by Dancer, Jack
"He says, we can pick up the attendant on the side of the road. No hurry," Paulo repeats.
"They shot the attendant," I say.
"Why would they do that?" Paulo asks.
"Because the two bodies in the ambulance are not the two girls Sophia De la Riva and Elena Basso. They are Drusilla and Julia Libica," I say.
"How do you know this, Señor?" Paulo asks.
“Drusilla Libica kidnapped the two missing teenagers and flayed their faces off.”
“Oh, my God,” says Sandy covering her mouth.
"I know, Señor. I was there. The Raven made me watch the whole thing. It was the most horrible . . ." Paulo chokes up and begins to cry again. Sandy steps over to Paulo and takes him into her arms consolingly.
“After Drusilla drugged Monica and me, I heard the two of them go into the adjoining room. Drusilla was talking to Julia, and it was pretty clear they were changing into the girls' clothes. Did you find them in body bags, Paulo?”
"My men did. Partially zipped," he says.
“That's because the clothes were too big for Drusilla and Julia, and they wanted you to see only enough to see their clothes. What about their faces?”
“Their faces were cut off. They were nothing but a bloody mess,” Paulo says.
“Right. I think Drusilla and Julia placed the girls' flayed faces over their own.”
“But then, they would've looked like the girls, not faces that had been skinned and removed,” says Pat.
“Not if they had put their faces on inside out to make it look like they'd been flayed, a bloody mess,” I say.
“Oh, my God,” Sandy says again, her hand covering her mouth.
“They've shot the attendant. Drusilla and Julia have escaped. The driver is Pony MacDonald. He runs the Green Dragon umbrella shop in Barcelona,” I say. "Which I believe is a meeting place for the Green Dragons of Terra Lliure II. My bet would be that Pony is a liaison between the Terra Lliure II and one or more radical independence movement groups in Scotland, but I'm only speculating."
"Your speculations are not far off, Señor Blue. We have made that connection ourselves," says Paulo, "Santa mare de Déu. They will be out of country before we know it."
"Then why not dispatch every available police cruiser between here and Perpignan and see if they can't run down the ambulance. An ambulance can't be too hard to miss," I suggest. Paulo immediately pulls his cell and begins making calls.
“So, where's the ticket, Tucker?” asks Pat.
“Your guess is as good as mine, Pat.”
“You really put it in the crack of an old roman aqueduct? Are you kidding? I wouldn't have let the thing leave my person. I would've stuck it up my ass to keep it with me.”
“Then maybe we should start our search there? Or, maybe I should call Claudia and see if she happened to run across it. Whaddya think?”
“I think you've lost your mind, Blue,” he says laughing.
“And a hundred twenty million euros to boot,” I say.
***
With the huge spotlights along the walls turned inward, the castle yard - and all the commotion of barking orders, arriving vehicles and heavily armed guys walking around dressed in black ninja pajamas - is lit up like daytime. There're a lot of other guys dressed in camouflage too, some being led around like prisoners by the ninjas. I don't know how they tell the good guys from the bad guys, but I guess they've got it worked out somehow.
When the black helicopter that's situated in the center of the castle yard comes to life, and its blades start into a slow rotation working up to a whirring fan, a half-dozen more people in camouflage appear out of the door nearest the murder tree on the far side of the yard. The same door Nanette and I came through when Pau got the drop on us. They're walking toward the helicopter where someone's waiting like a doorman for them to board. Must be important people.
One of 'em turns in my direction and waving, puts their hand to their mouth and shouts something that I can't hear because of all the noise. But when the hat comes off, and the platinum-blonde hair tumbles out, it's Ebba. She taps the shoulder of the man in front of her and points in my direction saying something to which he raises his hand like a pistol and shoots me. Ebba smiles at that and throws me a bird, and they both disappear inside the whirlybird.
When the others in their group have boarded, and the copter's blades are at a high-pitched scream, the big machine lifts off the ground just as neatly as you please, except for everything below being tossed around like paper in a hurricane. Once they've ascended to just above the tree level, the oversized dragonfly makes a one-eighty degree rotation then disappears into the inky sky.
