Detour Paris: Complete Series (Detour Paris Series Book 4)

by Dancer, Jack

  Fifteen minutes later, I've got the Mini parked around the back of the hotel again, and I'm quickstepping through the GymFira. When I get to Terry's room, I knock on the door. Someone’s peeping through the peephole. The door opens, its Pat.

  “She here?” I say walking into the room.

  “Yep,” Pat says.

  “Hello, Tucker,” Terry says running up to me, and putting her arms around my neck in a big hug. "God, Tucker, I’m so sorry for all this. Pat told me, most of it at least.” She pushed back to look me in the face, "He told me you paid all that money yesterday to . . . Oh, God, Tucker. I don't know what to say. I can’t believe all that's happened this last week.”

  “Well, why don't you just take a seat and tell us all about it? First, where's Monica? Have you seen her? Is she all right?”

  “That's just it, Tucker. I haven't seen Monica at all. Pat told me she was taken Saturday night, but I haven't seen her. They must have her somewhere else.”

  “Who're they, Terry?"

  “That's just it too, Tucker; I don't really understand it all.”

  “Whaddaya mean? Juan kidnapped you, and Ebba didn't he?”

  “Yes . . . I mean . . . well; he did but . . . Tucker, it's a long story.”

  “I've got all day. Just start from the beginning and tell me.”

  Terry tells of falling in love with Juan, and yes, Juan did kidnap her and Ebba and was also supposed to kidnap Monica but Monica fled the car after she got into a catfight with Ebba. Juan had no choice but to continue without Monica because he couldn't afford to lose the other two women. He didn't know which woman might have been more important, only that he was to invite the three.

  When Monica fled the car, Juan hit the automatic door locks and rolled up the partition and drove on to a garage somewhere in the Ramblas. When they arrived, two other men were there to take them off to another location a couple of hours away - north, into the Pyrenees where they were encamped, locked into two ramshackle huts and guarded day and night by Juan and three other men rotating on four-hour shifts. At this point, Terry could only speak of her own experience since she and Ebba were separated, though she assumed Ebba underwent similar treatment.

  The first day the women were kept tied to a bed, blindfolded, and gagged. Once each hour they were released to use a small toilet and have water, and every four hours they ate, nothing much but enough. On the second day (Thursday), their blindfolds and gags were removed, and only one wrist was handcuffed to the bed. They still ate every four hours but had a water pitcher and cup on the bedside table they could use at will. Juan and Terry struck up a relationship that within a short time became intimate then progressed to love. Juan wanted to leave and take Terry with him but was afraid of the consequences. He took on eight-hour shifts, then sixteen-hours and within three days, was her constant companion.

  Terry's hut was within feet of Ebba's so each one could easily hear the other and Terry said Ebba was constantly working her guards, complimenting them, teasing them, asking them to satisfy her urges, and they complied.

  "I could hear her screwing those guys into tears. She really is a good actress. She told them she admired them as men, and she wished she could be one of them, join their cause because it was a noble cause, and she wanted to be a part of it. She worked them relentlessly until they finally gave in and let her join. I'm not kidding. She actually joined up with this group."

  "What group?" I ask.

  "They were a Basque separatist group but they were joined up with something called the Terra Lliure II, another group. I don't know. It's complicated. Juan tried to explain it to me but I got lost. I didn't care anyway. I just wanted Juan."

  "So, which group is Juan with?" I ask.

  "He's not with any group now. He deserted and took me with him. That's why it's so important we get out of here and go into hiding. They'll be after him, don't you see?" she says getting upset.

  "And you say Ebba started getting in with this group?"

  "Big time. By the time Juan and I got out of there, Ebba was actually giving orders to some of the lower-ranking men, the higher-ranking men, she'd seduced. At one point, some big, important guy came around. His name was Pello . . . something. Anyhow, everyone was scared to death of him. I mean all these big, mean-as-hell-looking guys in the camp were groveling like peons to this guy. Not Ebba though. Believe it or not, by the end of the day, she had him in bed. It was unreal. I gotta give her credit; she's an amazing . . .”

  "Mata Hari," I say.

