“Piper Reed,” she said, shaking his hand.
She slipped off the rucksack she was carrying and put it down on the kitchen table. Walking nonchalantly to the window, she scanned the street from left to right.
Almost opposite was a parked Police car, two men hovered around the back end, talking. Piper watched them as they crossed the road, avoiding the traffic, they walked straight into the building beneath her. She was in no doubt that they were Police and they were looking for her.
“Tom,” she asked, casually and without turning around, “is there another way out of this building?”
Tom was filling a kettle to make a drink, she could hear the tension in his voice as he replied.
“Why, what have you seen? Is it your Husband? Is he coming?”
Piper turned around smiling, holding up both of her hands to placate him.
“No, don’t panic Tom, my husband’s not coming, I was only enquiring just in case he did.”
Tom grinned with relief, spooning coffee into a cup and throwing a Tea bag in the other. While he waited for the water to get hot, he walked over to the TV and switched it on. Distracted by the Police, Piper walked back to the table, her mind processing her various options, deep in thought, she failed to recognise the significance of Tom turning on the TV.
“If they’re going door to door,” was the thread running through her mind, “I’ll have to be ready for them, spin Tom some kind of story to keep him quiet.”
“Is that you?”
There was something in his tone that caught her full attention. Her head snapped around. Tom was pointing at the TV screen, his mouth hanging open in dis-belief.
Feeling utterly stupid, Piper realised her mistake, she’d forgotten the damn TV. She’d been trained for so many different scenario’s and this was one of them, it should have been ingrained, second nature, the first thing she should have done when she went into the room, disable the receiver, under the pretence of turning it on.
Now she had to make a choice, kill him now, or make a stab at damage limitation, realising that he could probably still help her, she chose the latter. Piper turned to look at the TV and sure enough, there she was, a grainy CCTV picture of her, standing under a street light with her rucksack on her back.
There was no point in lying any more or fabricating some story that would only insult his intelligence, she was trying to gain his confidence, not make matters worse.
“Yes, it’s me Tom, I’m sorry,” she said succinctly.
“You lied to me,” he said, petulantly, like a child, his voice was flat and trembling with temper, “You tricked me, made me look a fool, there was no husband was there, you made all that up, didn’t you?” His voice had changed again, Piper could hear the hurt in it.
“I’ve said I’m sorry Tom, I needed your help, I had to get off the street fast, so I said the first thing that came into my head.”
“They’re saying you’re a terrorist Piper,” he said, ignoring her, “is that true?”
As the words left his mouth, the reality hit him, he was trapped in a room with a desperate terrorist, probably on a suicide mission, he didn’t stand a chance. His face changed, losing all its colour, fear filled his eyes, he’d seen enough terrorist atrocities on the news to know that most of them ended in a bloodbath.
Piper sensed his mood swing and tried to steady him.
“Hold on there Tom, don’t get carried away, I am definitely not a terrorist and I’m certainly not going to hurt you.”
But he was on his feet now, clumsily backing away from her, moving in the general direction of the door, as the panic attack consumed him. His eyes were darting around the room, his hand’s shaking, as his mind raced, calculating his chances of survival.
Piper knew that she had to close this down quickly before he did something stupid, she kicked herself again, it was a distraction that she could have done without. She was, only too aware, that the two Policemen that she’d seen out of the window, were probably doing house to house and were, more than likely, well on their way around the building by now, they could be knocking on this apartment door at any moment, she had to be ready
“Where are you going Tom?” she asked, as calmly as she could.
He began to babble, sucking in air as his chest tightened.
“I’m just going downstairs, it’s my bike you see, can’t remember if I put the chain on it. I’ll come straight back.”
“Sorry Tom,” she said softly, trying to avoid sounding sinister, “I can’t let you do that, there are Police all over this building and they’re looking for me. Maybe later when they’ve all gone, but for now, come, sit down, drink your tea and try to relax.”
