Sally smiled at Helen and asked, “What do you do, Helen?”
“I own Lake Union Yacht Rentals. It’s based out of Aurora Marina,” Helen responded without making eye contact.
“Oh, yeah? My yacht is docked at that very same marina. It’s the one between Aurora Bridge and Gas Works Park, right?” Sally said enthusiastically.
Helen looked at Sally with interest. “Funny, I’ve never seen you there.”
“To be honest, I hate sailing. I get so seasick. My husband used to go sailing every week. He’s been dead five years, but I can’t bring myself to part with his yacht. And Carl does enjoy sailing when he’s in Seattle. You may know it – If the Shoe Fits? It’s the name of his chain of footwear stores.”
Helen looked up to Tom. “I don’t recall, but then again, I’m not at the marina on a daily basis. That’s Tom’s job.”
Lana followed Helen’s eyes up to her husband. Tom had gone as white as a sheet. “Is If the Shoe Fits your yacht?” he asked, his voice a whisper.
Sally frowned. “Yes, why?”
“It’s a beauty,” Tom said, though his tone was anything but enchanted. He sounded distraught, or perhaps even scared. “Say, where is your fiancé?”
“Here’s Carl,” Lana said as her fellow tour guide rejoined the group. “Okay, gang, why don’t we head out.”
Lana held the door open for her guests. “Sara, let me help you. It is rather icy out.” She held out her arm and let Sara grab hold, then gently propelled them back out into the blustery winter’s day.
10 The Labyrinth
Carl led them through the castle’s courtyards towards a broad stone staircase descending to the back of the palace. The stairs ended at a quiet street running alongside the massive foundation upon which the palace had been built. It must be five stories tall, Lana thought, as she looked up at the solid stone wall in wonder.
On the other side of the street, a building painted in bright yellow caught Lana’s eye. Above the entrance in flashy gold letters was “House of Houdini.” Lana laughed at the irony. Her ex-husband had dreamed of visiting this temple dedicated to his favorite magician for years. And now, here she was, only feet away, with absolutely no intention of stepping inside. Being surrounded by magic right now might just break her spirit.
“Enter only if you dare!” Carl said with a chuckle when they reached the entrance to the labyrinth. “Panoptikum” was etched in stone above the door. A sign hanging out into the street read “Labirintus” and was decorated with Hungarian flags. Visible just inside was a poster advertising Count Dracula’s tomb.
Lana skipped to the head of the long line and gave her name, and her group was ushered inside. She could see why travelers preferred having Dotty prearrange so many aspects of these tours, and she herself was grateful that their local contacts were so well organized.
As soon as they entered, mood lighting and mist created an eerie fog slowly floating through the corridors. Most tourists were clustered near the entrance. Lana led her group further into the main tunnel, pointing out the signs that showed them where they were in the circular maze of passageways. “From what I understand, this main tunnel narrows and, at one point, there is a section with no lighting. That is intentional, so do be sure to have your phone ready.”
“Why? Are we supposed to call for help when we get that far?” Sara asked.
“No, you can use its screen to light up your way. I doubt they would appreciate it if we used lighters, and I didn’t bring a flashlight.” Lana smiled, trying to put her guests at ease. She was so thankful that Dotty’s travel notes included details such as “phones as flashlights.”
“Further in, there are rooms with waxen figures dressed in opera costumes as well as a tribute to Count Dracula. Please don’t freak out when you come across them.”
“Did Dracula live down here?” Frieda asked, taking in the earthen walls and ceiling with wide eyes.
“From what I understand, that is an urban legend. But I bet there will be more information about his connection to the labyrinth farther in. If there are no other questions, why don’t we meet by the entrance in forty minutes? That should give everyone enough time to read the information panels and explore the tunnels.”
Nods of agreement all around as the Fabulous Five also took the precaution of setting stopwatches and alarms on their phones. Lana did the same, then waited to see what her group would do – split up or stay together.
Carl was the first to make his move. “I’m going to see how far this tunnel leads. See you later,” he said, without waiting for anyone to answer.