  "I was going to say something else but yeah. I guess that's a nicer way to put it," she says.

  “What are you and Juan going to do?” I asked.

  “We're going to get married. We're going to the village where his mother lives and where he grew up.”

  “Where's that?” I asked.

  “Tucker, I can't tell you right now. You have to understand; Juan deserted these people and took me with him. They're probably looking for us right now. The only reason I'm here now is to get the rest of my stuff.”

  “You're going with him now?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where's Juan?”

  “I'm not sure at the moment. He's on standby waiting for me to call him; then he'll come by and pick me up.”

  “So, you're no longer flying?" asks Pat.

  “Yes. I'm quitting. I'm in love, Pat. Don't you understand? This is my chance for love and a happy life. I can't pass up on this. You'll just have to call the company.”

  “I'm sorry but could you excuse me for a minute while I use the bathroom?” I ask.

  “Of course, Tucker,” says Terry.

  “But, please don't leave yet okay, Terry?” I ask.

  “I won't.”

  When I get into the bathroom, I make a call to Dick and tell him the situation and to send some men over to the Fira and be on standby to pick up Juan and Terry and keep them contained.

  “No problem, Tucker. Maybe a little talk with Juan will lead us to Monica's location,” he says.

  “Exactly what I'm thinking. She'll call Juan when it's time for him to swing by the Fira and pick her up. When she does I'll call you, and you can alert your men to intercept.”

  “Will do.”

  I return to the room where Terry is in tears about this whole ordeal.

  “There's nothing you can tell us about Monica?” I ask Terry.

  “No, Tucker. I never saw her or even heard a word about her. God, I hope she's all right.”

  “Well, I don't think she is, Terry, and I think you need to stay here in Barcelona until we can find a way to rescue her.”

  “Why do you think she's not all right?”

  I reach into my pocket and bring out the little jeweler's box.

  “Because this is what was sent to me last night.” I lift the lid off the box exposing the severed finger, now turned black. Terry covers her mouth with her hand and screams in terror. Pat also jerks backwards revolted by the sight.

  “Son of a bitch, Tucker, what is that?” Pat asks.

  “Tell him Terry.”

  She can barely get a word out but finally croaks,” It's Monica's finger. Oh, my God, Tucker.”

  “Yuck,” says Pat.

  “Right. Which is why I don't think she's all right, Terry. I don't think they've done anything more to Monica; I mean I doubt seriously they've killed her or anything but . . .” and looking straight into Terry's eyes I say, "I think you need to stick around and help us find her and save her. I think Juan needs to do that too. Don't you agree?”

  Terry sits on the bed and drops her head into her hands and cries uncontrollably. I close the box and return it to my pocket and kneel down to her.

  “Terry, you've gotta stay and help us. Monica needs you. She needs all the help she can get right now, and if we don't do it, no one will. She's your friend, Terry. Surely, you're not going to run out on her now. She wouldn't do that to you. In fact, I can tell you she did everything she could to urge me to find you and Ebba and rescue you
. I paid a two million euro ransom yesterday to free you and Ebba and Monica. (Yeah, I went back to the original amount. Sounds better than one.) Ask Pat, he helped deliver it.”

  I look at Pat, and his mouth has dropped wide open, astonished at what I’d just said.

  “I did?” he says.

  “Yes, you did Pat, and you don't even know it. Remember the nylon bag you picked up from the kid on the bicycle yesterday and handed off to the small woman who was waiting for it in the alley? The little favor you were doing for James. Remember?”

  “Ohmygod,” he says, "the ransom money?”

  “Yes, it was and you were set up by James. You're implicated in a kidnapping Pat, wanna see?”

  I pull out my cell phone and bring up the video of Pat receiving and dropping off the moneybag and then being intercepted happily by Claudia.

  “I'm the one who put Claudia in there to intercept you Pat; you do remember Claudia don't you?”

  “Of course I do. I just didn't know . . .” he stammers.

  “I know you didn't know. You weren't supposed to know. But, you do now, and you wanna know something else?” I ask.

  “What?”

