Time and Again(75)

“Yes, the Falcon. She won’t be happy, us pulling the double cross, cutting her out, selling it to Dr. Schaeffer.”

“She has contacts all over the world, some pretty dangerous people, too. I couldn’t even guess how much money she has squirreled away in Swiss accounts. She will come after us. It will hardly be a life of leisure, if we have to look over our shoulders constantly.”

Hans finishes his steak, while considering Arthur’s last point. “We had planned on killing her originally, so I guess we take care of her, before we leave town. After we get the ‘Eye’, we head back to Henry’s office. They should all be there.”

“Yes, but we can’t kill them all. There will already be plenty of Greek bodies lying around; add an office full to the equation and it would be too much. Also won’t it look suspicious, us being left off by the professor, then showing up again?”

“Great points, our plan seems to be flawed. Or more precisely, my plan is flawed. Your ideas have been right on the mark.”

“How about we grab the ‘Eye’, and then tomorrow, we present it to the Falcon.”

Hans is intrigued. “Go on…”

“She will be ecstatic and pay us well. Unlike the paintings and sculptures, she won’t be able to move it alone. The Falcon will need at least one of us to help her. We finally get taken to her stash.”

“Oh you are brilliant.”

“Thank you. I’m sure you have figured out the rest…”

“We wait to kill her and get our bonuses, the ‘Eye’, and her sizable collection.”

“Yes, but the best part, we leave her body in her secret stash, which will keep anyone from finding it for a long time. Then we sell the ‘Eye’ to Dr. Schaeffer, and leave town as planned.”

“Okay, we need to round up our helpers.”

With that they paid their bill and left.





Chapter Sixty-Five



Henry drove, professor Brookert sat in the passenger seat and Arthur and Hans were in the back. A black sedan and truck followed behind. Henry took W 14th street across town. The meat packing district was mostly quiet, save for a few drunks. When they pulled up to the building, Henry stopped the car next to a phone booth. He handed the keys to the professor and got out.

Two men got out of the sedan; the driver remained, as did one man in the back. Henry stopped and talked briefly with the large older man then pointed to the building across the street. He got in the back and the car drove away. The truck pulled around to the side of the building, while the two men went and stood by the phone booth. Professor Brookert slid over and got in the driver’s seat. Nobody had much to say, so they just waited.

The sedan drove away and ten minutes later stopped. Henry was told which building and got out. Two men followed Henry into the building.

A few minutes later they were standing outside a heavy metal door. It looked like a room where kidnappers might hang out. A bunch of chairs, a table covered in debris from a day of prisoner watching, a deck of cards, and a radio, and some mostly empty shelving, made up the décor. One of the men opened the heavy door, and handed Henry the phone with the long cord.

He walked around the chairs and into the circle of light. Katarina looked a bit rough, but as soon as she saw Henry, leapt to her feet and threw her arms around him. Henry holding the phone in one hand, gave her a light hug, and then stepped back.

He whispered, “After I make this call, we won’t have much time.” Henry took out his notebook, flipped to the last page, and dialed the number. When the man in the phone booth answered, “I am here.”

Katarina sat on the edge of the table, her hands clasped together between her knees. She looked tired and scared. “What now?”

“You listen.” Henry paused, and then continued when she didn’t say anything, “In five minutes I have to call him back. I have given him the building, but he doesn’t know where the ‘Eye’ is hidden. We made a deal. I get 5 minutes with you, and then call him back, with my decision.”

“What decision?”

“He is willing to trade the ‘Eye for you or $250,000, and it is up to me. If you aren’t straight with me, I am taking the money.”

Katarina sat up straight, “Henry?! What do you mean?” Her voice sounding hurt.

“Listen Kat, you played me for the fool. I let you, because…well…I just couldn’t help myself. It seemed real, or maybe I just wanted it to be.”

“Henry, how can you say that? It was real…it is real.” She reached for his hand.

“I need truth from you now, in these few minutes, or I am walking out of here. When they find out I was bluffing, they will take it out on you.”