“Sounds like a good idea,” Tom said, and began following him. Carl glanced back in surprise, though Lana sensed irritation as well.
Seconds later, Jess also set out after Carl, but Frieda squeezed in front of her and slowed the younger woman down. “So, Jess, is it? What do you do back in Seattle?”
Jess stopped in her tracks and answered, apparently too surprised to be rude. “Me? Oh, I’m a waitress at Lake Union Café, next to the Aurora Marina.”
“That sounds classy. Do you get to go sailing often?”
Jess looked towards Carl’s retreating figure and smiled. “Sometimes.”
“What’s it like being a waitress? Do most people tip well?” Nicole asked, also steering her body in front of Jess, effectively hindering the girl’s passage.
They are saving Sally’s honor, Lana realized, as Julia moved in to block the younger woman on the left.
Lana figured they had the Jess situation under control. But she was still curious about Tom and what his connection to Carl could be. Every time Lana looked at Tom, he seemed to be watching Carl like a hawk. And Dotty did say he had been looking for Carl when he came into Wanderlust Tours. But why? Lana couldn’t figure out how they would know each other.
Curiosity drove her down the darkened corridor, in pursuit of Carl and Tom. The poorly lit tunnel twisted left, then right, and back again. The ceiling was uneven and rocky; Lana was glad she wasn’t taller. The sides seemed to narrow in sections, then widen for a few feet, before narrowing again.
Lana wasn’t too keen on cramped, dark places. The only consolation was that, in comparison to the chilly winter weather outside, it was toasty warm inside. Electric torches lit the way, throwing shadows up on the walls. Information panels explaining various aspects of Budapest’s history were placed throughout the maze of corridors.
Soon she came across the much-hyped exhibition dedicated to Dracula. It was a wooden coffin marked off by velvet ropes with the word “Dracula” painted on it. A small statue of a vampire dog rested on top. The thick fog combined with blue and red lights made it all rather cheesy, not as spooky as Lana imagined the exhibition makers hoped it would be.
Lana pressed on, passing a few other visitors heading back towards the entrance. The farther she went, the fewer people she came across.
She continued following the arrows pointing her forward, deep into the labyrinth. A few minutes later, Lana heard muffled voices echoing off the passageway. The longer she listened, the more it sounded like two men fighting. She moved slowly towards the raised voices until she could see Carl’s backside.
“What do you mean, the work isn’t scheduled? I’ve already given you the down payment. They should have started on the repairs by now.”
“The owner’s really ill and hasn’t been in the office for weeks. I’m not sure when they’ll be able to begin.”
“If they aren’t going to do the work, then I need the money back.”
“Is that why you followed me all the way to Budapest?”
“Yes! You’ve been avoiding me for weeks, and I need to find a solution to this mess before January 15. After that, I’m sunk. If you return the money I gave you, I can at least salvage some of the fleet before we go belly up.”
“About that…”
“What’s your excuse this time?”
“I’ve been down on my luck for quite some time…”
“What
are you saying?”
Carl laughed. “My poker’s been off for months.”
“I could kill you!”
Lana felt a surge of adrenaline. Was Carl in physical danger? Should she try to save him? She took one step forward, then stopped when she heard Carl chortle with laughter.
“Go ahead, kill me. Then you’ll never get your cash back. But heck, if you spot me another five grand, I can try to jump-start my lucky streak tonight.”
“Are you serious? How gullible do you think I am?”
Carl cackled, “Pretty damn gullible.”
“How dare you –”
When Lana heard a scuffle ensuing, she rounded the corner while humming loudly. Carl was on his knees, and Tom’s fist was frozen in midair, poised right over Carl’s left eye.
“Oh, there you are,” she said, pretending not to notice their brawl. “It’s time to head back to the café.”
The men glared at each other, then Tom released his grip on Carl’s shirt and pushed past Lana.
“Everything okay, Carl?”
Carl took a deep breath and rose slowly, brushing his knees off before responding, “Yeah, everything’s fine.” He checked his watch. “You’re right. We should round up the group and head back to the restaurant.”
