by K. T. Tomb
Phoe’s mouth dropped.
“Don’t even play that game with me, Mother!”
“I don’t have the time for games, Thalia.”
Phoe noticed that most of the time she talked with her mother, it was more like yelling. This time it was yelling. “No! No, no, no! I told you I was coming!”
Angelica stopped briefly to run her hand through her daughter’s hair. “I told you to try that new conditioner. What are you washing with, grease?”
“No! You said we would talk! Dammit! You’re doing it to me again!” Phoe kept her voice raised. She felt it was the only way to gain her mother’s attention.
Angelica’s dark eyes met Phoe’s stare. “There is a postcard from Eric on the coffee table. There is some gibberish written on it. You’re a smart girl. I had you trained well. Find your brother, Thalia.”
“Wait! Mom, what? You disowned him!”
“I really don’t have time to debate you, Thalia. Find your brother…”
“Mom, you said that you were going to tell me…” Phoe interrupted.
Angelica grabbed her daughter by the shoulders and peered deeply into her eyes. “I despise the fact that you are now involved in this treasure-hunting bullshit. What’s done is done. Find your brother. Bring him back. You also need to start telling me what’s going on, before I find out from the local or national news. You seriously disappoint me, Thalia. Find your brother and then I’ll talk with you.”
Angelica Phoenix pushed past her shocked daughter and walked rapidly toward the elevator.
Phoe let out a bloodcurdling scream of frustration.
* * *
Phoe looked inside the condo. It was meticulously clean. She averted her eyes from everything except the maple wood coffee table in the center of the room. She left the door open as she entered.
Her eyes scanned the table. There were coasters with pictures of the World’s Fair neatly organized on one of the corners. She saw the postcard placed so that the sides were parallel with each side of the table.
Phoe grabbed the postcard. She sighed as she plopped down on the Sunpan modern Bugatti grain white leather sofa. She knew it was expensive, but she got up on it and started jumping up and down on the sofa. With her shoes on. It only gave her brief satisfaction so she sat again.
The postmark showed it had been mailed in Nuremberg, Germany.
She ran her finger over the front of the postcard where her mother’s name was hurriedly scribbled.
Eric’s handwriting?
She wasn’t sure, because it had been so many years since she had seen his handwriting.
This was as close as she had been to her brother since he had left to find the Spear of Destiny.
She turned over the card, expecting to see some in-depth description about where exactly he was in Nuremburg.
She assumed that he was close to Nuremburg Castle where the Nazis had a hidden vault. She also knew that the vault was not the last known resting place for the Spear.
She had done her research on the Spear shortly after Eric went in search of it.
The secret vault had once contained the Spear of Destiny and the crown jewels of Austria.
Nazis again?
Germany…again.
Phoe’s frustration was now complete.
The back of the card had a simple list written on it:
“Wood varnish, Armor All, German red wine, unleavened bread, and a $19.95 seven-piece cutlery set.”
Chapter Four
Phoe was greeted at the door of the jet by an overly impatient Pam. “Welcome back, Phoe! I hope everything went really smoothly with your mother.”
Captain Sampras interrupted, “Where are we off to now?”
Phoe kept her eyes on Pam as she addressed the captain. “Nuremberg, Germany, please.”
Captain Sampras smiled as he headed back to the cockpit. “A popular place for these expeditions. Germany, it is!”
Pam escorted Phoe to her seat in front of one of the built-in computers. Phoe buckled herself in as Pam glared at her and had what now appeared to be a forced smile.
“I’ll take a nice tall glass of chocolate milk, Pam. Please.”
“Oh, sure. Sooooo…how’s your mom?” Pam asked. It was more of an interrogation.
“I sure am thirsty. You might want to get it now, before the jet starts moving,” Phoe answered evasively.
Pam’s smile disappeared as she rushed behind the curtain that led to the flight attendant station. Phoe took out the postcard from her brother and looked it over carefully. She could find nothing else written on it that might have explained the shopping list.
When she looked up, Pam was in front of her with a glass of chocolate milk in one hand. The forced smile was back on her face.
Phoe took the glass from Pam’s hand and took a sip. She smiled at the flight attendant with chocolate milk dripping from around her mouth. “Thank you, Pam. Delicious, as always.”
Pam’s expression looked disappointed as her smile faded once again. “You don’t really want to talk about it, do you?”
Phoe took another huge drink, which caused more milk to drip from her mouth as she shook her head. “I would like a napkin, though.”
* * *
The cabin lights were dimmed and Phoe was alone. Just how she liked it.
All of a sudden, there was a low buzzing sound.
Phoe tried to ignore it, but it wouldn’t go away.
She reached into her fanny pack and pulled out the phone that was a hotline to Simon. She sighed and then answered it. “Yes, Simon?”
“Uh…no.” It was Peter.
Phoe perked up. “Peter? How did you get this number?”
“Actually, Simon gave me a cell phone when I delivered Mjolnir to him. He told me that he might need my services in the future.” Peter’s voice was shaky. He wondered if he should have called.