"Did you see that, Pat?" I yell, "that was Ebba in the helicopter."
"Yeah, I saw," he says.
"Who's that she's with?" I ask.
"That was Pello Azaura, monsieur," says Paulo, "and his new fiancé. You say her name is Ebba?"
"Yeah, Ebba Hildebrand."
"Ebba, means boar in German," he says.
"Boar? Really?"
"Yes. And you know this Ebba Hildebrand?" Paulo asks.
"She was his girlfriend," Pat says.
"Girlfriend? Oh, I am sorry, Tucker. I didn't know. Wait. I thought the other woman . . ."
"Monica," offers Pat.
"Yes. That Monica was your girlfriend," says a confused Paulo.
"Tucker Blue has many girlfriends, Paulo, many admirers," Pat says grinning ear to ear.
"All right, Pat. You don't need to start documenting my love life for the man," I say and turn to Paulo. "What is Pello Azaura doing here? I thought he was an outlaw. Thought he was in cahoots with Drusilla Libica and that they were in some sort of partnership with this Terra Lliure II club. Why aren't you arresting him?"
"As I am sure you are aware, monsieur, there are times when one must deal with the devil to accomplish a greater good," Paulo says.
"What are you saying? That this Azaura guy helped you to take down the Raven?"
"Yes. He did and he ended up paying a very heavy price," Paulo says.
Here Pat jumps in. "Yeah, Tucker. You know those wasps his men found? Well, they also found a room full of Azaura's men down there, all dead. From wasp stings."
"Oh, shit. Those were his men? I thought they were . . ."
"Yeah. I know, Tucker. But, hey, this is none of our business, right? This belongs to Paulo, so I think it'd be best if we just let him deal with it," Pat says, then turning to Paulo. "Right Paulo?"
"We will take care of it, Capitaine Pat. There is nothing that can be done. These were wasps. Nasty insects and we cannot exactly arrest them now can we?" he says with a smile. "Besides, who can complain that the ranks of an outlaw gang have been depleted?"
"True. See, Tucker, wasps killed these men. It was almost a natural occurrence. Yeah, it was an act of nature. That's what it was," says Pat.
I give Pat a smile to let him know I appreciate his attempt to cover for me.
"So, Paulo, how'd you get Azaura to turn on Libica?" I ask.
"We offered to let him take over Libica's business operations," he says.
"You mean you just gave him all her stuff? You could do that?"
"Not all monsieur, only those in the Basque country. And, yes, we can do anything. We are government."
***
Through the main gate, come police cars followed by a Spanish police paddy wagon; behind them follows a Lincoln with Dick behind the wheel and another passenger van with any number of people inside bringing up the rear. When they come to a stop, Dick works his way out of the car and waddles over. The passengers in the van remain.
“Tucker, me amigo. You are alive I am so glad to see,” says Dick, "have you rescued the beautiful princess?”
“Yes, I have, Dick, but unfortunately, it wasn't a gain. I lost another in the process. Nanette was shot and killed by Julia Libica.”
“Oh, no, Tucker. I am very sorry to hear that. Seems to me you were becoming quite fond of her.”
“So, what about the beautiful Monica? She is happy, no?”
“Not so much. As it turns out, she was the bait for the Spanish Prisoner scam. She was part of the scam all along.”
“No,” says Dick.
“Yeah, afraid so.”
Beyond Dick, I see a policeman opening the rear door to the passenger van and out steps James Culpepper, Lisa Jones, Terry Hinkle, and Juan Salazar, all handcuffed. Each is loaded into the paddy wagon one by one. I see another policeman escorting Monica in handcuffs to the paddy wagon too. She calls out, "Tucker, can you talk to these people, please, and tell them I’m the victim here. Please, Tucker.”
I wave my hand and nod to her. Another policeman walks up to me and says, "Señor Blue, please turn around and put your hands behind your back.”
“What?” I say startled.
“You are under arrest, Señor. Please turn around and put your hands behind your back, or I can have some men put you on the ground to do this if you prefer,” the policeman says.