He walked back towards the table on shaky legs, a variety of emotions crossing his face in quick succession, he finally settled for anger.
“You made a mug out of me, just like everybody else does” he said, peevishly, jabbing at her with his finger, “I soaked it all up, just like the proverbial sponge, I believed everything you told me,” he laughed, a bitter sound, devoid of humour, “what a sucker I was, I should have realised that this was all too good to be true, it was more like fantasy than real life. This beautiful girl, suddenly appears from nowhere and actually talks to me, we have an adult conversation, have you any idea how often something like that happens to someone like me?”
Piper shook her head in answer to his question, she could see tears of self-pity filling his eyes as he looked down at her.
“Never,” he said, resentfully,” and even now, when it’s all gone sour and it’s turned out that you’re just like all the others, having a joke at my expense. I can still remember how wonderful it felt, just for that little while, suddenly realising just how good my life could have been and that even now, there might still be time for me.”
“I’ve said that I’m sorry Tom and I don’t make jokes like that, and I certainly take no pleasure in any of this. The reality is that there are a lot of Police out there and they’re all looking for me, I had to find some way of getting off the street fast. If it means anything to you at all, I’d just like to say that I’m really grateful that I found a kind and decent man like you to help me.”
“Do you mean that?” He asked, his tone lighter as he picked up on the compliment, sitting down opposite her, he pushed the coffee that he’d made for her, across the table.
“Of course I do Tom, I was lucky to meet you,” she said, realising how susceptible he was to flattery.
“Ok then Piper, if that’s your real name,” he continued, still upset, but thawing a little, “if you’re not a terrorist like they say, then what is it that you’ve done wrong? Why are they all looking for you? They don’t usually put a suspect on TV without good reason.”
“Believe me Tom, I’ve not really done anything yet, everybody has jumped to the wrong conclusions about me.”
“What do you mean, ‘not really done anything yet’?”
Piper hesitated, then took a deep sigh.
“Ok, here it is, there were a couple of Policemen earlier this morning, they were going to arrest me, so I forced them into the trunk of their own car, then I stole it,” she shrugged, “sounds a lot worse than it really was.”
Tom looked and sounded incredulous.
“How can that ‘sound’ worse that it was? Tell me Piper, why would any sane person do that?
“I couldn’t afford the time to be arrested Tom, I’m on a tight schedule.”
Tom drained the tea in his cup and then looked across at her, she could see his eyes moving around her face, he’d crossed his arms and they were resting on the table. When he finally spoke, his voice was clipped as he tried to sound serious and very matter of fact, like an actor in a TV soap.
“Just who are you Piper and what are you doing here?”
Piper looked back at him, chewing her lip, body rocking a little as she struggled with her conscience. She wanted to tell him more than she should, but she was a realist, the less he knew the better, esp
ecially if the police took him in for questioning.
“I’m sorry Tom, but I’m under orders, so I can’t tell you much, but I’ll give you a brief outline. I’m working for my government, I’m here to do a specific job, then when it’s done, I go home. Nobody is to be hurt or harmed.”
“Is this all to do with the what is filling up the news stations, the trouble we’re having with the Russians? Is there going to be a war?”
There was a sudden loud knock at the door, Tom jumped up, clumsily knocking over his chair. Piper got to her feet and picked up the chair, then, as she straightened she pulled the Glock G20 from its holster under her jacket. Tom stood looking at her, his shaking hand outstretched pointing at the gun, the look of fear was back in his eyes.
“I didn’t know you had a gun,” he said in a loud whisper, “you said no one was to get hurt.”
Piper was tip-toeing over to the side of the door, she gave him a quick smile to try and calm him. She flattened herself to the wall, then motioned Tom to open the door.
There were two plain clothed Policemen stood framed in the doorway, holding out their IDs, Tom couldn’t focus, everything was a blur, but he pretended to examine them.
“We’re just making checks in the area Sir,” said Gunter, going from door to door, asking if anyone has seen this woman?”