“I don’t understand, Peter. Why would he give you this number?”
Peter’s comfort level, or lack thereof, became more apparent to Phoe. “Simon only gave me the phone. Apparently, there are contacts within the phone that are accessible by the other parties that have been given one.”
“Thank you, Peter. I almost forgot how you really like to explain things. So, why the call?”
There was a brief silence. “I was just wondering where you are, Phoe. I mean, I know it’s none of my business what you do, but I was concerned when Charlotte became rather evasive about your whereabouts.”
Phoe was slightly incensed at his stalker-like attitude. Any other time, she might have been flattered. “I don’t have to answer to you! I would really appreciate it if you wouldn’t hound me like some lovesick puppy dog! From now on, you need to treat me like a friend and not some booty call!”
“Booty call? We’ve never even…look, Phoe…I just called to see if you needed any help. I know you’re going after another artifact and I thought I could be of some use. It appears that you’re distressed over something, so I will bid you farewell for now.”
“No! Wait!” Phoe pleaded.
It was too late. Peter had disconnected.
Phoe could have called him back and apologized for taking out the frustration and hostility on him that she felt for her mother. She should have.
She had a job to do and it only involved family. She would explain it all to him when she was finished with her mission.
She thought about Eric.
Was he okay?
Was he eating?
Was he alive?
She had now come full circle. She sounded exactly like her mother.
Chapter Five
Phoe’s extensive internet search found over sixty grocery stores in Nuremberg that sold everything on the list from the postcard.
Once the jet landed, Phoe went to a storage closet and picked out a suitable coat. Since the last expedition, Simon had decided to stock cold-weather apparel in his jet. This made it easier for his employees to travel light.
She exited the jet a
nd headed for the limo that conveniently waited for her, as always. It felt like a reliable old friend and the first thing she saw whenever Pam opened the door.
The driver opened the door to the limo. Phoe grimaced at the nip in the air as she entered the car.
Once her door was closed, she pulled out the postcard and glared at it.
She heard the soft hum of the engine as the limo started to move.
Might as well learn German.
She pulled out and opened her German/English pocket dictionary. “Wo ist das Badezimmer? Where is the bathroom? Have to get the important stuff out of the way first,” Phoe said out loud.
She felt uncomfortable and isolated without backup. Peter and Jonathan had filled in the missing pieces when they had searched for the Hammer of Thor. She would normally prefer to be on her own, but something was now different.
She missed the company.
She missed the collaboration.
She missed being the only girl on the team.
She was all by herself. It made her feel like a helpless little girl again.
She missed her brother.
* * *
Her mind was clouded.
Her brother’s long absence.
Her mother’s mind games.
The fact that she didn’t give the driver a destination.
Whoa! Was she that distracted?
She had forgotten to give the driver a destination. She was sure of it.
How did he know where to go? He didn’t.
Phoe panicked as she heard the screeching of tires with every sharp turn. She pulled out the cell phone that Simon gave her and hurriedly called him.
He answered almost immediately. “Phoe. Don’t panic.”
“Too late, Simon! What the hell’s going on?”
“You have to listen to me carefully, Phoe. That is not my driver.”
“Seriously, Simon? Wow! I just figured that out! When were you going to tell me?”
“Unfortunately, I, too, was just made aware of this fact. The other bad news is that I am unable to help you as quickly as we would both want. This means that the driver will probably have you at whatever destination he is taking you to, before I can do anything.”
Phoe felt even more isolated. “So, I’m on my own?”
“I was under the impression that is exactly how you preferred it,” Simon responded.
She hung up the phone.
That was how she preferred it before she realized she was dependent on Peter and Jonathan.
She was positive that it had something to do with everything she had been through to retrieve Mjolnir.
The giant snake. The flooded chamber. The solid gold statue of Thor. The battle with Jeremy Riddick.
It was all too much to take in. It was exactly like an Indiana Jones movie.
But this was real!
She had to get her head together quickly.
When she regained her wits, she realized something.
The limo had come to a stop.
Chapter Six
Phoe held her breath. She heard the driver’s door open and close almost immediately after the limo came to a stop, which was about ten minutes ago. She thought she heard voices coming from just outside of the driver’s door.
She put the dictionary and the postcard back in her fanny pack and zipped it up.
Remember your training.
She slid to the middle of the car seat and prepared to be attacked from either side. The next sound she heard was unmistakable.
A gunshot.
Followed by more gunshots.
They didn’t sound like semi-automatic or automatic weapons. That was a relief. Gunshots were still gunshots, though.
Phoe heard the driver’s door open and close again. The limo was in motion again.
The driver must be freaking out about how quiet I’ve been through all of this, she thought.
He had to have been curious. Maybe even a little intimidated.
Phoe smiled.
* * *
The black sedan behind the limo had gained ground. The limo driver checked his rear-view mirror every few seconds to see where the sedan was behind him.
