some greasy fat man with an ugly mug. Gunther was a well-groomed fit guy with a pleasing countenance. Very pleasing, when he smiled, as he was doing now.

  ‘I can see the thoughts running through your head,’ he said. ‘You don’t know whether to trust me or not. Fair enough, I won’t force it out of you. But I’m not stupid. I know there’s something wrong.’

  He tucked his paper under his left arm and reached out to her with his other hand. ‘Come. Should we call a mechanic to pull out your car? They may know of an all-night one here. Or should we find a motel so you can get some rest first? To be honest, you look exhausted.’

  ‘I lost my bag,’ Lauren said, before she could change her mind. ‘I was kidnapped. I don’t have any money. Will you lend me some? I’ll pay you back, I promise. Just enough to cover a hotel –’

  ‘Whoa! Hold on a minute.’ He sat down again. ‘Go back a bit. You were kidnapped?’ The paper fell to the floor but he took no notice. ‘By whom?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Lauren put her head in her hands. ‘I was mistaken for someone else.’

  ‘Who did they think you were?’

  ‘My friend. We look a bit alike.’

  ‘Your friend?’

  ‘Katti Hartmann. But she’s already been kidnapped. Presumably by someone else.’ She raised her weary eyelids and gave him a bleary look.

  Gunther gave two or three slow nods. ‘So, they realised you weren’t this Katti Hartmann, and let you go? Or did you escape?’

  ‘I escaped. They were idiots. They had a fight and... and I managed to get away.’ She didn’t see any point in elaborating.

  ‘They had a fight? Between themselves?’

  Lauren grew wary at his tone. ‘Yeah. What’s it to you?’

  ‘Nothing. I’m surprised, that’s all. So, they fought and you managed to get away?’ He watched her closely. ‘You’d think if people go to the trouble of kidnapping someone, they’d make sure they didn’t get away.’ He reached down and picked up his newspaper, setting it to one side of the table, as though he no longer wanted it.

  ‘You’d think,’ said Lauren,. ‘if people go to the trouble of kidnapping someone, they’d make sure they had the right person in the first place.’

  She realised this came out sounding tart, as if she was blaming him. Perhaps she was. There was still a possibility he was Mr Big. He didn’t rise to it, though, and he might have done if he was the one behind it all.

  ‘What I don’t understand is, why they picked me up if they already have Katti.’

  ‘That’s certainly a puzzle,’ he said. The little frown was back again. ‘And the Mercedes – ?’

  ‘Is their car. And my bag got lost when they grabbed me. And my phone. Everything.’ There was no longer any point in withholding information, whether he was the mastermind of the plot or not. Either way, he knew the story now.

  ‘Did they hurt you?’ Gunther’s eyes softened and he reached for her hand again, stopping himself almost immediately. He removed his hands from the table top altogether.

  So he won’t be tempted again, thought Lauren, not sure if she was pleased or not. Half of her wanted to throw herself into his arms and whimper like a baby. The other half wasn’t about to take any chances.

  ‘I’m not seriously hurt,’ she told him. ‘Bruises and suchlike, that’s all. Though one of them did try to strangle me. And there’s my split lip, of course.’ She touched her mouth where she hit it on the steering wheel. His bloodied hanky was still tucked in her pocket.

  ‘We should call a doctor.’

  ‘Calling the police might be more appropriate, don’t you think?’ Call his bluff. See what happens.

  Gunther studied her, his eyes seeming to take in every detail of her face. ‘No,’ he said, his voice suddenly hard, suddenly serious. ‘That won’t be necessary.’

  Lauren swallowed. She’d finished her coffee long ago and her mouth was parched. ‘Why not?’ It came out as a whisper. She tried again, gruffly. ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because I am the police.’

  Twenty-eight

  ‘Did you enjoy it, Bebe?’ Viktor said. ‘Working in the Eros Centre? Did you enjoy all the men slavering over you?’

  Bebe slid her eyes sideways, her face half hidden in the pillow. ‘I despised them.’

  ‘Then why did you do it?’

  ‘Baba, you must forget the past.’ She propped herself on one elbow and gazed at him. Viktor felt his genitals twitch. ‘I did it so I could get near that man. I had to. But it was not for long – you know that. I proved myself to be of far greater worth to him in other capacities. I helped him make a lot of money.’

