Master

by Catherine Taylor

  “Sit on the bed and stay there.”

  Nervously, she sat down, keeping her head bowed. Gregor shone the torch under the bed and then went back out to the lounge, where she heard the couch moved, and other things tossed about.

  The inky darkness was thick about her and she clutched Greta tightly, gasping as she heard a series of loud bangs. Her thoughts were racing, trying to apply Gregor’s behaviour to some misguided sense of panic. He had saved her. Why would he be acting this way, especially after telling him how much Jahn had helped her?

  A blast echoed in the darkness, and Lena screamed, scarpering back further on the bed, feeling her way to the head rail, where she knelt, trembling.

  The torchlight alerted her of his return, before he strode back into the bedroom.

  “What is in that room next door?”

  “I don’t know,” she lied. “I’ve never seen in it.”

  “The door, the frame are all steel, covered in wood veneer. I can’t even shoot the lock out. They don’t make doors like that, unless it’s to keep people out.”

  “I don’t know why it’s like that,” she groaned. “Why don’t you just leave me here, and go. You need to get away, too. My grandfather will come after both of us.”

  Gregor smirked. “Do you think I am scared of him? He’s no more dangerous than your father. You’re right though, there is no use hanging around here. I’m going to have to bring your friend to us.”

  Lena shook her head in confusion. “I don’t understand. Where will we be?”

  His voice calmed. “I know a place, Lena, where we will be perfectly safe. I’m going to leave him a note, telling him where he can come pick you up.”

  “He’s going to be angry about his apartment.”

  “He’ll get over it. He’ll just be happy to see you.”

  Lena clutched Greta tighter. “Will there be food there?”

  “Of course.”

  The safety she had felt in Gregor was gone, and her heart refused to slow its pace. There was a tension building inside her that threatened to erupt her emotions. Her mind was thick with racing thoughts.

  “I just want Jahn, even if he did lie to me.” Her voice was small and tired. “But he probably didn’t even like me. What if he doesn’t come for me?”

  Gregor looked at her coldly. “For your sake, I hope he does.”

  Lena wasn’t sure what to make of his comment, but she was growing fearful in his company. Any chance of parting ways with him was ended when he took her hand again, leading her out of the apartment and back down the stairs.

  She kept quiet until they were back in his car, and then dared to ask, “Where is this place you are taking me?”

  “A place which belongs to a friend of mine, several friends in fact.”

  “I’d rather stay here,” she stated timidly.

  He didn’t answer and drove the car out to the road. Lena knew it would do her no good to protest further. For now, it was enough to have Greta back with her, but it was also a reminder of what she had lost. Cradling the doll in her arms, she stroked the nylon hair and let her tears fall silently.

  When she looked up again, they were in the city. For so late at night, the street was crowded with young people, gangs of loud young men, and girls dressed in skimpy skirts and low tops. The thump of rock music could be heard clearly, coming from a bar. Elaborate neon signs lit up several establishments with their names flashing in vivid colours.

  Lena had never seen this side of the city at this time of night. Even in misery, she stared out in astonishment at the lively atmosphere, but when Gregor steered down a narrow dark alley, her fear was back.

  He parked behind a row of cars and jumped out, hurrying around to her door. Lena didn’t want to get out and Gregor glared down at her.

  “Get out, now.”

  Releasing her seat belt, she climbed out slowly. Gregor slammed her door shut and grabbed her firmly by the arm, walking her to the front of the cars. The alley continued along to the next road, but he steered her into a small area, cramped with waste bins and crates, and lit up by a naked bulb above a door.

  Lena gasped and pulled back as she saw the two men standing in front of it. They were young, but bald like Gregor, their arms tattooed heavily against their black t-shirts.

  “I don’t want to go in there,” Lena cried out, trying to pull her arm away.

  Gregor turned on her, snarling. “Listen, you fucking bitch. Keep walking or I’ll fucking slap you.”

  Her body trembled, and her legs were threatening to give out.

