by Verner Jones
“This is beautiful,” she said. Stipe looked at her hypnotic fix on the necklace. He reached around Toni’s neck and unfastened the clasp and fastened the necklace around Marta’s neck. Both men stood back and admired the jewel on Marta. “It definitely suits you,” said Toni, his arms folded as if he was a professional salesman trying to clinch the deal. “You look beautiful. Jewels were made for your body.” Stipe said smoothly.
Marta peeled her eyes from the necklace, her confidence and self worth boosted, and looked into Stipe’s face. She saw for the first time his chiselled features and the dimple in his chin, his lips full and pink with clearly defined lines around them, protruding from days of dark stubble that gave him a rugged appearance. She saw his slender black eyebrows that almost joined in the middle and his green eyes that were looking at her almost sparkling as much as the jewel around her neck. They held each other in their gaze for a moment. His lips curled upwards. Marta smiled back.
“Thank you Stipe. You don’t know how good you have just made me feel by saying that.” Stipe’s smile broadened.
“Wait till you see what else is in the safe, then you will really feel good.”
He went over to the safe with Toni. Marta stood and watched him go, not taking her eyes off of him trying to hold onto the magic of a moment ago. Then she remembered her ordeal back at her home and she thought no one would ever want her after being violated. The memory ripped her happy thought of Stipe away from her. Stipe called her over to the safe. Marta re-focused and joined them. She looked down at the money then unfastened the necklace and dropped it into the box it had come from.
“I’ll go and find some bags.” And she turned and left the room feeling solitary and soiled. Marta returned a few minutes later. Her mood had lifted. She had two small suitcases, one in each hand.
“These should do the job.” She tossed them over to Stipe and Toni who had started to divide the money into two even piles. They loaded the gems and cash into the suitcases and closed the lids.
Marta said, “What about those papers, they could be valuable. Stipe opened the case and put the papers in. The safe was empty apart from three spare bullet clips. “Put those in as well.” She ran out to the hall where she remembered seeing the pistol on the floor that the clips belonged to. She sidestepped the dead soldier as if it was an everyday occurrence, picked up the pistol, and rejoined her friends. Marta tossed it in the case.
“It may come in useful later,” she said. They closed the case and took them downstairs to the car.
“Where’s the jeep? “asked Stipe.
“Where we left it. Toni went off with the keys in his pocket. I had to walk up here.”
“Wait here. I’ll go and get it,” said, Toni and ran off to collect their transport. They went back inside and waited. A few minutes later the sound of the car pulling up to a halt outside the house aroused them.
“That was quick,” said Stipe. Stipe slung his rifle over his shoulder and said, “Give me the cases Marta. I’ll carry them.” Marta handed the cases to Stipe and they walked briskly out to join Toni. When they got outside, there were three Serbian soldiers disembarking from their patrol vehicle. They looked at Stipe surprised to see him coming out of the house. Stipe stopped in his tracks at a loss what to do. Marta froze. The corporal in the patrol car addressed Stipe in a friendly manner believing him to be a Serbian soldier.
“Hello comrade. We are from the twenty-third battalion. Our main unit is a few miles up the road. They spied this house and sent us to check it out as a possible temporary hospital for our wounded. Which unit are you from?” The officer was talking to him as if he was an equal, then Stipe remembered that the uniform Toni had given him was of a corporal as well. Stipe stalled looking for an answer. “ The corporal became impatient and noticed first the two bags he was carrying and then the Muslim girl behind him.
“I’m with the fifty-fourth. We came through here a few days ago.” He cringed inside at the answer, and then Stipe switched on a relaxed friendly persona, dropped the bags and walked towards the soldiers as if they were old friends. “My Colonel sent me back up here to collect some paintings he thought were valuable and to bring them back for him.” The corporal was only taking a passive interest in what Stipe was saying. All three soldiers were eying up Marta and had started to move closer. “And who is this, another treasure for your Colonel?”
