His father regarded him for a moment. “Even if it is without my blessing?”
Magnus’ stomach churned, his heart hammering at the words. “Yes, Father, though it would crush my spirit should you not give it.”
His father sighed, shaking his head. “I always knew you were going to be trouble, boy, from the moment you tried to come out of your mother feet first. You did everything backward then, and you’re doing it again today.” He jabbed a finger at the life beyond the walls. “There are dozens, nay, hundreds of women, beautiful and willing, who would give anything to be your bride, yet you choose someone so many will find impossible to accept.”
“Then it is their loss. If you desire it, I will renounce my birthright and live the simple life of a commoner. You know I was never one to seek power.”
His father shook his head then approached him, placing an arm on Magnus’ shoulder. “You are my son, and I love you, no matter how foolish you are. If you love this woman, then I must accept that. How about you introduce me to her, so I can understand who we are about to shed blood for.”
Magnus smiled. “Thank you, Father. I know you’ll find her worthy.”
29 |
Nobis Hotel Stockholm, Sweden Present Day
Acton cursed at a message that had just appeared on the tablet. Laura looked at him.
“What now?”
“I have to call Mira.” He showed her the message with the instructions it contained.
“Bloody hell!”
Acton tapped the number shown and the tablet dialed, the call automatically on speaker. Mira answered almost immediately, her anxious voice betraying her state of mind.
“Hej?”
“Hi, Mira, it’s Jim Acton.”
“Oh, thank God, I’ve been getting worried. Please tell me you found him, and the old fool just forgot he was meeting you.”
“I need you to listen carefully, and most importantly, don’t panic.”
“Oh God! Something’s happened! What did those barbarians do to him?”
Acton kicked himself for his poor choice of words. Telling someone not to panic was the best way to make them do just that. “Viggo is okay, but I need you to listen.”
Heavy, sobbed breathing was the only response.
“Mira, I need you to go to the front door. There will be a man there. He’s going to hand you a pin then leave. Put the pin on. It has a camera and microphone on it. The moment you put it on, everything will be transmitted to the people who have your husband.”
“Have? Jim, please, tell me what is going on!”
Acton’s heart ached at her anguish. “I’m so sorry, Mira, but you must follow my instructions to the letter. Go to the door. Now.”
He could hear her footsteps then a door open, an alarm chirping in the background. There was a gasp, but nothing said, the door closing a moment later.
“I-I have the pin.”
“Put in on, then we can talk.”
Another pause. “Okay, it’s on.”
“Good. Now listen very carefully. Everything you say from now on will be transmitted to the people who have your husband.”
“Who has him?”
“The Saudi government, as far as we know. I can’t say much more, because we’re being recorded as well.”
“Wh-what do they want?”
“The ring he discovered.”
There was a quick inhalation of air caught by the speaker. “What? This is all because of a stupid ring?”
Acton understood her outrage. It was ridiculous, yet it was the situation they all found themselves trapped in. “Apparently, it’s important to someone. We’re going to go get it, hand it over to them, then they’ll release Viggo. If everything goes to plan, this should all be over tonight.”
“Oh, please God, take care of my Viggo. Do-do you think he’ll be okay?”
Acton exchanged a look with Laura, both of them clearly in agreement they weren’t at all confident in the outcome. But he had to give the poor woman hope. “Yes, as long as we all follow their instructions to the letter. It’s essential you tell no one what is going on. Not the police, not his students, not your friends. Nobody.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Now, just sit tight and wait to hear from us, and don’t worry if it takes several hours. We’re not sure exactly how the exchange will play out.”
“Okay, Jim, I trust you. Please promise me you’ll do whatever it takes to get him back to me.”
“You have my word, Mira, we’ll do everything we can.”
He ended the call, tossing the tablet on the bed then collapsing back on his pillow.
“I noticed you didn’t promise her.”
Acton frowned, turning his head to face Laura. “Because I’m betting we’re never going to see him again.”
Her eyes flared at his perhaps too frank assessment, and she glanced down at her pin. “Even after we retrieve the ring?”
He grunted. “I’m afraid we may never be seen again.”
30 |
Sigtuna, Roden 989 AD
Magnus stood at the head of an army prepared to tear the new arrivals limb from limb, yet he hoped it wouldn’t be necessary. His father’s meeting with Fatima had gone well, and he had embraced her as his daughter-in-law before it was through.
It had been the proudest moment of his life.
Though they were not formally partnered yet, with his father’s blessing, they were for all intents and purposes husband and wife. The marriage would take place as quickly as possible, perhaps within a few days, once the unpleasantness about to take place was over.
He bowed as Rafiq approached, alone, the man clearly here to talk rather than fight.
“Prince Magnus.”
Magnus smiled. “Rafiq Halabi.”
“I assume you know why I’m here.”
Magnus frowned. “I’m afraid I do, and I apologize. You were never to know. Your family was never to know.”