  “Please Gregor, I’m scared. Why are we here?”

  “That cunt you shacked up with, he killed a friend of mine, and from what I’ve been told you were with him.”

  “What friend? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Pavel Novikov.”

  Lena paled, unable to speak.

  “Yeah,” he gritted his teeth. “My friends got hold of one of those young punks that hang around those empty buildings. It took a while to get the information out of him, but they got it. I didn’t want to believe it, but it seems there is a lot I didn’t know about you.

  The other two approached with angry faces. “Who is this, Gregor?”

  He smiled. “The whore who was with the man who killed Pavel.”

  Their shock was momentary, before one of them seized her by the hair and thrust his savage face within inches of hers. “You fucking slut. You’re going to fucking die, bitch. Where are their bodies? What the fuck did you do with them?”

  Gregor went to wrench her from the grip, but a fist slammed into Lena’s stomach, doubling her up, until she fell to the ground, unable to scream, her breath gurgling in her. She lay still, heaving, as a pool of urine spread out from her.

  “Don’t fucking kill her now,” Gregor yelled at the assailant, shoving him back. “The boss will want her alive. She is going to tell us where Pavel’s body is and she is going to bring that bastard out of hiding.”

  “I’m already out.”

  They turned to see the Jahn step out from the dark of the other alley, but before any of them could react, there was a pop and the man’s head snapped back, his body crashing down next to Lena,

  Gregor grabbed the other man and held him in front of him as a shield, as he pulled his own gun out. He shoved the struggling man forward, ducking down behind him as he fired off a shot, but his bullet came nowhere close to the target. There was another pop and the man groaned and went limp in Gregor’s grip. Dropping him, Gregor ran for the door, firing off several quick bursts, without particularly aiming.

  He was inside when Jahn fired, but the bullet only grazed his shoulder, before he had slammed the door.

  Jahn shoved his gun into the back of his jeans and hurried to Lena. Picking her up, he hauled her over his shoulder, pulling the gun out as he backed away. The door didn’t open, but he knew it would only be moments before more of these thugs would be pouring from the building. Turning he ran, and was relieved to see the car coming to meet him.

  Oleysa was driving, but it was Natasha who jumped out and helped him get Lena onto the back seat. Jahn got in with her and Natasha got into the front. Oleysa reversed the car at speed, only slowing to back out onto the road.

  “Just drive normally,” Jahn instructed Oleysa. “But take the side streets until we’re out.”

  Natasha turned round. “Is she alright?”

  Lena lay curled up on the seat, her eyes half open and staring, and her body trembling. Jahn gently took her hand in his.

  “It’s alright, Lena.” He spoke softly. “It’s Jahn and Natasha. We have you.”

  He leaned over to see her face, and frowned to see Greta clutched against her. Lena didn’t look at him, her eyes still staring out from a bloodied and bruised face.

  “What the hell have I done to you?” he whispered, his thumb caressing her hand. “I’ll make this right for you, I swear. Just come back to me, Lena.”

  Oleysa looked into the re
ar view mirror. “Where am I going?”

  When Jahn didn’t answer, Natasha spoke up. “My place. Keep driving and I’ll give you directions. Right now, he needs to be with her.”

  Oleysa smiled and nodded.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  Jahn crouched beside the bed and stroked her hair, as Lena breathed the quiet rhythm of her sleep. Her face looked peaceful, but the occasional shudder of her body, reminded him that she was far from well.

  She mumbled something and he leant closer to hear what she was saying. For a moment she was silent again, but a frown creased her face.

  “Damyen.” She whispered.

  The name brought an instant grimace from Jahn and he sighed. “None of this was of your doing, little one. We all used you. Tonight it ends, and I’ll make sure you never have to suffer again.”

  Getting up, he tucked the blanket over her and softly kissed her on her cheek.

  Oleysa and Natasha were seated on a couch, and looked up as he came into the lounge.

  “I got a sedative into her,” he told them. “She should sleep now for a few hours.”