  “I saved your ass yesterday having Claudia take you out of there.”

  “Holy shit,” he says.

  “Holy shit is right,” I say.

  “I knew you'd sent her to find me, but I didn't know you sent her in to . . . Christ, Tucker. You're a brother man. You saved my ass . . . I guess,” says a mostly confused Pat wrapping me in a bear hug.

  “It's okay, Pat,” I say wiggling free.

  "How'd you get two million euros in such a small bag," he asks.

  "I only gave 'em one million. I want to see them release one before I give 'em the other million," I confess.

  "Makes sense. Still, a million in that little bag?"

  "All €500 notes. Weighed only a little over two pounds."

  "I didn't know they had €500 notes."

  "Me neither, they're new."

  “Who is Claudia, Tucker?” asks Terry. I explain and replay the video of the ransom handoff for her.

  “So whaddaya say, Terry? Can I count on you and Juan helping us out here? Helping Monica out?”

  “I don't know, Tucker. I just don't know. Believe me, I want to, but I need to talk to Juan about this. He's really scared right now. You've got to understand; he's double-crossed the people he was working for to rescue me, so we could run away and be together. Me on the run, can you believe it? It's the most exciting thing I've ever done, and I'm scared outta my mind, but I've got to do it. I love this man, Tucker, can you understand that?” she says.

  “Sure I can, and by the same token, can you understand I love Monica, and I have to rescue her? I feel the same way about her as you do about Juan, but I need your help and Juan's too if I'm going to save her. If we don't rescue her, they're gonna kill her, don't you see that?”

  “Don't lay that guilt trip on me, Tucker Blue. You have no idea what Juan, and I have been through this past week. No idea.”

  “But, you're alive, Terry. What about Monica?”

  “I'm alive because Juan risked his life to save mine.”

  “Maybe so but he's also the one who kidnapped you in the first place. You wouldn't have been at risk had it not been for him.”

  By now, Terry's attitude has done a one-eighty, and she's packing her stuff into her rolling bag. She's going to get out of here and go with Juan no matter what I say. She pulls out her cell phone and speed dials a number.

  “Meet me in front right now,” she commands into the cell.

  “I'd love to stick around and help you, Tucker, but I have to think about me for once, my happiness. I'm going with Juan. Call me if I can help, but I'm not doing anything that'll put Juan's life at risk or mine. You understand?”

  “No, I don't understand, Terry. I told you; I can protect you and Juan if you'd let me. You'd be helping us save Monica too.”

  “Fuck you, Tucker. You can't do anything. You apparently didn't do anything when Monica was taken, did you? So, why should I think you can keep Juan and me safe,” she says and walks out the door.

  Ooh, that hurt.

  “You want me to stop her, Tucker?” asks an anxious Pat.

  “No, don't worry about it. She's going nowhere,” I say dialing up Dick.

  “She'll be out the door of the Fira in about a minute waiting for Juan to pick her up,” I say into the phone and hang up.

  “What was that all about?” asks a stunned Pat.

  “I told you, she's not going anywhere, and neither is Juan.”

  "Who was that you called?"

  "My posse."

  "Holy shit, Tucker. You got more tricks up your sleeve than Canada Bill Jones."

  "Who's he?" I ask.

  "Who's he? Prob'ly the greatest three-card monte sharp ever!" says Pat. “Say, Tucker, you think this Juan guy is really in love with Terry? I mean he's what? Twenty-five maybe? And Terry's what? She’s got to be pushing forty. You really think a guy like that would fall for a woman who's that much older?”

  “I don't know Pat. All I can think is, when a twenty-five-year-old man falls for a twenty-five-year-old woman, we call it love. But, when that same twenty-five-year-old man falls for a forty-year-old woman, brother, that can only be TRUE LOVE!"

  fifty-four

  12:13 Hours, Tuesday, 9 September.

  El Raval Apartment.

  “Come with me, Pat, we need to talk,” I say leading him out of the room and down to the Mini Cooper.

  “Where'd you get these wheels, Tucker?"

  “It's a rental.”

  “I didn't know you could rent a Mini Cooper. Where're we going?”