Rafiq’s eyes flared, the man clearly keeping a tight leash on his anger. “You say that as if it were a good thing. Do you not realize the dishonor you have brought to my family? The shame? If I do not return with Fatima, then I am dead. That is the price demanded by the sheik, my sister’s future husband! I am to die for your selfish act.”
Magnus closed his eyes for a moment, this news unexpected. None of this was supposed to happen. Everyone was supposed to think she had killed herself. Yes, he had expected the sheik to be displeased, and acknowledged that there was a distinct possibility he might seek to quench his anger at Fatima’s family’s expense, yet there were remedies to that. His intention to give the family the exclusive contract to deal with his people, for one.
Yet no one was supposed to die.
No innocents.
They were to have lived their lives out here, in peace, and her family was to grieve, then move on, also in peace.
“He is determined to have blood?”
Rafiq nodded. “Or Fatima.”
“But if Fatima returns, surely he’ll punish her, perhaps even kill her.”
Rafiq shook his head. “No. I told him that you kidnapped her.”
Magnus’ eyebrows rose at the revelation. “That’s unfortunate.” And it was. It likely meant his people would never trade there again. It could mean hostile encounters for years to come at land and at sea.
All because he had been a selfish fool.
Rafiq stared at him, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword. “I’m afraid I had no choice. The sheik was threatening to destroy my father’s business. It would have ruined us all. The only way to save us was to deflect the blame.”
Magnus nodded at the fleet, holding offshore. “You obviously succeeded.”
“Yes. The sheik must preserve his honor by showing he attempted to rescue his future wife.”
“And should you fail?”
“Then I die.”
“But will he be back?”
Rafiq shrugged. “That, I cannot say for certain, though I
think now that she is here, with your people, he will realize any attempt short of war would be futile.”
Magnus tensed.
War.
With the discovery of their deception, he had sullied the Viking reputation within the Caliphate. That reputation was one of formidable warriors, yes, but also of fair traders. He had no desire for war, and none was likely to come after the failed attempts to take Iberia years ago.
But if Vikings couldn’t be trusted in business dealings, then his brothers might be attacked and killed, whenever they approached a port, for fear that one on board might kidnap their daughter or loved one.
He had been a fool.
He should never have let this happen.
“What do you propose?”
Rafiq regarded him for a moment. “A challenge. Your best against my best. The winner keeps Fatima.”
“No, this is madness! I’ll go with you!”
Fatima rushed from the crowd gathered, throwing herself at Rafiq’s feet. “I’m sorry, Brother. I never meant to hurt anyone. I was stupid, I know, but I love him, and I knew there was no way I could be with him as long as anyone thought I was alive. Please, don’t hurt him. I’ll go with you!”
Magnus’ stomach churned and his heart ached with her words. The very idea she would leave him was heartbreaking, though he understood why. Yet he couldn’t live without her.
But there was a solution.
“I’ll return with her, to face whatever punishment your people demand. I don’t want the actions of one lone Viking to affect the relations between our people, perhaps for years to come. I cannot risk war for my own selfish love.”
Rafiq drew a deep breath, then slowly exhaled as he stared at Magnus, then down at his sister, at his knees, her hands clasped in front of her chest. “I’m afraid we’re beyond that.”
31 |
Somewhere over the Continental United States Present Day
“I’ve traced those SUVs that left the embassy.”
Somebody knocked on the door of the bathroom Chris Leroux had jammed himself and too much equipment into. He was sitting on the toilet, a laptop propped up on his knees, his secure satphone tethered to it to provide him access to Langley’s servers, and an encrypted voice connection to his team.
None of which he could take advantage of sitting out in coach with an audience.
“Occupied!”
“Hurry the hell up! You’ve been in there long enough to work up a second shit!”
Leroux stifled a chuckle. “Sorry! Just returning from Mexico. Montezuma’s revenge.”
Sympathy immediately replaced the impatience. “Sorry, had that. Good luck, dude!”
I’ll have to remember to look like shit when I come out of here.
“Umm, can you repeat that?”
Leroux laughed at Tong’s puzzled tone, his live mike forgotten during his exchange with the passenger. “Nothing, just buying myself time.”
“Boss, if you need some private crunch time, Sonya’s doing a bang-up job here.”
Leroux shook his head at his youngest team member’s joke. “Thanks, Randy, but I’m fine. Back to business. Where’d they go?”
“Bromma Airport. A private terminal,” replied Tong.
“Did they get on a plane?”
“We don’t know yet, but a Saudi flagged diplomatic flight left there a few minutes later.”
“Headed for?”
“Dubai.”
Leroux’s eyes widened slightly. “Interesting. I would have thought Riyadh.”
“Could it just be a coincidence?”