  Natasha got up, looking warily at him. “What are you going to do, Jahn?”

  “I want the key to the shed.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m going to finish what I started. Makarov is going to tell me where those accounts are, and then he is going to die, but first I need to return to my apartment.”

  “Is that such a good idea?” Natasha frowned. “Like you said, she has her doll. That means they’ve already been there.”

  “And they’ll be back. Gregor would have taken an extreme interest in my other room and at the moment I have a very sick man in there.”

  “Let me come with you.”

  Jahn smiled and shook his head, looking to her and Oleysa. “No. You need to look after Lena, especially if I don’t come back. I want her safe, and you two have done more than I should have ever asked of you.”

  “You’re a hard man to resist,” Oleysa laughed softly, her voice quivering.

  Natasha went to a cupboard and returned with a key, holding it out to him. “I’ll hate you if you get killed.”

  He grinned. “I’m not planning on it.”

  “You’ve never gone up against two arseholes like Makarov and Novikov, and they will be waiting for you. At least Ivanchenko never saw you coming.”

  His face went sombre. “She knows my name. She whispered it in her sleep.”

  “Her grandfather must have filled her in.”

  Jahn nodded. “Now she knows why I wanted him, and I can only imagine what that did to her.”

  “She’ll think you betrayed her too.”

  “Tell her what happened.” His ice blue eyes stared at her deeply. “Not that she will forgive me, but just so that she knows. I never lied to her, but I never told her the whole truth. She deserves that.”

  “Don’t go back,” Natasha suddenly pleaded. “Take Lena and go away. You don’t have to do this.”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Nodding a smile to Oleysa, he turned and strode out the door. Natasha collapsed back onto the couch, her face taut with distress.

  “He’ll come back,” Oleysa assured her.

  “I’ve never doubted it.” Natasha sighed. “This time, I’m not so sure.”

  * * * *

  The camping light illuminated the keyboard as Dylan shifted it closer with a trembling hand. He thought of the code again, just to reassure himself that he still remembered it. Collapsing back on the mattress, he breathed heavily, exhausted by his effort.

  The room had been peaceful for most of the time, the only noise being the hum of the generator in the next room keeping the computer alive. The noise beyond the door was still muffled, but he knew the activity was increasing. He could hear the angry voices, and couldn’t help wonder at what trouble Jahn had got himself into.

  Slowly he lifted the photo lying on his stomach. He’d never had any attraction to girls, but Jahn was right. There was something different about her, the innocence in her face, in the shiny, dark eyes, and the gentle curves of her naked body. Her bright red bottom seemed to glow.”

  “Better than a sunset,” he whispered, looking towards the open window. It was still dark, but dawn could not be far away.

  He startled to see the black shape fill the window, but was too weak to roll back to the keyboard with any speed. He watched passively as the window was raised and the black mass came through.

  His body pulsed with silent laughter as he looked at Jahn. “Are you trying to finish me off with a heart attack?”

  Jahn grinned. “I would have used the door, but it’s a little crowded at the moment.”

  “So I’ve heard. How long before they get in?”

  “Maybe ten minutes. They’ve got some tools now.”

  “Seems I don’t pick the moment I die after all,” Dylan sighed.

  “I’m sorry, my friend.” Jahn grasped his hand. “I have to set the code now. I won’t get all of them, but it’ll put a dent in their numbers.”

  “That still gives them ten minutes with me, unless you want to give me a helping hand.”

  “I can’t,” Jahn shook his head. “I can’t do that to you.”

  Tears rolled down Dylan’s face, and he looked at the photo again. “She’s beautiful. Is all this for her?”

  Jahn nodded.

  “She’s worth it.” He looked back to Jahn. “What you’ve done for me, is more than enough, more than I deserve, but there is one more thing I want to experience. It’s a big ask.”

  “Tell me,” Jahn whispered.

  “I want to feel, one more time, what it is like to have a man’s arms around me, just holding me.”

