Chapter Five
Colton Banyon ended the call from Previne. She told him their mission had been a great success and fun too. She explained they were currently heading back to Warsaw. They were ready for their next customer.
He told her to go to the Banyon Arcades and return the gun to the nephew of Professor Orlich. Then make him forget. Banyon told Previne that the nephew was stationed outside the front of the building on guard duty. He should be easy to find.
After that, he told her to swing by the hotel, and pick up the ferret to translate for the mercenary at Wilk’s house. She was then to bring the ferret back to the hotel before going after the last man on her list. He said the man was not going anywhere for a while.
Her only comment was that she felt like they were on a treasure hunt in a foreign country, and laughed before hanging up the phone.
***
Banyon stood at the window and looked out. He believed his plan was coming together. The idea was to leave Poland with no one remembering anything about the Orion Weapons except Josephine Wilk and he was pretty sure she was not going to tell anyone. Suddenly, there was a rap at the suite door.
When he opened the door the four people from Dewey & Beatem paraded inside with their luggage. Banyon greeted each person and shook their hands. He wanted to hug at least two of them, but he pulled back. After all, he was their boss and didn’t want to give the wrong impression to Edgar, the ferret. He knew the other three people fairly well; they had been on several adventures together. But the ferret was new to the team and Banyon didn’t want Bart, his partner, to get his hands on any idol gossip.
“Didn’t you guys check in to the hotel yet?” Banyon asked.
“No, we couldn’t,” Heather replied in a frustrated voice.
Steve explained. “Some white-robed asshole Sheik in a turban showed up. He commandeered our suite. The front desk told us he always stayed in that suite. There aren’t any rooms left, so we don’t have any place to stay,” he said hotly.
“Well, we have two, three bedroom suites,” Banyon offered. “It may be tight, but we’ll make do. Put your gear over by the table for now. We have some work to do right now. We will figure out where each of you will stay later.”
While the others went to place their luggage by the table, Mandy left her luggage where it was on the floor. She moved close to Banyon. Before he could stop her; she reached up, grabbed him by the neck, and hugged him tightly. “Colt, I’ve missed you so much,” she purred as she rubbed her small body against his larger one.
“Mandy, stop, the others can see,” he protested and attempted to pull her arms from his neck.
“But I need your strength right now, Colt,” she cried out like a child. “I’m so sad over the shootout in Wisconsin.”
“Mandy, we’ve talked about this before. You cannot be throwing yourself at me, especially in public.”
“I’ll be good,” she promised, “I just want you to hug me for real, like we are the only two people in the room.”
“That can’t happen,” he said as strongly as he could and shook his head.
“We’ll see,” she replied while looking him straight in the eyes. She then let go and went to place her luggage with the others.
***
Banyon was slightly shaken by Mandy’s remark, but he rallied himself. He called everyone to the table for a meeting.
“Okay,” he said and clapped his hands. “Let’s get started.”
“Should we take notes?” the ferret immediately asked.
“That won’t be necessary,” Banyon replied. He was afraid notes could be presented as evidence and he didn’t want to leave any.
“But I always take notes,” Edgar, the ferret, protested.
This caused Banyon to stop. He turned to the ferret. “Before we go any further, I need to know I can trust you Edgar. This mission is highly secret. No one can know about it, including Bart. You’re working for me here, no one else. If you can’t live with that, I’ll have to send you back to Chicago right now,” Banyon spoke in his most forceful voice.
“I don’t need any notes Mr. Banyon,” the ferret answered as his hands came up close to his chest like a ferret would do. “You can trust me.”
“I will, for now,” Banyon announced. “But don’t disappoint me,” he threatened.
“So, I understand we need to save a woman from a hospital?” Steve inquired to break the tension.
“Here is everything we have on the fake hospital,” Banyon pointed to a pile of paper on the table. “I want everyone taken out of the building and moved to a real hospital. Then I want you to burn it to the ground. If you can capture the head doctor, do it. If you can grab his fraudulent files do it. Turn everything over to the police. But in the end, bring Josephine Wilk here to this suite.”
“Will we have any help?” Steve asked as he looked at the plans on the table. “We may need more manpower.”
“You can count on at least three more of us, maybe more,” Banyon stated. “Edgar, I’ll need you to do all the translating,” Banyon continued and pointed at him. “I’m sure everyone at the hospital speaks only Polish. Can you do it?”
“Absolutely,” he immediately replied. Banyon now felt he was a member of the team. He was ready to follow orders.
“I need some of you to put the plan together. Meanwhile, there are a few other things to do.”
“Like what?” Mandy asked.
“Edgar, I need you and someone else to bring the fake journal you made for me to a local man. His name and address are on this envelope.” Banyon passed him the envelope with the check for Olaf Belinski.
“I’ll take Mandy, so Steve and Heather can plan,” he quickly replied.
“Good, then come right back here. Almost immediately you will then go with the Patel sisters to the Wilk’s house to do some more translations.”
“I don’t believe I know the Patel sisters,” the ferret commented.
“They will open your eyes to a lot of things,” Banyon subtly promised.