“No. She is just someone I found hiding in the house when I got here. I am taking her back with me.” Well you go and load your paintings, or whatever it is you have in there, and you can come back for your Little Muslim prisoner after we have finished with her.” The three soldiers advanced towards Marta , brushing past Stipe.
“Wait you hadn’t better touch her. She belongs to the colonel.”
“Like hell she does. And you won’t be saying anything anyway will you comrade?” They were past Stipe, a few meters only from Marta. Marta stood firm looking at the lust-filled faces of the three advancing Serbs. This was going to be easy for her after the last time. She quickly reached inside her clothing and pulled out her pistol. She watched as the faces of her advancing rapists turned from one of expectation, to surprise, then fear. Without hesitation Marta squeezed the trigger and the corporal recoiled backwards. The two other soldiers stopped, startled by the quickness of the events, then they went for their weapons. Marta fired again. The biggest out of the two spun around and staggered backwards before falling flat on his face. Marta turned to the last man aimed and fired twice. Two clicks of the hammer were all she heard. She threw the gun at the soldier and shouted, “STIPE, STIPE,” as the man swung his rifle off of his back.
Stipe watched the men push past him, mocking the story he had told them. Action was needed. He took up his rifle into a firing position and was preparing to shoot the three men, when Marta to his surprise, dispatched the first two soldiers. Now she was calling to him, the shrill sound of her voice desperate for him to act. He took aim but could not pull the trigger. He was a doctor. It was what he had trained for. He was supposed to save life not take it. It was a split decision. The sound of his name being shouted a second time flashed memories of his father and mother at the side of the riverbank and he fired a shot into the back of his enemy. He crumpled to the floor and Marta ran over to Stipe. She threw her arms around him,
“Stipe they were going to …” Marta’s voice quivered as she spoke.
“I know, I know,” interrupted Stipe. “They can’t hurt you now.” One of the soldiers started groaning and calling out for help. Marta broke from Stipe and looked down at him. “They still can. If he talks to anyone, they will come hunting after us. Give me the rifle. Marta took it from Stipe before he could object.
“Wait Marta you can’t kill him in cold blood.”
“Do you expect me to have any sympathy for this rapist bastard? I don’t think so.” Marta pointed the rifle down and fired one shot. The groaning stopped instantly.
“It’s finished,” said Marta. Toni who had been watching the events at the jeep came speeding towards them screeching to a halt in a cloud of dust.
“Where the hell did they come from?”
“Some patrol nearby heading this way, only a few miles up the road,” replied Stipe, who hadn’t took his eyes off of Marta since she had dispatched the soldier. Marta picked up a bag and walked over to Stipe and stood face to face.
“We had better take the bags and go then,” she said, looking pointedly into his eyes. She thrust the bag into his hands and picked up the other one.
“You’re right. We have got to move fast before they get here,” said Stipe. He put his hand on Marta’s shoulder and turned her face to him.
“I’m sorry. You’re right. It was the only option we had, but it should have been me…” Marta put her hand on his shoulder.
“Don’t worry about it , Stipe. It’s done. Let’s move.”
They jumped into the jeep and started for the main road west where they planned to pick up the Sadranska Magistrala,
the main Adriatic highway into Europe. Marta kept low in the back of the jeep. She had the suitcases next to her. She opened the one with the Zastava pistol in and removed the gun and a fresh clip. She slipped the gun under her dress and into the waistband. Marta placed Toni’s assault rifle next to her and positioned herself so she could see the road behind her and to the sides. She was ready for anything or anyone who tried to come after them.
