by Powers, Jade
Sven barked a laugh. Somehow Minka put into words his own non-distinct feelings. He said, “I was thinking the same thing.”
“But you’ll risk it?” Minka joked.
“I will.”
Minka fidgeted with the flaps at the bottom of her button-up blouse. She said, “Will you go to a self-defense class with me?”
Sven didn’t even need to think about it. He said, “Of course.”
When Sven returned to his apartment, he couldn’t help but wonder what he’d gotten himself into. He hadn’t told Minka that he was only in town a few months, a lie which would catch up with him sooner than later. Plus she had a crazy ex. That wouldn’t end well for anyone. Sven checked his messages. Still nothing from Drake.
Chapter 6
MINKA CURLED HER HAIR with a curling iron that left large, soft curls to fall across her shoulder. Sven would pick her up at eight which she found somewhat hilarious as he lived just across the hall. She wore a sparkly black dress, a hand-me-down from her older sister from years back that had just hung uselessly in the closet. The skirt on the dress ended above the knee. This was Minka’s first date where she dressed up, at least since high school. She grinned like a kid and spun once in the mirror, feeling gorgeous.
A real date with her hot neighbor. Doubt worked its way insidiously into her brain cells, and her smile fell. She couldn’t help but replay again and again the moment when Sven pulled his gun on Joe. She didn’t know if she could trust Sven, and his ease with violence scared her. Then again, she felt safe in his presence, protected. Sven had never given her a reason to doubt his character.
Life could be so complicated at times. Maybe someone should make a playbook for the confused and lonely.
Rules for dating your neighbor, Minka thought, amusing herself.
Number 1. Don’t let him see you run to the car in your pajamas. Sven had never seen her in pajamas, although she had worn a ratty old sweatshirt on the day they met. She would have been better off with the pajamas. At least they had a cute little puppy print.
Number 2. Don’t accidentally look in his window.. Which wouldn’t be a problem since his blinds were always shut. Minka had never been a peeper. Which led her to think about the kind of man Sven would be. Minka kept her blinds down, but if she hadn’t, would Sven spend the evening peering in her windows watching her? She shivered. It was the kind of thing Minka knew Joe would do. Sven wasn’t the type. Sven couldn’t be. Please, not another man like Joe.
Number 3: If the date ends badly, move in with your coworker. Minka had already imposed on Alice enough. The date with Sven just had to go well. That was all. Of course, Alice made killer lasagna, and they had indulged in a few awesome movie nights when Minka was staying with Alice a few weeks back. Alice wasn’t a terrible last resort. But Minka was definitely done being a victim.
No matter how badly it went with Sven, Minka would just have to stay at the apartment until her credit cards were paid off, and she could plan a move to...well...anywhere else.
Number 4:
At that moment the door bell rang. Minka straightened her green silk shirt and fluffed her hair. After unplugging the curling iron, she hurried to the door.
Sven handed her a bouquet of flowers. They were fresh variety flowers from the local supermarket. They smelled like spring.
Number 4: Guard your heart.
Minka hadn’t planned on such a ruthless number four. It just slid into her mind as her fingers brushed against Sven’s.
Her pulse raced as she took the flowers. Would it be too bold to drag him into the bedroom on a first date? Probably. Especially since she didn’t even have a bed. Minka needed more than a pretty face, anyway. Joe had been one of the best looking guys in high school and look how that turned out.
“Thank you.” Minka pulled the glass tea pitcher out of her box of dishes. She filled it with water and arranged the flowers inside. She would have left the pitcher behind since she never really used it for anything, but it was a Christmas present from her oldest niece. Joe would have thrown it out.
Minka had to stop thinking about Joe. Sven was not the same person. Sven was a completely unique and entirely different individual, hopefully with a better moral and ethical compass than her first boyfriend.
The first date was magical. Sven brought Minka to a fancy restaurant and they talked for hours. When they finished, he invited Minka to a winter picnic.