Steve tossed Mandy the keys to their rental car. Edgar said he would navigate as they went out the door with the fake journal.
After Mandy and the ferret left, Banyon spoke to Steve and Heather. “You two take the third bedroom in this suite,” Banyon announced. He pointed the way to the bedroom,
“Thanks,” Heather said sincerely. She and Steve had become a couple, but no one else knew about them except for the people on Banyon’s team.
“We’ll send the ferret to Previne’s suite so he won’t see you together,” Banyon said with a laugh.
“Can we use the second bedroom for Josephine?” Heather asked seriously. “Depending on the drugs, she may need watching until they wear off.”
“Good idea,” Banyon responded.
“Don’t worry about Mandy,” Heather offered while telling him she had seen her outburst. “I’ll keep her inline.”
“That’s good to hear,” Banyon replied with a worried smile. He now didn’t have a place for Mandy to sleep. Heather has taken her room for Josephine Wilk.
Chapter Six
Meanwhile in a shabby hotel across town, Professor Orlich was getting antsy. He took a peek out of the sliding glass door in the hotel room. He saw Albin Wilk sunning himself while drinking a foreign beer on the small balcony. He thought the man seemed oblivious to the danger he was in. Two mercenaries wanted to kill him, Banyon had also threatened him and his partner was planning to double-cross him tomorrow morning. Wilk didn’t seem to notice, or care about any of the danger. He would have made a good captain for the Titanic; Orlich thought and chuckled to himself.
Professor Orlich had kept his head buried in the second of Jakub Banyon’s journals for the entire day. He had recently finished memorizing the chants which turned off each of the talismans and he was sure he was ready for tomorrow. He did discover one issue which might affect his long-term plan though. He had to be located within twenty feet of each weapon to turn them off. He realized this iss
ue might be problematic in stopping some of the weapons, but he would worry about that later.
He decided to take the opportunity to call his sister’s son. He had sent the boy out on a mission to follow Banyon and Loni last night. He had not checked in yet.
“Hello,” his nephew answered.
“It’s your Uncle Izaak,” Orlich proclaimed.
“How are you doing Uncle Izaak,” the young man replied happily.
“Are you having a nice day guarding the King’s treasures?” Orlich joked to break the ice with his favorite nephew.
“You know,” he exclaimed. “I get to meet a lot of great people on this job — some hot women too. In fact, I just gave directions to three very hot Indian chicks.”
“Did you follow Banyon and the Asian woman last night,” Orlich asked to get him on track.
“Who?”
“The assignment I gave you last night,” Professor Orlich reminded him.
“What are you talking about,” his confused nephew asked.
“You were supposed to follow two people, and find out what they were doing and where they went.”
The nephew didn’t answer for a few seconds, “Uncle, have you been drinking again?”
Chapter Seven
“I think we have a workable plan,” Steve yelled out to Banyon who was across the room talking to Previne.
“I’ll be right there,” he yelled back as he continued to talk to Previne. He told Previne to get back to the suite as soon as possible. Then he ended the call. He rushed over to the table. They were running out of time. It was already late afternoon.
“Let’s hear it,” He asked.
“We’ll need a policeman’s uniform for Edgar, a candy striper uniform for Mandy, and enough lab coats for everybody else,” Heather said cheerfully. Heather was very good at organizing. Steve nodded his head.
“That’s it?” Banyon questioned.
“Oh, that’s just the uniforms,” Heather further explained. “We’ll also need some weapons, three private ambulances, at least one actual nurse, some barricades, something to start the fire, and something to make it spread.”
“I’m not sure where we can get all those things in Poland,” Banyon explained as he scratched his head. “No one on the team speaks Polish except Edgar and he’s pretty busy. Are there any options?”
Everyone was quiet as they thought. “Well,” Heather said reluctantly as she looked at Steve out of the corner of her eye. “I know someone who lives here who speaks English and Polish. I can call him. Maybe he can help us collect the materials we need.”
“You have a male friend here in Warsaw?” Steve said with concern and disbelief. Heather often surprised people with information about her past. She casually threw out the information to gauge their reaction.
Heather was a very unique person. She was just thirty years old, but had more life experience than most women twice her age. She had a degree in psychology from a prestigious university. She also had added a master’s degree and had finished near the top of her class. She worked at Dewey & Beatem because she wanted to study people in unusual environments, both inside and outside the office. She was raven haired with penetrating sea-blue eyes and high Nordic cheek bones. She also had a near-perfect athletic body which had served her well in her earlier life. She was very smart.
“Yeah, I used to work with him when I was in the pornography industry. We used to call him ‘The Big Pole’,” she said without embarrassment.
Heather had worked her way through college as a porn star. The vocation got her the money she needed to complete her education. Unfortunately, she had become a very well-known pornography star. Banyon had recognized her the second he had met her. Eric had also realized who she was.
Suddenly, Steve was very upset. “The Big Pole, really?” He yelled in disbelief and slammed the table.
“Well, he is Polish,” she said matter-of-factly as she turned towards him.
“Do you think he will help?” Banyon cut to the chase.