11 Christmas Markets and Zither Players
Nine of the eleven members of Lana’s group were sipping mulled wine in the lobby’s lounge, patiently waiting for their evening to begin. They had a busy night planned: first a Christmas market, then a traditional Hungarian meal and folk music.
Sally sat between Nicole and Rebecca, chatting easily with the ladies about the morning’s trip. Carl stood behind her chair, his hands on her shoulders. Jess sat alone a few tables away, looking a bit forlorn as she stared out at the snowy streets.
Helen and Tom sat at the back of the lounge. They were already on their second glass of wine. Helen was making a show of having trouble holding her glass, thanks to the oversized bandage on her finger. Sally had dropped a knitting needle at the café while waiting for the group to return from the labyrinth. Helen, shockingly, had been gracious enough to pick it up. Unfortunately for her, the travel needles were quite sharp. It was only a tiny prick, but it must have been deep because it bled enough to require a bandage.
“I’m going to check on the Hendersons,” Lana said. She headed to the elevator and pushed the UP button. When the doors opened, the Hendersons were inside.
“Oh, there you are!” she exclaimed.
“I hope we haven’t kept you waiting long. It took me a while to find my mittens. Lord knows it’s too cold outside to go without them,” Mrs. Henderson said.
Lana patted her shoulder in a reassuring way as she screamed into the woman’s right ear, “It is not a problem, Mrs. Henderson. You are right on time.” The woman smiled brightly.
“Are you two going to be alright tonight, Mr. Henderson? It has stopped snowing, but the sidewalks will be icy. I would be happy to take your arm, if that would help?” Lana realized her arm was already called for, but given the circumstances, she hoped Sara wouldn’t mind leaning on Frieda during their walk through the market.
“That’s kind of you, but we lean on each other.” Mr. Henderson took his wife’s arm and gently squeezed. She leaned over and pecked him on the cheek, then tittered.
Lana wanted to cry. This was how she had imagined herself and Ron in fifty years, growing old together. Instead of weeping, she smiled as radiantly as she could, though her eyes weren’t in on it.
After they returned to the lounge, Lana announced, “Okay, gang, are you ready to visit one of Budapest’s world-famous holiday markets? Be sure to button up. It’s much colder now than it was on our day trip, but the lights should make up for it. Afterwards, we’ll be able to warm up at the restaurant.”
She ushered her group into the waiting bus. The driver had the heater on full blast, but Lana couldn’t stop shivering. Otherwise, their ride through downtown Budapest was pleasant. The plethora of lights and holiday decorations brightened up the streets. Lana could imagine the city would be quite dreary during the winter otherwise.
They soon arrived at Vorosmarty Sqaure, their first stop in the heart of Budapest. It was the oldest and, many claimed, the most beautiful Christmas market in the city. Lana had never seen one before so she couldn’t judge for herself. Regardless, it was a delight for the senses – full of color, festive lights, music, and enticing aromas. A choir of young men sung traditional songs. Their cheery melody put a spring in Lana’s step as she gazed around in wonder. The smells of roasting nuts and sausages competed with the cinnamon and caramel wafting through the air. Strings of colorful lights were draped around the tree trunks and above the pathways winding through the many market stalls.
The chalet-like stands were filled with a mix of handicrafts, food, and mulled wine. Their wide, overhanging roofs were decorated with evergreen boughs, more lights, and ornaments. They reminded her of Leavenworth, a Bavarian-inspired village close to Seattle that Dotty loved to visit. Picnic benches were placed sporadically, giving patrons a chance to rest and eat. There was no shortage of food. It seemed like everywhere Lana looked, there were sausages, grilled vegetables, dumplings, candies, edible Christmas ornaments, pastries, and cakes for sale. She didn’t know where to begin; everything looked delicious.
Lana chose a kurtoskalacs, or chimney cake, a cylindrical-shaped pastry covered in cinnamon, and nibbled at the sumptuous dessert as she trailed her guests through the busy market. Helen and Tom seemed to walk through it all without seeing, while the Hendersons took more delight in the music than shopping. Jess ordered a drink and sat next to an open fire. Sally and Carl walked arm in arm, Carl apparently content to let his fiancée lead him around.