He held out Piper’s photograph, Tom held out his trembling hand and took it. Out of the corner of his eye he was aware that Piper was staring at him. He looked down at the photograph, counted to ten, then handed it back.
“I’ve just got in from work officer,” he muttered, then, clearing his throat, he carried on more clearly,” I’m sorry, but I’ve never seen this person before.”
“You’re sure sir?” Gunter asked, holding up the photo once more, “just take another look.”
The man’s partner was peering over Tom’s shoulder, examining the Living room. Piper’s rucksack lay on the kitchen table where she’d left it.
“Not to worry Gunter,” said Ernst, nudging his partner, “I think we’ve bothered this young man long enough. Thank you for your co-operation sir.”
Ernst turned and with Gunter following him, he walked away down the gloomy corridor. Tom closed the door and looked across at Piper, she held up one hand as a warning, mouthing the word, “Quiet.” They both stood looking at each other for a short while, then Piper slipped the pistol back in its holster under her arm, turned, moving away from the door.
• • •
Ernst walked slowly down the corridor, until he heard the door slam closed behind him. He slid his pistol out as he turned to Gunter.
“She’s there,” his voice trembled with excitement, “she’s in that apartment now.”
Gunter pulled out his own gun. “How do you know Boss? I couldn’t see her, and the man I was talking to seemed half asleep.”
“It’s her rucksack, Gunter, it was on the kitchen table, you know, the one from the CCTV picture. I could see it behind that man you were talking to.”
“Shall I call it in sir? Get some back up?”
“No, hold on a while, she’s in there, I know that for a fact, and the bitch thinks that she’s fooled us, that means she’ll be feeling relaxed and off guard. So, this is what we do, we go back in there, only this time we won’t be knocking, we’re going to kick the bloody door in, take them both by surprise. I want to make sure it’s her and get her in handcuffs before we call in the whole division. It won’t do either of our careers any harm either, the whole of Berlin’s looking for this woman, and it’s you and me that’s going to bring her in.”
The two men moved silently, making their way back to the blue door, standing quietly, breathing through their mouths, as they listened for any unusual sounds. Ernst leaned closer to the door and put his ear to the wood, now he could hear their voices, just chatting normally, no indication that they’re aware that they’ve been discovered. He turned and gave Gunter the thumbs up, both men stepped back silently and stood poised. Ernst used hand signals to count to three, then they both kicked the door as one. With a splintering crash, it burst off its hinges and disappeared into the apartment.
CHAPTER 9
As the door burst open and hurtled across the room, it took Tom by surprise, slamming into his shoulders and catching him a glancing blow across the back of his head, with a squeal of pain, he dropped to the floor. Piper sprang backwards, her hand closing around the Glock as she scanned the room. Ernst was visible, peering around the shattered door frame, she could see the pistol in his hand. Then Gunter, crouched double, burst into the room, firing wildly in Piper’s direction, trying to keep her pinned down. Through no fault of her own, she found herself vulnerable and exposed, with only the table and chairs for cover, bullets thwacked into the furniture, sending splinters flying.
Piper found herself on the horns of a moral dilemma and had to think quickly and methodically, the men attacking her were not her enemy, she had created this situation, they were simply reacting in the only way they knew how. One of the last instructions that she’d received back in her own time, was a request not to kill needlessly, these men didn’t deserve to die for doing their job properly. Both would no doubt die anyway, along with everybody else, tomorrow morning. But there was still time for them to spend their last evening, at home with their families.
Gunter fired again, the bullet just missed her, embedding itself in the wooden floor. This near miss, made her scold herself mentally and it was the catalyst that she needed to jump start her response, forcing her to stop postponing the inevitable.
“Good intentions were a waste of time,” the familiar words ran through her head, taking her back to the gym in Hong Kong, late at night, sweating and exhausted, doing endless push ups, whilst her trainer screamed the familiar mantra into her ear.
