Time and Again(69)
The man in the beard’s hand began to shake and the accompanying silence was the scariest thing anyone in the room had ever not heard. The sound of the hammer being lowered eased the tension ever so slightly. The man’s voice, having returned to a calm state, said something in his native tongue. A few men came forward and grabbed Patrick and took him away.
He sat back down. “Everyone, leave!”
The room was emptied and the sound of a heavy metal door closing, was followed by quiet. Katarina, with the nerves of a fighter ace, stared into the man’s eyes. “I know a man who knows where the first hiding place was and I believe he may have some ideas about where it is now.”
“And you will tell me who this man is, if I agree to your…’One Condition’…what is that condition?”
“I want to ask the ‘Eye’ one question.’
This made the man smile. She was a true believer. He leaned back in his chair and folded his hands together under his chin. “So that is your condition. Nothing about letting the two of you go?”
“I believed you when you said you were not a violent man.”
“Do you still believe that?” He said, looking at the chair where Patrick had been sitting.
“I do. You have been searching for ‘The Eye’ for many years. Once you have it, I don’t see any reason for you to kill us, as you haven’t committed a crime.”
“And what of kidnapping?”
She smiled, “Let’s just say that I have done some things, in my past, which make ‘going to the police’, a bad idea. And you know of Patrick’s line of work. I think I can speak for both of us, when I say, we won’t be pressing charges.”
This seemed to satisfy the man. “I agree. What is his name?”
“While I believe you are not a violent man, I am not willing to put him at risk. Get me a phone and I'll call him and set it all up. He should be able to find it in a day or two.”
The man stood up and nodded. He walked out of the room. She sat there alone until Patrick returned. They had bandaged up his ear and he sat back down. “I assume he liked your idea. And what is your condition?”
“It is personal.”
“It got me shot!”
“I don’t care.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
At 4:00 a.m., in the city that never sleeps, one wouldn’t notice much difference between the hour before or the one after. Henry noticed Bobby’s office light was on. This almost struck him as strange, were it not for ‘strange’ being Bobby’s normal. He knocked. From what seemed like a long ways away, tiny feet could be heard scampering towards the door.
Bobby didn’t show any surprise at seeing Henry. “Hello Henry, come to answer your phone, have you?”
“My phone?”
“Yes, it started ringing a few hours ago, and has gone off every thirty minutes since.”
“I wonder who could be calling?” He said, though he was sure he knew.
Bobby looked at his watch, “We best stop talking as it is about to ring…”
It was easy to hear in the quiet office hall, and Henry walked briskly to the door. He had to pick the lock, as he hadn’t gotten a key from Celine, yet. He grabbed the phone on Celine’s desk.
“Hey”
“Its Katarina.”
“I haven’t seen you all day. I thought you might call and make me take you to dinner or something.”
“I would love a bit of ‘or something’, but I am in trouble.”
Henry sat down in Celine’s chair and leaned back. It seemed like the misery of the last week, was behind him, and he had his mind back. He let her comment hang there for a moment and then said, “I figured as much. Hot art can burn one’s fingers.”
“I need your help finding something. It's life and death.”
“That is a little bit cliché, don’t you think?”
A man’s voice came on the phone. “Do you know where the Eye of God is hidden?”
“I like direct, but only when I know who is asking the question.”
“I am a determined man, who only wants what is rightfully his.”
“We all have wants.”
The Greek man was intrigued by the comment. “And what are your wants? Mr….”
Henry had noticed that Katarina hadn’t used his name. Every other time they had spoken on the phone she always said ‘Henry’ in a certain way. This time though, straight to the point. He decided there might be a reason. “I want answers to a few questions, that is all.”
“You may ask me anything you like about the Eye of God, if it induces you to return it to me.”
“Let’s be clear. I don’t have it, but I know where it may be found. As for my questions, it is the woman who called that has the answers.”