The Fabulous Five seemed to buy something from every handicraft merchant they passed. Lana saw Sara point to a large wooden structure that resembled a three-tiered tray used for high teas. When Lana moved in closer, she realized it was a hand-carved nativity scene, spread across three circular layers of wood. The heat from candles placed on the edges of each tier powered a small rotor built into the top, which slowly turned the small figures around in a circle. Lana was as captivated as Sara, though she didn’t know how the heck she would get it home. The thing must have been a foot tall.
Lana’s nose drew her next door to a man serving mugs of mulled wine. He scooped the sweet drink out of an enormous ceramic pot resting on a wood-burning stove. The warm steam evaporated quickly in the icy air, and the hot liquid felt wonderful on her hands, even through her gloves.
Too soon, Carl broke free from Sally’s grip and came over to her. “It’s time to round up the group and return to the bus.”
“Okay, I’ll let everyone know.”
“Great, I’ll ask the bus driver to turn on the heater,” Carl said.
“See you soon,” Lana responded. Carl was already walking away, and Jess was right on his tail. Lana frowned and looked around for Sally, hoping she hadn’t seen Jess follow him. Luckily, Sally was deep in conversation with the Fabulous Five about which Christmas ornaments they should buy next.
Lana’s curiosity got the better of her. She quickly ran after Carl and Jess, eager to see how he responded to the younger woman’s advances. For Sally’s sake, she hoped he rejected them flat out.
As Lana pushed through the crowds in pursuit, she saw Jess catching up to Carl. She grabbed his arm just as Lana closed in on them. Lana ducked into a stall selling advent wreathes and pretended to shop.
“Carl, why are you ignoring me?” Lana could hear Jess saying. “You can’t seriously want to marry Sally. Why tie yourself to that old biddy when you can be with me? After everything you told me during our last sailing trip, I know I’m the one you love!”
Lana peeked around the corner and saw Jess was kissing him passionately on the lips.
Carl returned the kiss, then leaned his forehead against hers. “It’s complicated, Jess. I’ve got no choice but to marry her.”
“You always have a choice. Who do you really want to spend the rest of your life with?” Jess moved in to kiss him again, but Carl pulled away and grumbled something Lana couldn’t hear.
“When you come to your senses, you know where to find me,” Jess said, then sauntered back towards the group, shaking her hips as she went. Carl watched her walk away, then slunk off towards the bus.
Lana stepped further into the market stall so that her body was partially camouflaged by Christmas decorations. She breathed a sigh of relief after Jess passed her by without seeming to notice her.
Lana stared unseeing at the bright colors and delightful designs, her thoughts turning dark. How dare Carl cheat on Sally, and so blatantly? Her first instinct was to tell Sally everything. Yet when she walked back to the group and saw how Sally was laughing along with the Fabulous Five, oblivious to her fiancé’s deception, Lana stopped in her tracks. She couldn’t be the one to break Sally’s heart.
Truth be told, if one of her friends had warned her about Ron and his new assistant, Lana doubted she would have believed them. She had been too much in love with Ron to accept that he would be capable of deceiving her in that way. Stay out of it, Sally is not your friend, Lana told herself. If it became too much of an emotional burden, she could always talk to Dotty about it. She and Sally were good friends, and Dotty had a way of making even the worst news sound like a blessing.
Right now, her focus needed to be on getting her guests to their next stop. Lana quickly found Tom, Helen, and the Hendersons and led them back to the bus, before returning for the rest. The Fabulous Five and Sally were just where she’d left them, at the Christmas ornament stand. The Hungarians were famous for their intricately decorated cookies, meant to be hung on the tree and eaten on Christmas Day. “Okay, ladies. Are we ready to go?”
“Just about, I have to pay for this second bag,” Nicole said.
“They sure are delicious,” Frieda mumbled, her mouth full of cookie.
“I thought you were buying those for your nieces.”
Death on the Danube Page 7