The second ‘real’ date was bliss. They both wore coats and gloves, and Minka’s cheeks were red. They ate in the car with the heat on. The snow had melted from the trees, but the park still had charm.
Sven apologized, “I’m sorry. I probably could have come up with a better plan for our outing.” He wasn’t prepared to call it a date, not yet.
“It’s great! I guess this is the ‘get to know you’ part. I was never really good at it.” Minka blushed as they watched a mom and daughter team circle the park.
“Me neither,” Sven said, “Let’s do the short version. Music, I like rock. Food, Hate cauliflower. My favorite color is blue.”
“Music, country and rock. I hate fish. My favorite color is blue-green.”
“So now the painful stuff is out the way. Shall we go for a walk?”
They laughed and ate and talked and laughed. Feeling exuberant, they circled the park twice, full of good feelings. Holding hands as they crossed a tiny footbridge, Minka felt those jittery happy leaps inside that told her this guy was special.
The joy inside was real. Minka had to believe that she could find someone handsome and kind. There had to be someone out there for her, maybe right here, right now. She loved holding Sven’s hand, even through the glove. It had been a long time since she had someone to exchange small comforts with; a hand-hold, a hug, a kiss.
Maybe she’d kiss Sven later.
Maybe, she’d kiss Sven now. On the bridge, Minka turned. The moment was right. She rested her palm on his cheek, slowly drawing him to her. They kissed. The Peppermint Patties were a stroke of genius. Sven tasted like chocolate and mint. He tangled his fingers in her hair and drew Minka closer. She snuggled in. Holding him, Minka couldn’t get close enough. That was probably because their coats were so darn heavy.
When they came up for air, Sven and Minka exchanged gazes. It was the first time she could trust her eyes with a man. She could meet his eyes with hers and know the thoughts behind those lenses were safe. They stared at each other for so long that Minka giggled.
It broke the moment.
“Shall we proceed?” Sven held out his arm and Minka grinned, taking it and feeling like the lady in those regencies she devoured.
They walked to the small pond where Sven released her. “Ever skipped stones?”
“I admit I have. Shall we see who can skip the furthest?” Minka asked.
She winged the pebble along the water, sending it skittering far to the middle. Minka twirled in a moment of joy. The moment was soured by a single shadow. As she spun, Minka thought she saw Joe standing in the distance among a copse of pine trees. She stopped abruptly and turned back. There was no one there.
Her smile faded.
“What is it?” Sven stepped in front of Minka, ever the guardian.
“I...it’s nothing. Overactive imagination,” Minka forced her breath into soothing ins and outs just like at yoga class.
“What did you think you saw?” Sven asked.
Minka blushed a fiery red. This was not how a date should go. She said, “Really, it’s my active imagination. Shall we head home?”
Sven took her hand, and if he was disappointed, he hid it well.
They returned to the car, the fun over.
Sven walked Minka up to their shared landing. He didn’t want the night to end. He said, “Would you like to come over and watch a movie?”
Minka tilted her chin, the apartment’s lights catching the red in her hair. She said, “That would be great.”
Sven unlocked his apartment and invited Minka in. The single bedr
oom apartment was sparsely furnished with a couch, television, dresser, and bed. There were no mementos of Sven’s life anywhere. No photographs. No books or magazines. There was nothing to indicate who he really was.
Minka had hoped to find out more about Sven by perusing his family photos.
Before they could choose a movie, the phone rang. Sven grumbled a bit under his breath about timing. When he saw the Caller ID, he said, “I’m sorry. I need to get this.”
She wasn’t sure where unexpected phone calls fit in her rules for dating your neighbor. One thing Minka knew. Jealousy was ugly. She’d had enough of that brand of ugliness with Joe.
It was a man’s voice. At least Minka didn’t have cause to be jealous.
“Sven?”
“Hey Tom, what’s up?”
“Can you come in? Bryce is missing. He was supposed to call when he reached Miami. Something is wrong.” Minka could hear panic in the man’s voice.