He took off the driver’s cap and threw it in the passenger side of the front seat. His thick blonde eyebrows matched his hair.
He breathed through his mouth as sweat dripped from his brow. His right arm was limp at his side. The blood from his gunshot wound dripped on the seat as he drove like a madman.
The black sedan was close behind, matching the speed of the limo. The limo driver knew he couldn’t outrun the other car, so he had to try something else.
Three Bavarian State Police cruisers entered the chase behind the black sedan. The limo driver saw his new playmates and smiled.
* * *
Instead of pulling over, the limo sped up, in spite of the addition of the state police. The tension rose for the two men in the black sedan.
Thirty-five year old C.I.A. Special Agent Andrew Selig had extensive training with car chase scenarios. He used to street-race as a teenager in his hometown of Brookline, Massachusetts.
His round, clean-shaven face tensed as he focused, while trying to keep the sedan from smashing into anything or anyone. He was sweating profusely as he breathed through his mouth, mainly due to his portly frame.
C.I.A. Special Agent Emmerich Huber was a Nuremberg native and was fluent in six languages. He was over six feet tall and muscular. He had a buzz cut and for some reason, was proud of his square jaw. He leaned out of the passenger side window with his gun drawn. He tried to get a bead on the limo. “Steady the car, Andrew! I can’t get him in my sights!”
Selig took a deep breath. “That’s just great, Emmy! I’m doing everything in my power to keep this hunk of crap not only behind the limo, but I’m also trying to prevent an accident!”
Selig saw the three state police cruisers in his rear-view mirror. “Shit! The damned locals are involved in this mess now!”
Huber pulled himself back from the window. “First of all, I am a damned local. Second, I told you not to call me Emmy. My name is Emmerich. Say it with me now…Emmerich.”
“We don’t have time for this, Emmerich! We need to get the B.S.P. out of our hair!”
Huber picked up the car radio mic. “This is Special Agent Emmerich Huber. We are in pursuit of a limousine registered to Simon Kessler. We need you to alert the Bavarian State Police and let them know that this is our jurisdiction.”
The male voice on the other end of the radio was not pleased. “Do you know how many toes you’re stepping on? The German government doesn’t even know we’re here! Well, they didn’t before this shit! Guess who has to play clean-up? It’s me, asshole! Dammit, Huber! Back off of this one!”
Huber glared at the radio. “We will not abandon this mission! It is our intel that got us this far!”
Selig smiled as Huber slammed the microphone down. “Now you’ve done it, Emmy. Well, since we’ll probably be fired or locked up anyway, we might as well finish our job.”
“That’s why I’m on this case, Selig. I am German. I’m one of them. I get to explain away any discrepancies with our procedures.”
“Discrepancies? You better get ready to explain the whole damn thing to our boss,” Selig complained.
As if on cue, the limo turned too hard around a corner and started to roll. At the speed it was traveling, it rolled several times before it crashed through the front window of a bakery.
It came to rest upside down.
Chapter Seven
The black sedan pulled up in front of the bakery. One of the state police cruisers pulled around to the back of the store, while the remaining two parked next to the sedan.
Huber was the first to exit his vehicle. He went to the limo. It was wedged into the storefront, which made it nearly impossible to get inside to see if anyone was injured.
Selig exited the sedan and intercepted the Bavarian State Police to give his partner time to investigate.
<
br /> * * *
The limo driver crawled out from the wreckage. He had fresh wounds on his face and hands.
He saw two older men in aprons slowly picking themselves up. There was debris and broken glass all over the floor.
The driver managed to stand. He pulled out his gun and aimed for the bakers. “I’m sorry, gentlemen, but I can’t have any witnesses.”
He heard the cracking of glass, as if someone were behind him.
Someone was.
A woman’s voice came from behind the driver. “You forgot about me, asshole.”
Phoe stood, battered and bruised for the most part. Her fists clenched.
She did not look pleased.
By the time the driver turned around, Phoe had kicked the gun from his hand. She punched him square in the jaw and then again in the gut. He struggled to keep his balance as she grabbed his head and kneed him in the groin.
He fell to the floor.
Phoe towered over him.
Luckily, the car accident had done enough damage to him first.
“I thank my mother for getting me trained for just these circumstances. She taught me one more thing…restraint,” Phoe proclaimed.
The driver groaned in pain as he managed to raise his head just enough to see her smirk.
Phoe gloated over her conquest. “I’ve kicked your ass just enough for you to remain immobile while the authorities wrap you up. I’m also going to find whoever hired you and show them the same respect.”
She bent down and grabbed his shirt with both hands. “Who hired you?”
“You’re so smart. You figure it out.” The driver spit on her.
Unfortunately for Phoe, he had blood in his mouth.
Phoe jumped up and felt as if she would vomit. She wiped herself off and could only muster a sickened, “Ewww.”
That punch to his jaw came back to bite her.
Even without the spitting, Phoe was proud of her tough girl talk. She hadn’t really pushed it to that level before, but she had opportunity and she took it.