Leroux pursed his lips, listening to his famous gut. “Could be, but I doubt it. The timing is too tight, and we know he didn’t come out of the embassy the way he went in. He’s either still in there, or was in one of those SUVs.”
“Dead or alive.”
Leroux nodded at Randy Child’s observation. “Let’s hope the latter, but history suggests the former. When does the plane land?”
“Less than three hours.”
“Okay, since he’s a Swedish citizen, we’ll have to hand this over to them, or possibly Interpol.”
Child grunted. “There goes the neighborhood.”
Leroux suppressed a chuckle, though his underling was right. With the Saudis a member of Interpol, and the regime likely behind the kidnapping or murder, they would be privy to the investigation. “Yeah, I’ll talk to the Director, but there’s no way Washington is going to authorize anything beyond electronic surveillance with there being no Americans involved.”
“What about Professor Acton?” asked Tong.
“He hasn’t done anything stupid yet.”
Child laughed. “Just wait.”
32 |
Stockholm University Stockholm, Sweden
Acton swiped the parking pass included in the package left by the Saudis. There was a beep and the gate rose, clearing the way to the underground parking garage. Laura read out the instructions, guiding them to a secluded spot near an elevator on the lowest level. He backed in, just in case they had to make a quick getaway, then turned off the engine.
He looked at Laura, painfully aware they were both under constant surveillance.
I wonder if they work down here.
They likely did. Many underground garages had their own cellphone signal boosters, and it wasn’t worth the risk testing his doubts.
Lives were at stake.
“Ready for this?”
Laura frowned. “Of course not.”
Acton grunted. “Me neither.” He regarded her for a moment, fear filling him at the prospect of her getting hurt. “It isn’t too late to back out. We have no obligation here. Nobody would blame us for just going to the authorities.”
Laura shook her head, determination creasing her face. “No. This is the easy part. All we need to do is get the ring and get out. This isn’t America. It’s not like this place is swarming with armed guards.”
Acton nodded, drawing a breath of courage. “You’re right. Let’s see if we even succeed in getting the ring, then cross the next bridge when we come to it.” He jabbed a finger at Laura’s pin. “And you guys better hold up your end of the bargain.”
He stepped out of the SUV, locking it behind him with the fob. They strode casually toward the elevator, Laura holding the tablet with their instructions.
“Look to the right, then when the doors open, at the floor. When we step inside, keep your head down, turn to face the doors, looking left, then press the button for the third floor.”
Acton kept his gaze fixed to the right as they reached the elevator. “They obviously know where all the cameras are.” He wondered if that intel came from Karlsson, or from their own people. He had to admit, despite working for years in the same place, he wouldn’t be able to tell anyone where the cameras were at his university. No, this level of detail was too specific to be from his friend.
That meant the Saudis here had their tentacles deep within the university, perhaps through exchange students with extracurricular activities that included spying for their king.
He pressed the button to call the elevator, his heart hammering hard. They were about to cross a line where coming back from would be difficult, if not impossible if something went wrong. Yes, they were doing this to save their friend, but they were committing a crime. Legally, they should have gone to the authorities. Instead, they were taking on law enforcement’s job for them.
Like too many times in the past.
Every time they got involved in something, he would reassess the situation after the dust had settled, searching for things he could have done differently to avoid getting involved, or minimizing the damage. Unfortunately, other than compromising his own principals and allowing harm to come to others while he stood idly by, he rarely could find fault in his actions, despite the sometimes tragic outcomes.
He just prayed this wasn’t one of those times.
A chime sounded and the doors to the elevator opened. As he stepped inside, h
e dropped his chin to his chest, staring at the floor, then turned around, tilting his head to the side as he reached forward and pressed the number three. The doors closed, and the elevator began to rise, Acton praying for a smooth, uneventful ride.
“When we step out, we go to the left, but we need to cover our eyes.”
“Huh?”
“With your hand, I guess.”
“That won’t look obvious.”
“Just massage your temples.”
Acton smiled slightly. “My wife, the spy.”
The doors opened and Acton stepped out, pinching his forehead between his thumb and middle finger as he bore left.
“We’re clear to the door.”
Acton eyed a dozen doors ahead of them. “Which one?”
“Three-oh-four. Last one on the left. Use the pass around your neck, then you’ll have to enter a code.”
“Please tell me you have it.”
“No, you’ll have to guess.”
He nearly wigged out before catching her sarcastic tone. “No joking when we’re breaking the law, dear.”
“Yes, dear.”
They arrived at the door and he tapped the pass against the pad, the security panel activating. “Code?” He entered the sequence as Laura read it from the tablet. There was a click, a green indicator displaying, and he pushed open the door, stepping inside.
Laura closed it behind her. “Okay, there are no cameras here, we’re safe for now.”
Acton grunted. “As long as nobody got suspicious as to why a man, fifty pounds lighter than Viggo, using his ID, was here with a beautiful young woman after hours.”
The Viking Deception Page 10