“Now how do you expect the man to do that with his arm in a sling? Can’t you see he’s been shot? Forget the handcuffs, idiot,” says Paulo.
“Si Capità Marti. Okay, Señor. Come with me,” the policeman says taking me by my good arm.
“What! Why am I being arrested, what are the charges?” I ask.
“Señor, there are many charges, and you will learn of each of them when you are booked into the Barcelona jail.”
“Would that be the one on Carrer Guardia Urbana?”
“Yes, you know it?”
“Not intimately but I had a room at the Fira Palace next door. Will I be able to see a room-service menu?”
“But of course, Señor, you are an important guest. In fact, we have never had a guest with so many pending charges as you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, Señor, you are a celebrity.”
“Don't worry, Tucker, we'll contact the American embassy as soon as we get back to Barcelona,” Pat calls out.
As the policeman leads me up to the paddy wagon, another opens the rear door and inside are seated Monica, James, Lisa, Terry and Juan - all with very sour looking pusses.
“So what's this? The welcome wagon?” I say to all.
seventy
15:00 Hours, Friday, 12 December.
Hotel du Castellet, Toulon, France.
Three Months Later.
"Pass the remote, please, I want to see the news,” I say and one of the two women on either side of me hands it over. I hit the power button, and the flat-screen LCD television comes to life.
First News Anchor (Male):
“Today it was reported the woman, and her maid, were tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail.”
Second News Anchor (Female):
“They still do that sort of thing, Jose?”
First News Anchor (Male):
“Well, apparently they do in the village of Vic. You may remember that it was Vic that won the Christmas lottery, El Gordo (The Fat One), worth 600 million euros.”
Second News Anchor (Female):
“Who could forget that one?”
First News Anchor (Male):
“The villagers claim the woman, Drusilla Libica, and her maid, tried to rob the village of its lottery winnings, claiming the winnings rightfully belonged to her, that she owned the village.”
Second News Anchor (Female):
“Owned the village? I didn't know you could own a village.”
First News Anchor (Male):
“Neither did I and apparently neither did the village. Back to you, Marisa.”
Second News Anchor (Female):
“And in other lottery news, it was learned today the anonymous winner of the La Primavera lottery back in September has turned out to be a female prisoner of the state's penal system. She is now not only the richest prisoner in Spain but also the richest women in Spain, period. €120 million euros rich."
(A video of Monica leaning out a prison window and waving and fistful of euros fills the screen.)
“Holy shit, it's Monica,” I say, "She had the lottery ticket all along.”
“Well, she's a rich bitch now, Tucker. Who was she? Your girlfriend?” one of the girls asks.
“Yep, she was.”
“Should have kept her, mister,” says the girl on my other side.
“Wouldda, couldda, shouldda,” I say.
First News Anchor (Male):
“And that's not all. Not only is this woman the richest prisoner in Spain, she's also the richest princess in Spain.”
Second News Anchor (Female):
“Princess? What? She's a princess? You're kidding?”
First News Anchor (Male):
“Nope. You're looking at Princess Monica Reyes, direct descendant of Alfonso II of Aragon and Sancha of Castile. Alfonso II was king of Aragon and Count of Barcelona way back when.”
Second News Anchor (Female):
“How far back?”
First News Anchor (Male):
“Way back.”
Second News Anchor (Female):
“Wow, with a hundred twenty million euros, she could buy her way right back to the throne.”
First News Anchor (Male):
“The way the Spanish economy is floundering at the moment and the troubles the Royals are facing, she could probably get a BOGO."
Second News Anchor (Female):
“Hundred twenty million euros would make for one fabulous shopping day; that's for sure.”
First News Anchor (Male):
“That's a lot of dinero.”
Second News Anchor (Female):
“Didn't we go through this once before?”
First News Anchor (Male):
“Did we? And in other news, the infamous guerrilla leader for Catalonian independence, known as 'The Boar' has reportedly been seen in the far western regions of the Pyrenees. Anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of The Boar is asked to contact Spanish police authorities.” (A full-screen photo of Ebba in camouflage battle gear, face paint, and a scowl appears across the screen.)