  “To my place where we can talk. I need your help on this, and you need to know what's going on and what we're up against. You do want to help don't you, Pat?”

  “Course I do buddy. But listen, I also need to call the company and order up two replacement FA's for the flight home you know.”

  “Yeah, I know. If, we make the flight.”

  “Whaddya mean, if we make the flight? Why wouldn't we make the flight?”

  “Just what I said before. More important than making the flight home is rescuing Monica. Then, we'll make the flight home.”

  “So, you think I should order up another pilot while I'm at it?”

  “Might not be a bad idea.”

  As we turn onto the Carrer Guardia Urbana and all the cop cars, Pat says, “What the hell?”

  “Yeah, didn't know the Fira was attached to the police station either?” I say.

  “Pretty handy I guess.”

  “Depending on which side you're on,” I say.

  “Whose side are we on, Tucker?”

  “We're the good guys.”

  “Why don't I feel like we're the good guys right now?”

  “Because we're undercover, and confusion is our business, and we're going to confuse the hell out of the other side. And that's how we're going to win.”

  “I'm glad you think so, Tucker, 'cause right now I'm feeling pretty confused.”

  I'd like to admit that too, but I just can't bring myself to do it. All I can think about is beating these people and rescuing Monica.

  As we enter the El Raval Pat says, "This is a pretty shitty part of town, Tucker. This isn't where you're staying is it?”

  “Yep.”

  “You're kidding? You gave up the Hilton for this?”

  A hundred feet shy of the apartment I press a button on the mirror, and the garage door opens, and we drive right in, closing the door behind us.

  “Well, this is pretty nifty,” says Pat.

  “You ain't seen nothing yet, brother,” I say.

  We go into the apartment, and I give him a quick tour, not everything, just the highlights.

  “Holy shmoly, Tucker, how'd you find this place?”

  “The Apartment Guide.”

  “Yeah right, Apartment Guide for Double-O-Sevens.”

 
“What do you want for lunch, Pat?”

  “Anything's fine.”

  I walk over to the intercom and order up two club sandwiches, fries, and two ice teas from Madame.

  “You're kidding right?” Pat says.

  “Ask me again when the food shows up,” I say.

  I have to admit I'm enjoying the showing off. Fifteen minutes later and the exquisite Tanya appears with a tray and lunch. I jump to my feet to help her.

  “Pat, meet Tanya. Tanya, this is my friend, Pat.”

  “Pleased to meet you, Pat, I am sure,” says Tanya holding out her hand.

  Pat's speechless but takes her hand and gives it a shake.

  “He's pleased to meet you too, Tanya; I'm sure. He's just a little shy.”

  Tanya smiles and giggles playfully at Pat who's beside himself.

  “Is there anything else you need, Señor Tucker?” asks Tanya.

  “I think we're fine right now. Thanks very much though. I'll see you later okay?”

  “Okay, bye bye, Mr. Pat. Nice meeting you,” she says giggling her way out.

  “Holy shit, Tucker. Tell me she comes with the place.”

  “There's a whole house of 'em next door. They all come with the place.”

  “You mean a whorehouse?”

  “I think gentleman's club is the preferred nomenclature these days but yeah, a whorehouse.”

  “Oh, my God. Tell me there's a liquor store too.”

  “Every man's dream, huh? A nymphomaniac who owns a liquor store?”

  “You got it buddy. Man you are living the dream, Tucker.”

  “Tell you the truth, Pat, it's been more a nightmare than a dream.”

  “Not from the looks of Tanya," he says looking back at the door she just left through.

  "Pat," I say to get his attention.

  "I understand man, really I do, so what can I do to help out?” he says correcting.

  I fill him in on the situation at hand, not everything but enough.

  “You're kidding? Nanette? You really think she's behind this whole thing?”

  “I think she's behind some of it, but there's more to it than just Nanette. There's a whole other side that's complicating everything even more and making it all a lot more dangerous. That's where Monica comes in.” I spend the next few minutes with Pat reviewing the train incident and Libica and her minions; Monica being kidnapped Saturday night and why I think Libica's the one behind it.