Sven’s expression was that of a trapped man. He obviously wanted to help his friend, but here was Minka. The date had gone well. He didn’t want it to end.
In a low voice Minka said, “It’s okay. We can pick this up another time if you need to take care of this.”
Studying her with those serious brown eyes, Sven smiled ruefully, “Are you sure?”
Minka kissed Sven on the cheek. With a saucy smile she said, “I’ve wanted to kiss you again since the bridge. Thanks for the wonderful time.”
Picking up her purse, she walked out the door.
Minka closed the door to her apartment, turning the lock. With a sigh she stripped out of the silk blouse and hung it back in the closet. She shrugged out of her jeans.
Girl time. She washed her face. Running a hot bath, Minka dumped in bubbles and dug through her book box for something to read. She felt disappointment. And relief. Stepping into the bath Minka sighed peacefully. Time to herself.
The bath felt open without a shower curtain. Minka decided that sorting out her purchases for the shower curtain was hardly worth it. She settled into the bath of frothy bubbles.
There were worse things than being alone.
Chapter 7
TOM COULDN’T TELL SVEN the truth over the phone. He paced the lab, frightened for his son. The lab phone rang. He let the phone ring until the sound hurt his mind. He dreaded answering it. No one called that phone...not until ten minutes ago. It was a company line that no one used.
When he couldn’t stand it anymore, he answered, trying to sound professional even while his voice shook.
“AIT, this it Tom.”
“Do you want your son dead?” The voice was deep, raspy. Tom tried to listen to the nuances of language and dialect, tried to figure out if he’d ever heard the person before. He had nothing. Maybe the voice was disguised. Maybe they’d never met. It didn’t change the fact that the person had access to a private line of one of the most secure companies in the country. It didn’t change the fact that someone had kidnapped his son.
“No. I’ll do what you ask. Please don’t hurt Bryce.”
“You called Sven. You told him your son was missing. What kind of option does that leave us? Do you want the body of that dear teenage boy to end up in an alligator-infested swamp?”
“I didn’t tell Sven about you. I swear,” Tom couldn’t believe they had found out. How? The lab’s phone had to be tapped. Or on video. Either way, the lab, which was supposedly the most secure location in Washington State outside of Hanford and the military bases had been compromised.
His unseen enemy had no compassion. His son was just another business transaction to the guy. His son’s kidnapper said, “And yet Sven is rushing to meet you. When he calls, tell him you heard from your son. If Sven thinks your son is missing at the end of the night, we will air express his corpse to you in pieces from Miami.
Tom froze. He had never been so stuck in his life. He couldn’t turn on Sven or Drake. They had gotten him out of some really tough times. He couldn’t let his son die either. He said, “He’s already on his way. I’ll tell Sven that Bryce is okay. But I can’t get the sphere. There has to be something else. It will take months to breach this security even from the inside.”
His enemy chuckled, low and without humor. “Yes. Months to breach security. I have others on the inside as well. You’re not alone. In the meantime, tell everyone that your son decided to take the rest of the school year off, backpacking in Europe perhaps? He will be back next semester in the fall if everything goes well. Keep quiet and do what you’re told. It’s best for everyone. I’ll send weekly tapes of your son’s progress.”
The drone of an empty line replaced the threats. Tom swallowed hard. He felt like crying. He brought his fist down on the counter, rattling the beakers. The side of his hand hurt now with a sharp ache. It wasn’t as bad as the ache in his heart. Tom was going to betray Drake, the man who gave him this job, the man he’d watched go from a green trainee to the head of a multimillion dollar company.
His son’s life was worth Drake. Tom was going to betray the best friend he’d ever had, the man who had saved his life twice, a man he loved like a brother. He would betray Drake to save Bryce, even if it killed him.