“I’m pretty sure,” Heather replied. “He is like me. He was in the business to pay for his education. He gave up the business years ago. I believe he is a veterinarian some place in the city now.”
“I don’t think we should call him,” Steve protested for obvious reasons and shook his head.
“He could have enough lab coats,” Banyon calculated. “And would know about private ambulance companies,” Banyon continued. “He also would have a degree in medicine and could supply the nurse we need. He speaks Polish to boot. This guy could be perfect. He could fill in a lot of holes.”
“I’m just worried about one,” Steve replied sarcastically.
Heather suddenly had an irritated look on her face. She turned to Steve. “That was a long time ago,” she said. “This is business, Steve. Get over it.”
“Can you find his phone number?” Banyon inquired to break the tension.
“Sure, I have it in my phone,” Heather responded. Steve just moaned.
***
Heather’s Polish friend was named Doctor Kevin Kamienski. She dialed him on her cell phone and walked away from the table to talk to him. She was all smiles as she chatted with Doctor Kamienski.
“What am I going to do?” Steve moaned with his hands on his head. He looked at Banyon with sorrow in his eyes. “I am crazy about her, but she has so much history, and constantly keeps me off balance.”
“Stop worrying,” Banyon ordered. “Heather is a beautiful, smart woman. Women like her have a way of making men feel incompetent especially when they want something. Loni is the same way,” he reminded Steve.
“But why would she bring this guy’s name up?” Steve questioned.
“She is trying to help,” Banyon explained. “I believe she took a big risk with you to help us. You should see it the same way, and appreciate what you have with her.”
***
Heather soon cruised back into the room. She had a slight blush on her face. This didn’t help how Steve felt about the situation.
“So?” Banyon asked hopefully.
“This will work out better than we planned,” she answered cheerfully. “Kevin said he could handle all the supplies we need and will also have another doctor there to inject the patients with something to offset the drugs. He said he had heard rumors about the place, and promised to have the police show up after we take everyone away from the hospital. All we have to do is grab the head doctor and all his files. We can give them to Kevin so the government can prosecute.”
“And what does he get in return?” Steve asked suspiciously.
Heather looked at him like she wanted to punch him in the mouth. “He doesn’t want us to burn down the building. He has been looking for a new facility to expand his practice. He believes the building would soon be on the market if the government could make a case against the doctor. I told him you would buy it for him, Colt. Is that okay?” She spread her arms as if accepting a blessing.
“Heather, you’ve done real well,” Banyon complimented her. He moved to her side and patted her on her shoulder. She was delighted, but quickly lost her smile when she turned to Steve for a hug. He sat with his arms crossed.
“Oh, please grow up Steve,” she chided in disgust.
“Now we will have to change our whole plan,” he argued in a negative tone.
Banyon couldn’t help but notice his reaction. “I think you guys should take a break. Go and unpack in the bedroom,” he said as a hint.
“Good idea, Colt,” Heather said thankfully. “Come on Steve, let’s unpack your clothes and see how many drawers you can fill,” she said in obvious innuendo.
“Keep her satisfied,” Banyon mouthed to Steve as he got up.
Chapter Eight
Banyon sat on the couch as far away from the third bedroom as he could get. There were sounds coming from the room he didn’t need to hear. He went over his plan for Friday in his mind, and then addressed Wolf.
“Is there anything new?” he asked t
he spirit.
“Everything is proceeding well,” Wolf replied happily.
“How are Loni and Eric holding up?” He asked.
“Well, uh, they are playing cards right now to pass the time,” the spirit answered after a few seconds. “Otherwise, they have the talisman and the box already in the car. I would send Previne and her sisters there as soon as possible, though, before they get too bored.”
Banyon wondered about the strange answer given by Wolf. “How soon will Previne get here?”
“She is about one minute away. Mandy and Edgar are about three minutes away,” Wolf informed him.
“What about Wilk and Orlich? What are they doing?”
“They are keeping their heads down,” Wolf responded. “Although, there is something I don’t quite understand.”
“What?” Banyon asked with interest.
“This guy Wilk is either very stupid or has another plan we have not discovered yet. He seems unconcerned about his future. He shows no sign of nervousness.”
“I don’t think he is dumb,” Banyon commented. “There must be something else going on. Can you check back in his history?”
“I’ve already done that,” Wolf replied.
“How far have you gone back in his history?” Banyon quickly asked.
“I stopped when he was a used car salesman. Maybe I should look farther back,” the spirit commented.
“Can you keep looking?” Banyon asked. “And while you are at it, go back that far with his aunt, will you?”
“It will be done. Check back in a couple of hours.”
***
A little while later, the door to the suite flew open. The three Patel sisters sashayed into the suite. They were all smiles as they walked up to the couch where Banyon now stood. They looked like they had just come from the beauty salon.
“What’s that noise?” Previne quickly asked as she tilted her head to listen.
“Let’s move to the bedroom,” Banyon said and waved towards the door.
“Finally,” Previne exclaimed happily. She raised her arms in triumph. “I’ve waited for this for a long time.”
The Polish Discovery: The Society of Orion 1-3 (Colton Banyon Mystery Book 17) Page 25