“Holy shit, that's Ebba,” I say.
“Another girlfriend, Tucker?”
“Fraid so.”
“Are all your girlfriends criminals, Tucker?”
“Seems like it lately. Don't you girls have to return to your cells?”
“We have a pass for the night.”
The news goes to a commercial break, and the screen fills with an image of a smiling Juan and Terry standing in front of a large billboard advertising Juan's Special Sauce.
“You've gotta be kidding me. Hey, Speed, you watching this?”
"Unbelievable is what it is, Bluesman. Hey, girls can I interest you in a little omnipotence?"
"Night Speed."
"Night Bluesman. This is the Speedster signing off. Good night, and good luck.”
Epilogue
Paulo Marti & Cesc Porra & Enric Marti & Guillem Quintana - continue to battle terrorist organizations throughout the Pyrenees.
Rakim Marti - Was turned over to Paulo and arrested by French authorities. Currently awaiting trial.
James Culpepper - Released from custody after all charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Resigned from American Airlines and is currently "community bitch" for the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, Atlanta chapter.
Lisa Jones - Released from custody after all charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. She resigned from American Airlines to become the mistress to the governor of Florida.
Juan Salazar and Terry Hinkle - married and currently millionaire partners in the Juan's Special Sauce Corporation.
Ebba Hildebrand "The Boar" - Inherited the leadership position for the Terra Lliure II when the Raven disappeared and recently married Pello Azaura, leader of the Basque separatists movement. Together they control virtually all of the illegal activity throughout the Pyrenees. She is also a part-time securi
ty consultant for major airlines under the nom de guerre, Mindy.
Claudia - went on to become Barcelona's first female bank president.
Ricardo Dick (Dick Dick's) - Dick campaigned for mayor of Barcelona with Angelo as his intended Chief Of Staff but lost. He married Madame Bovarie and they adopted Angelo who established the Barcelona chapter of the Guardian Angels.
Captain Pat Johannsen - was appointed head of Homeland Secutiry.
Drusilla Libica and Julia (Pau) Libica - Catalan expatriates last reported to be operating a charity for Green Dragons & Red Fairies somewhere in the Scottish Highlands. The charity is a scientific research foundation for harvesting and cloning human tissues and organs - a modern form of the resurrection men of old. They are associated with the Pony MacDonald foundation for the re-appropriation of the MacLeod clan Fairy flag of Dunvegan, Isle of Skye. Both actively support the Scottish movement for independence.
Tiber and Drusus - No one knows what happened to the IndyCat boys. Their bodies were never found so it was assumed that Drusilla’s shooting was faked and they got away.
Mike Speed - Remains Tucker Blue's best friend and guardian hacker angel. He is currently in search of a movie contract for his Tucker Blue Detour Paris series of novels, Detour Paris, Detour Allure, and Detour Amour and sequels.
Monica Reyes - Convicted of leaving the scene of an accident and sentenced to six weeks house arrest at the luxury St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort (Spain) where she and her entourage occupied the top floor. She has since regained her title as Princess Monica of Santa Monica, Canary Islands, Spain, sharing the throne with her husband, Albert (Big Al) Rocco, now known as Prince Albert in CANaries.
Tucker Blue - Convicted of a multitude of crimes, including, failing to report a falsified murder, three counts of failing to report a kidnapping, failing to report paying ransom for kidnappings, attempted murder, murdering unregistered guerrilla terrorists, 200,000+ counts of littering and unauthorized use of the sky without permits, suspicion of attempted international flight to avoid prosecution, multiple counts of gross deviant behavior, violation of the Mann Act (transporting a female person across international borders for the purpose of sexual intercourse), reckless driving, possession of unregistered weapons, aiding and abetting criminal flight, defacing historical monuments, falsely reporting criminal activity involving international flight crews and a multitude of defamation and liable charges among others. Plus, attempted flight across international borders (to a country without an extradition agreement with the United States - Morocco). He was sentenced to six-month confinement at the luxury Hotel du Castellet in Toulon, France where he is confined to a deluxe suite.