Tom paced the entry doors of the building, waiting for Sven. He had to do this right. Now that he knew the lines were tapped, Tom couldn’t trust anything. The idea of his son held by a terrorist group terrified him. He had to find a way to fix this. Maybe if he got Sven away from the building he could fill him in on what was happening, make sure safeguards were in place so that his betrayal of Drake wouldn’t be so bad.
Sven had a way of fixing things. He really could use the man’s help. With Sven and Drake, Tom could get his son back unharmed without giving up company secrets. He had no idea how to pass that information to his friends without compromising his son.
The foyer was unseasonably warm. The receptionist must have turned up the heat again. As Tom paced, sweat collected on his collar. He wiped his forehead with the inside of his sleeve and tried to talk himself down. His chest hurt and he wondered if it was anxiety or a heart attack.
The phone in the lobby rang. With a frown, Tom answered.
It was the enemy again, taunting him. The raspy voice said, “You look nervous. Go wash your face. Sven is close now.”
Slamming the phone down, Tom paced. They could see him. The bastards would see everything he said to Sven. There was nothing he could do short of giving them exactly what they wanted. If he made any signal at all, it would cost Bryce his life. Tom wasn’t willing to do that, not even for Sven or Drake. Sweet Mary, he was in trouble.
Tom went to the bathroom. His face was covered in sweat, his armpits damp. Taking a paper towel, he ran it under the water and mopped his face. He hardened his expression into a smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes, but might just work.
It was a matter of pretense, not just outwardly. He had to fool himself into forgetting for a few minutes the reality of his life, to speak words as if they had no meaning. He stood in front of the mirror until his face could match earnest words with a rueful grin, “My son called. He’s fine.”
Earnest, not honest.
It was the dead of night when Sven arrived. Tom could see the headlights swerving into the parking lot under one of the lights. Sven walked to the door with tough precision, that military step that sometimes bleeds over into civilian life. There were few people Tom trusted without question. Sven was one of those people. For the first time, Tom was giving Sven a reason not to trust him. He prayed Sven would never find out.
Tom greeted Sven at the door with that same grin, well-practiced, and a man-hug. “Sven? I’m sorry I bothered you. Bryce just called a few minutes ago. He’s fine. He missed his flight and didn’t think to call.”
Tom sweated the questions, the comments, the little touches of humor that would come in the following weeks regarding his son.
Sven clapped him on the back, “Well, sir, if Bryce is anything like me at that age, you’re lucky t
o get notification that he’s left the country much less missed a flight.”
The ‘sir’ came from years back. Tom was about ten years older than Drake and Sven. They’d been to hell and back together. From the way things were going, Tom was about to drag them all into hell again.
Tom agreed, “Yeah. I should have known he’d check in eventually. This job is making me paranoid.”
“I hear you.” Sven said. They talked a bit in the foyer, nothing important, just little tidbits of gossip about the guys they knew and the typical catching-up stories of men who had known one another years back and were getting reacquainted.
It was late. Finally Tom said, “I didn’t mean to keep you. It’s past eleven. Let’s pack up.”
Sven said, “I’ll be around if you need me.”
They shook hands and Sven left, whistling while he sauntered out. That was new. Sven had never been a happy-go-lucky sort of fellow. His serious demeanor had shifted to something else. Had Tom not been so worried about his son, he might have asked what the whistling was about.
The more he talked to Sven, the more likely he would give something away. Instead, he walked the hall back to the lab to collect his stuff with a worried frown, fretting about Bryce. Tom grabbed his briefcase and lunch pail.
The kidnappers wouldn’t leave Tom alone. They called while he picked up his briefcase in the lab. The voice said, “That went well. Your son will live for now. The plan and proof that your son is still alive are taped to your back door. Don’t worry. We didn’t approach your house until your wife left at ten.”
Tom hung up the phone feeling a dread that he had never felt before, not even in war. These people knew where he worked. They knew where he lived. They knew his wife’s schedule. It had to be an inside job, someone with clearance. Tom couldn’t talk to anyone. Not with his son’s life in the balance. And now his wife’s, too. He had to find a way out of this.