Time and Again(70)
The Greek man looked at Katarina, not sure where this was going, “You don’t want money?”
“No. I want her to answer my questions, but I'll need your help.”
“I am listening.”
Henry talked and the Greek man said nothing. The call ended with the Greek man slamming the phone down just as Henry had instructed.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Arthur and Hans had spent the entire night looking for the Falcon. All they had to go on, was the make and model of car which had been in front of them. They assumed that the people who shot the driver had left with the Falcon and Patrick. At around 5:00 a.m., they gave up and stopped to eat at a diner.
There were quite a few people getting their day started, so they spoke in hushed tones. Hans ate a slice of toast while shaking his head, “I don’t know.”
“Who were those guys?” Arthur asked while stirring his coffee.
“I couldn’t even hazard a guess. I know this, if someone has taken Patrick, then they are after ‘The Eye’. So, I think we can assume the auction won’t take place today and likely won’t happen at all.”
“What I want to know is how they found him?”
“No idea.”
“Could it have been one of the other collectors?”
“No, they are all gutless old men. This was too clean a snatch and grab; it was professional.” Hans almost sounded impressed.
“It beats me. I wonder…”
Hans looked up while eating his eggs.
“You think it might have been the guys it was taken from?”
Hans thought about this, “That may be a good guess. So we are looking for some Greeks.”
Arthur shrugged, “But does it matter?”
“It may not. Our plan is pretty well shot.”
“It seems our window of opportunity has closed. I dread the thought of going back to Andre, even if he is ‘new and improved’.”
Hans nodded, “I know how you feel, my friend. To get so close to finally being free of Dr. Schaeffer, and now, we won’t even have our cut from the Falcon.”
“Huh, hadn’t thought about that, but you’re right. The extra money was nice.”
They sat lamenting their lost lives of leisure, which had been driving them for so long. The other patrons continued to come and go, but they stayed, drinking coffee and feeling sorry for themselves. The waitress was starting to give them dirty looks, but they ignored her. Hans, not one to give up, finally had had enough.
“Let’s be logical.” Hans said leaning back and changing his tone.
“Let’s. What are you thinking?”
“If we find the Falcon, we are fine. We have lost some time, but there will be other auctions. You could work your way into the house of another collector and leave Garneau behind.”
Arthur liked the sound, “True.”
“We get back in the game, set up our original plan with Dr. Schaeffer and someone else, and make our big score.”
Hans had a way of finding clarity in a heavy fog of despair. Arthur felt better, “You are right, we have lost only time and effort. Nobody knows who the Falcon is, or that we work with her. She will continue to collect and pay us for our information and help. It will be easier than when we started, because you are already trusted by Dr. Schaeffer.”
“Speaking of which, I am expected at his place. His nerves will be on edge, not knowing when the auction is to take place. If any of Patrick’s minions shows up with word, I'll be there to get the latest. I can make some calls, looking for the Greeks.”
“That sounds like a plan. I better be off to see what the new and improved, though still disgusting, Andre has in store for me today. It will likely involve orphans and puppies, unless I miss my guess. I'll try not to kill him or myself. If you hear anything, call me, I’ll make an excuse to get away. We aren’t beat yet, my friend.”
They paid and walked out. Waiting to cross the street, Hans had an idea. It was a long shot but it was low risk and he was sure he could make Dr. Schaeffer think it was his idea. The game wasn’t over; it was just the start of the fourth quarter.
Chapter Sixty
She could now see the faintest outline of light around the blacked out windows. Katarina sat in her chair, feet up on the table, with a blanket, staring at a small pin light coming through one of the panes. She had watched it change from black to a faint glow and now a stream of orange light. Sleep had been impossible to come by, so she just thought.
She thought about her life and her quest some, but mostly she thought about Henry. She remembered how he was when they met. Always the gentleman, opening doors, paying for dinner, and letting her choose which movie. He never made a pass or gave any indication how he might feel, but on occasion, she would catch how he looked at her, usually in a reflection. She knew and played dumb, and now, these many years later, after a couple nights in his bed, wondered why.