10
Henrik van der Meen released a sigh of pleasure and let his almost bald head fall back onto the mound of feather-filled pillows that surrounded him and let his arms splay out to his side on the crisp, cotton, sheets. He was floating. He looked up at the beauty that was sitting astride him wearing a red, revealing, Bodice and trailing ruffled, black, ringlets that swept over her shoulders. She was still moving slowly and rhythmically around his groin, dragging the last moments of pleasure from their spent bodies. Henrik's chest was covered with a veneer of perspiration and he had the look of a man who had just triumphed against all the odds to reach some unattainable goal. He looked up at his young beauty with admiration. Celines’ eyes were two dark pools that were inquisitive and welcoming, with eyelashes that were the longest he had seen on a woman. Her lips were soft and gentle, two experts in the art of arousal. And her breasts were her golden assets, flawless in their creation, firm, large and self-supporting. If Odin had been mortal, she would have been his bride.
Celine lent forward resting her breasts on his chest and kissed Henrik’s forehead. He reached up and slipped his arms around her back hoping to hold the embrace a moment longer. Celine giggled and pulled away.
“Henrik we haven’t time to play anymore. I have to leave, it’s one thirty. You know my time.” She pulled back from him and slid off of the bed and walked across the apartment to the glass sliding-doors that opened out to the fifth story balcony that overlooked the waterways of the Grachtengordel; THE place to have an apartment. Celine slid the doors open and stood in the doorway her hands held high, letting a rush of cool air skate over her body and around the floors. She walked to the edge of the balcony and looked over. The waterways were busy today. Full of tourists on pleasure boats and water taxis mingling with the freight carriers shipping goods between the various port warehouses. Celine loved Amsterdam. It was a vibrant city that could not fail to please everyone who crossed its boundaries, either with its historical heritage, or vibrant nightlife. Celine’s social contribution lay in the latter and an apartment she worked from with two other girls in the Warmoesstraat, the city’s oldest street, and the centre of the red light district. And now she had hooked a big one. Henrik van der Meen, the owner of the prestigious Ivan van der Meen diamond centre, one of the largest cutters and polishers of diamonds in Amsterdam, and her new love interest.
A blast from a horn of a water taxi and a man waving excitedly at her caught her attention. The driver was blowing kisses up to her in appreciation of the free peep show she was providing. She gave the man a Jane Russell pose then came back into the apartment amused at her frivolity.
“You shouldn’t go out there dressed like that. What if someone saw you?”
“Henrik my darling, if it displeases you I won’t do it again. How is that?” Celine started for the bathroom.
“It’s just that I don’t like the thought of any one else looking at you that’s all.”
“And no one else will look at me if that is what you want, Henrik.” Celine changed her direction and came over to Henrik.
“I can be just your girl if you want me to, Henrik. We always have good fun together. You are charming and interesting and there is no complaints in the bed department.” Henrik felt his ego boosted and despite all his other troubles, when he was with Celine she put him in touch with a part of himself that he had long thought ceased to exist. He felt like a young stud in her presence, the white foam on a tip of a wave, riding high. “You know that is what I want, but you are too beautiful. I know that when you’re not with me that you are seeing other men.”
“Henrick, in the short time that we have known each other have you ever known me to lie to you? You know I told you from the beginning that I couldn’t stand deception. It is better to be truthful than a deceiver and if the truth hurts then so be it. Now listen. I am not seeing anybody else. It is true that another man has been showing an interest in me and I am thinking that we might become lovers. He calls me and tells me that he loves me and that he wants to marry me Henrik. You know a girl has to think of her security. There are too many girls who let themselves be taken advantage of you know Henrik.”
“Yes, but Celine, you can’t believe that I am one of those. It’s just that my wife would never agree to a divorce and if she did she would ruin me.”
“I know that, Henrik and I don’t want you to divorce your wife. But if I am going to be true to you, you have got to show respect for me.” Celine straddled Henrik who was sitting on the edge of the bed and cradled his head in her hands.
“You will take care of me won’t you, Henrik. I need never look at another man if you do and it can be just us two together.” Henrik was like a man caught in a whirlwind only able to see the eye of the storm and that eye was Celine and he was at his happiest when she was spinning around him.
“Of course I will. You are the only thing that matters to me.”