  ‘Ah, brains as well as beauty. You have an excellent business mind.’ Viktor ran his hand over his wife’s shoulder, then over the Luger beneath his pillow. The two things he loved. The pistol. And her.

  ‘I know that, Baba. And remember, without him I would not have met you.’

  ‘I know. Good things can come out of bad things. I know that.’ He flopped onto his back, remembering the first time he saw her. Her dark suit, sharp and businesslike. Her hair piled up on her head. The way she ran her eyes over the girls he’d brought, assessing their worth. That she had ever had to do the same work as those cheap little tarts – it was unthinkable. ‘But I don’t like to think about you working for that man, Bebe. In any capacity. It troubles my dreams.’

  ‘You don’t have to think about it. All that is over now. I never have to take orders from him again. From now on he will take orders from me.’

  ‘And the other one? I know I shouldn’t be jealous. But I can’t help it. What do you do together, you and that boy?’

  ‘Shh. Think of it as work, Baba. A means to an end. And it will all be over soon. Stop worrying. Everything will be over soon.’

  Twenty-nine

  Chips at three o’clock in the morning – not Lauren’s usual fare but exactly what she wanted. Comfort food. Hot, salty, greasy – not greasy enough actually. She ripped open a sachet of mayonnaise and squirted it over them. Continental fries, thin and crisp. Mmm, just breathe in the smell of them. Soggy and wrapped in paper from her local chippy would be better, though. These weren’t vinegary enough, but hey, who’s complaining? She stuffed three into her mouth at one go.

  The realisation she was ravenous came as soon as she’d relaxed. Gunther ordered them for her, along with another huge mug of coffee. He sat opposite watching her eat. Must have been hungry for hours, she thought, but fear is a great appetite depressant. Ought to market it as a slimming aid. She saw he was smiling. ‘What?’ she said.

  ‘You have mayonnaise on your nose.’ He reached across and wiped it off with his fingertip. For a second she thought he was going to suck his finger, and she stopped chewing, transfixed. When he plucked a paper napkin from the holder and wiped his hand fastidiously, the world started moving again. Okay Keane. Get a grip.

  ‘So you’ve been following these goons for a while?’ she said, mouth full.


  He was trailing Brains and Muscle, so he said, though of course he didn’t call them that. Zef and Jak, he said their names were. Or was it Jeff and Zak? That’s how he came to be turning down that lane, he told her. The chalet was a known hangout for their organisation – one of many.

  ‘Well, I made them pay for what they did,’ she said, proud of herself. ‘One of them, anyway. He was screeching like the Omigoolie bird.’

  Gunther’s face was blank.

  ‘Never heard of the Omigoolie bird?’ Lauren said. ‘It has no legs. So when it lands it goes, Omigoolies Omigoolies.’ She shrugged. ‘Old joke. Take no notice. I’m a bit hyper at the moment.’

  She pulled in a deep breath. Her brain was racing. Adrenalin did strange things to people. Another surge had kicked in once the relief settled down. She felt she could run several miles, sing, dance, and jump up and down. It would be temporary, she knew. She’d come crashing down again soon and sleep for a week.

  ‘You were lucky to be picked up by such incompetents,’ Gunther said. ‘Some of these people are vicious thugs.’

  ‘They were vicious thugs. Just idiots as well, thank God.’ Lauren said. ‘Anyway, if you were following them, how come it took you so long to gallop to my rescue?’

  ‘I wasn’t following them physically,’ he said. ‘Just generally keeping an eye on their movements. I didn’t know you were at the chalet.’

  ‘So why’d you go there?’

  ‘I decided to pay a late night visit to check the place over. Just a feeling I had.’ He lifted a shoulder. ‘Intuition perhaps. Something felt wrong.’

  Lauren licked her fingers. ‘So if I hadn’t got away, you’d have come rushing to my rescue? And not a moment too soon, I can tell you. They were about to–’ She shuddered. ‘Don’t even want to think about it.’

  His eyes became slits. ‘Tell you the truth,’ he said,. ‘I thought you must be involved with them. Why else would you have been there, driving their car?’ He paused. ‘Anyway, that was why I waited to hear your story before I told you about myself.’