  Jahn smiled and slid his bag from his back. Reaching over, he pushed four numbers on the keyboard and shifted closer to Dylan. Very carefully, he lifted the thin body and found a dry spot at the top of the mattress. He cradled Dylan in his arms.as he sat down.

  Tucking his head under Jahn’s chin, Dylan smiled, his fingers hooking into Jahn’s jumper. “Now I’m in heaven.”

  The whining noise of a grinder disturbed the peace. Dylan sighed. “Just go when you need to.”

  “I’m fine,” Jahn replied calmly. “That’s high alloy steel. It will take some time.”

  He picked the photo up so they could both look at it. “She’s something, isn’t she?”

  “You take a good photo. You capture the mood, the feelings and the emotion. You’ll make a great photographer. She almost makes me wish I was straight.”

  “She would kill me if she knew I was showing you this.”

  Dylan huffed a laugh. “Just tell her how happy she made a dying man.”

  His face suddenly contorted, and he let out a long, agonised groan, ending in quiet sobs. “Go. I’m nearly done.”

  Jahn swallowed hard, his hand caressing the bony arm. “If you really want it, I can make it quick.”

  “You’ve done enough,” Dylan smiled. “Twenty minutes, you reckon? I can do that.”

  “They’ll be in before you’re gone.”

  “And they’ll smell the stench in here, and see my withered body and they will be afraid, like all of them have been, all except you. They won’t touch me.”

  “Won’t stop them putting a bullet in you.”

  “A bullet, or blown sky high. Either is fine with me. Looks like I won’t be on my own after all. Just leave her with me.”

  With the photo back in his trembling hand, Dylan slid his head back to gaze up at the sorrowful, frowning face. The noise at the door screeched louder.

  “There are no regrets,” he whispered. “I was true to myself, no matter what the price. You’re a beautiful man, in more ways than one, but now you have to go.”

  Jahn nodded, placed a kiss on Dylan’s forehead and slowly lifted him back to the mattress. He pulled a sheet over him, and took a facecloth and wiped spittle and mucous from the gaunt face. Dylan weakly grabbed his hand.

 
; “Thank you,” he sobbed.

  Jahn grinned sadly. “Anytime. I’ll try to be good to your name.”

  He returned the bag to his back and moved off. “Goodbye, my friend.”

  At the window, Jahn looked down and saw movement in the darkness below and knew that Novikov’s men were patrolling the perimeter of the building. Straddling the sill, he reached up to take hold of the second rope he had looped from the rooftop, and yanked it quietly. He caught it as it snaked down and let it out slowly. It reached to the third floor and he waited to see if it had incited any excitement below.

  When nothing happened, he breathed a little easier, and took one last glance at Dylan.

  “For her,” Dylan grinned back at him.

  Jahn nodded and took a firm grip of the rope, swung his leg over, and dangled until it was positioned tightly between his boots. Slowly he worked his way down to where the rope ended at the third floor window, relieved to find it open as he had left it. Climbing silently inside, he hurried out to the front door of the empty apartment, listening intently, and then looked at the illuminated time on his watch.

  Opening the door, he peered out and, seeing no movement in the darkness, quietly headed to the stairwell, looking up and down between the rails. The noise of the grinder echoed through the building above him. Down below he could hear voices. He shifted his handgun from the back of his pants to the front, and pulled out his knife.

  Keeping his back to the wall, he edged down the stairs slowly. At the second floor, he went to one of the apartments and slipped inside. His worry was confirmed as he saw the number of bald heads still moving about below. Escape was becoming a serious challenge.

  There were no windows he could drop from without landing in one of their laps. Going back out to the landing he was drawn to the clattering echo of heavy boots on the stairs. Looking up through the stairwell, he could see men coming down.

  “Shit.” Jahn breathed deeply.

  Moving quickly to the last flight of stairs, he peered down at the entrance. He could hear the voices of men, right outside the door. Trapped, and about to be discovered any moment, Jahn made his decision and grinned.