“Oh Henrik, you have made me so happy. I can tell that Italian man not to bother me anymore. I don’t like Italians anyway, you can never trust them.” Celine hugged Henrik and slipped her long legs off of his lap and strolled over to the bathroom. Henrik’s attention stayed focused on Celine's curves, erotically traversing the thick Arabian carpet.
“When I’m dressed and we have finished here, we can go and celebrate. We can go to the Magna Plaza. I love those colonnaded archways and your shop has the most attractively designed façade on the whole of the floor. I’m going to let you pick me out one of those little rocks to seal our union. Wow, it’s like we're getting engaged isn’t it darling?” Henrik was happy. If Celine was happy that was all that mattered.
“I‘ll chose you the best that our display has to offer,” shouted Henrik as Celine disappeared into the bathroom.
Henrik stood up and slipped on a gown and surveyed himself in the mirror. Instead of the aging fifty-five year old with a sagging chest, and pop belly, sporting a junior version of Dalli’s moustache, he saw a slim twenty-five year old who still had biceps and a vibrant libido. He was in tune with his youth again and it was thanks to Celine.
Henrik showered and dressed then took a chair next to the open balcony doors and sat and waited. He lit a Cuban cigar, his favourite brand, and wished he had a Turkish coffee to go with it. It always helped him focus his thoughts when he had important decisions to make, or when problems in his business were becoming too troublesome to handle. He puffed for the second time on the butt and discarded the desire for the coffee and thought about the meeting that afternoon at his bank and how he was going to pacify and cajole them into giving him the extra time he needed before they foreclosed on his debts. One million dollars was all he needed to clear everything and make him buoyant again. A sum that in the past he spent on the upkeep of his homes in St Tropez and Paris and his beautiful yacht ‘The Sea Eye’. Now disastrous losses on his Hong Kong investments and the crash of the pound on black Wednesday had devastated his fortune. He was close to being bankrupt and the banks were getting itchy as they always did when they suspected they might loose a lot of money. But Henrik still had his diamond and jewellery business, the source of his original wealth. The money from which he had diversified and built a lifestyle that for years had catered for his every desire. Now everything else was gone. His yacht was up for sale as well as his Parisian designer home. The lease on the St Tropez villa had expired and he wouldn’t be renewing it. But he was confident that he could keep his family home opposite the Van Gogh museum. That would keep his wife happy and out of his way, and with a cash injection into his diamond business he would be back on top again
in a year. In the mean time he would still be able to give Celine everything she needed and she need never know about his past failings.
The door to the bathroom opened and Celine stood in the entrance wearing a black Armani, low cut dress, and a provocative look, a movie star waiting for her cue. Henrik applauded lightly and Celine glided over to him sure and self-confident.
“That was one of the best investments I have made this year,” said Henrik admiring the gown.
“I’m glad it pleases you, Henrik. Celine playfully pinched his cheek as she spoke, then walked over to the window and gazed out at the canals.
“How long before the man comes back, Henrik?” Henrik looked at his watch. “Any moment now.” As he finished speaking a knock came on the door. Henrik stood up, walked over to the bed and straightened the covers, and went into the lounge to answer the door. Celine followed a few steps behind him. Henrik opened the door and let the young gentleman in.
“Hello Mr. Van der Meen.” They shook hands. “ Sorry I took so long getting back to you. Have you had a good look around?”
“Yes, we have.”
“ Well, what do you think of the apartment. It’s a beauty isn’t it? You won’t find better views over The Channels anywhere in Amsterdam.” The young man was eying Celine as he spoke. Celine walked over to Henrik and stood square on to his side and placed her hand on his shoulder and gave the young man a defying look to ogle at her now. The young man realized his indiscretion and focused fully on Henrik, feeling slightly embarrassed.
“I think we are going to take it. Would you have the papers drawn up as soon as possible and it should be in the name of Celine Dupont. You can send them over to my office in the Magna Plaza when they are ready to be signed.” Celine hugged Henrik's shoulders and kissed his cheek, then turned him around and gave him a full kiss on the lips for good measure.