“There was no longer the luxury of choice, her mission was to safeguard the lives of millions, she could not allow a single individual to put all that at risk. It was irrational and irresponsible to needlessly waste her own life and with it, the success of the mission, so many people now depended on her survival for another chance at living, hesitation was not an option.”
She’d been taught many ways of murder and had proved herself to be superb at all of them. But, she’d never had the time or the opportunity to put theory into practice, this would be her first kill. Rolling across the floor, she pulled up on one knee and without hesitation fired her weapon. Gunter dropped to the floor with a thud, the 10mm bullet had punched a hole in his forehead, his brains were left on the wall behind him. Piper waited for the expected wave of guilt and self-loathing to overwhelm her, but wasn’t too surprised when it didn’t happen.
Ernst fell back, moving further down the Hallway, trying to escape the carnage, Gunter’s death had shocked him to the core, he suddenly felt alone and afraid. Realising how stupid he’d been, not calling for back-up in the first place, wanting to play the hero and go it alone had backfired spectacularly, costing Gunter his life. What was he going to tell the man’s wife and children? Racked with grief and guilt, he crawled into the corner of the stairway and pulled out his phone. Pistol in one hand, his phone in the other, he tried to keep an eye on the apartment and a finger on the redial button for headquarters.
Piper ran to the doorway, her pistol in both hands. Tom lay where he’d fallen, still stunned but showing some signs of movement. Keeping close to the wall, she tried to peer down the corridor, only to be rewarded with a shower of plaster as a bullet hit the wall above her head. Piper knew time was running out, she had to move quickly to put the other policeman out of action. She Looked across the hallway, the wrought iron guardrail and bannister that ran up the side of the staircase gave her an idea.
Through sheer hard work and a determination, born of her desperate years in the gutter, Piper had honed her body to a superb athletic status, sharpened to the peak of physical fitness. Combining this, with her lightening reflexes and inborn sense of balance and poise, she’d developed her ability to
that of an Olympic level gymnast. Under unusual or tricky situations this had often given her the confidence to think outside the box, then, by combining her talents, she could usually come up with a winning plan of action. This talent had always given her the edge in training and was the reason she’d won through, beating the world class team that she’d trained with.
Sliding the Glock back into its holster she began her warm-up discipline, first, she relaxed the muscles in her neck and shoulders, then, by using Yoga techniques that she’d worked on over the years, she began to lower the rate of her pounding heart. Finally, she slowed her respiration, then, by increasing the volume of air she consumed, she oxygenated her blood to its maximum level. She was ready.
Piper was poised, waiting until Ernst fired at her again, his aim was poor, the bullet went wide, but she took this as her cue and leapt forward, her movements were just a blur in the gloomy corridor. Throwing herself from the thirty-foot-high staircase, with her arms outstretched, she managed to twist in mid-air, grabbing the bannister with both hands as she fell.
Then without pause, she began to traverse hand over hand, moving quickly, towards where the policeman crouched in the corner oblivious of her approach. As she got nearer, she moved her grip from the bannister to the wrought ironwork, sliding down, so that her head was out of sight and only her hands were visible. Ernst, still unaware of her progress, kept glancing towards the apartment doorway as he tried to raise a signal on his phone.
Piper found herself opposite his hiding place, she could hear him breathing, the air rasping through his nose. The staircase began to slope upwards to the next floor so she followed it halfway, then quietly pulled herself up, over the bannister and onto the stairs. Moving silently on the balls of her feet, holding her body to the wall she closed the distance between them.
“I suggest you put that gun on the floor,” she said in a conversational tone.
His head snapped round, eyes widening as he found himself looking down the barrel of her pistol. He dropped his gun and raised his hands, Piper moved forward and kicked the gun down the stairwell, his phone soon followed. Gesturing with her gun, she got the man to his feet, then, padding him down, she felt for the handcuffs that she knew he’d be carrying.
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