I hear another scream.
“I’ll have to start on his toes soon at this rate.” Voice says.
Gavin made me mad, but he doesn’t deserve this torture and I’m feeling sorry for him.
“You both know I cannot give up the ‘item’ – for anything.”
“So sad, but I really understand your decision.”
“Good, then you may as well let him go.”
“No, I think I’ll hold on to him for a while longer. You never know.”
“Up to you. Well, it’s been nice chatting with you, but I have to go now.”
“Okay, I’ll be sure to tell my men to keep an eye out for you – if you get my meaning.”
“Bye.” I hang up.
The town is small with twisting streets that offer plenty of hiding places if that’s what I want. But do I? Is that what my followers expect me to do? The GPS map shows winding roads ahead so speed will not be a factor to any degree – there are up to eight people after me so a showdown isn’t realistic and I have witnessed that they have no scruples in killing.
My options are to carry on and outrun them, make a u-turn and go back to the original route or… go back to Madrid airport and take a flight from there – tempting, especially as it would be totally unexpected. I kind of like that idea. I take a side street and kill the engine while I think about it more. The only drawback I can think of is running into the Policia back at the murder scene which is a distinct possibility and I don’t know if the cop radioed in my vehicle description when he stopped me. I think it’s worth the risk.
The chase group comes into view and slows down to look up and down side streets, but hurry on when they don’t see me. I back out of the driveway and wait a few minutes before venturing back onto the highway.
I am surprised not to see the crime scene buzzing with Policia and I slow down to look around. The cop is sitting up against the rear wheel of his car with blood oozing from his mouth and he is breathing shallowly. The handgun droops from numb fingers and his eyes focus on me.
“I tried to tell you…” I say.
He coughs.
I look around for help but there is no other sign of life.
I hear two shots and spin around.
He has shot out two of the Jag’s tires and has collapsed flat on the dirt.
There is no pulse. I’m screwed. As wonderful as my car is, I’m sure it only has one spare tire.
I only have one alternative – I pull the officer’s body and rest it against the Jag wheel where it will be seen by a passer by and load my luggage into the police car, which is a VW Passat. It’s pretty quick and has three quarters of a tank of gas so I will be able to reach Madrid quickly. By pushing various buttons I find the ones for siren and roof lights and will use them if the need arises, but for now I wish to be inconspicuous. The radio crackles to life and a female voice addresses what I’m guessing is this vehicle – I am reasonably fluent in the Spanish language but I can only pick out a few words of this dialect.
“Responde!” There is an urgency to the demand that presses me to pick up the microphone.
“Do you speak English?” I ask.
There is a delay and a male voice answers. “This is Sergeant Sergio Aviles – why are you using our radio?”
“The officer who drives this car has been shot and killed by someone in a Silver BMW presently heading north on Rio Del Sera Road there is a second car – a Renault with him. They are north of the town of Aronde del Duero. The officer is on the same road beside a silver Jaguar XJS nine miles after the mountain turn off. I am sorry.”
“Is that where you are?”
“No I have to get to the airport.”
“You are driving the Policia car?” He sounds very angry.
“Yes.”
“You will pull over immediately and wait for my officers to reach you.” He demands.
“Sorry, I cannot do that.”
“Why?”
“The men in those two cars are chasing me – they will kill me if they find me. I tried to warn the officer but he wouldn’t listen.”
“You will pull over!” He yells. “Now!”
I keep driving and turn the radio off. Flashing red and blue lights coming from the opposite direction warn me in plenty of time to pull behind a barn and out of sight. When I can no longer hear the sirens I resume my trip.
It was the unmarked detective car that got me a mile later. The driver slammed the brakes and did a one eighty that would make a Hollywood stunt driver proud. A dash top flashing light flickers in my rear view mirror as he begins the pursuit and he catches up quickly – oh for my XJS now. He tries to pull alongside but I swerve the width of the road to prevent it and we force oncoming drivers to veer off the road to avoid collisions, but I cannot let him perform the ‘nudge’ maneuver and spin me out. We speed onward and now I turn my sirens and roof lights on to warn others. There is no shaking this guy off my tail no matter what I try, even taking a one way street in the wrong direction.
Road signs announcing Madrid Airport appear and tell me that we only have five miles to go and from nowhere I am suddenly surrounded by four additional Policia cars with all systems operating and the noise of our cavalcade echoes off buildings and assure clear avenues ahead.
We are now in the outer limits of the airport and I take the concourse to ‘International Departures’ – I have a super slim margin to get to the building first, but that will leave little time to grab my case and disappear into the crowd. I speed up to the point of recklessness and reach the doors first – I grab my bag even before the car stops rocking and run to the door. A body blocks my way – I try to push past but I’m blocked.
Chapter 8: Under Arrest
“You’re under arrest.” The plain clothes man says.
“For what?”
“Complicity to murder, stealing a policia vehicle, evading police, need I go on?
Turn around.”
Handcuffs are locked in place and I am frog marched to the nearest car.
My luggage is handled roughly. “Please be careful – there are fragile items in there.”
I am put in a holding cell to await questioning and insist on a phone call. Voice answers.
“I am in police custody – let Gavin go. There is no reason to hold him now.”
“Ah – this is another trick?”
“You may visit me if you wish – I am in the Madrid police building. Turn on the news – I’m sure by now there are reports of my capture.”
The phone goes dead.
“Hello…” No response.
I don’t have to wait long for the interrogator to get to work; He starts with the ‘good cop’ approach. “Senora I’m sure you are scared – no?”
“No.”
“Why – you should be.”
“It’s true I borrowed a policia vehicle for a short time, but I was fleeing for my life.” I explain.
“Why did you not stop for the officer following you?”
“I did not know if he was police, or one of the men trying to kill me – his car had no markings.”
“And when the other policia cars joined the chase?”
“We were so close to the airport – I didn’t want to disrupt traffic on the highway.”
Bad cop kicks in and he screams in my face. “Why did you kill the police officer?” Garlic breath makes me recoil.
“I did not kill him – you will see that I don’t own a gun.”
“The officer had a non standard issue gun with two bullets fired.”
“He shot my tires. That’s why I had to take the policia car. One of the men in the BMW shot him - you will find that the bullet matches that gun when you catch them.”
“We did apprehend them.”
“Good then you can let me go – I have a plane to catch.”
“Not so fast Senora – even if what you say is true, there are many other charges against you. It will be for the judge to decide when to release you.”
I am left alone in the room for hours and finally the door opens.
“Senora Jones, the facts you gave us have been verified and the judge has ruled on your punishment for the other offenses. You have to pay a fine.”
“Do you take credit cards? How much?”
“One hundred thousand Euros.”
“What! That’s a hundred and twenty five thousand dollars!”
“More like a hundred and twenty six thousand.” He corrects.
“That’s outrageous – let me speak to the judge.”
“You cannot speak to the judge – he has ruled.”
“I have to go to America to arrange that amount of money. I need an attorney.”
“I will see what I can do.” He promises.
An hour or so later, I meet my ‘attorney’.
“Your fine has been paid Ms. Raphael.”
“By whom?” I ask suspiciously.
“A mutual acquaintance.”
I realize immediately who that is.
“He asks that you call him after you are released.” I am given another throw away cell phone. “He also apologizes for your ‘inconvenience’. The number is pre-programmed of course.”
The policia are kind enough to give me a ride to the airport, from where I call the number while waiting for my flight to Heathrow.
“Hello Arcadia.”
“Hello Hamilton.”
“I assume you have been freed?”
“Yes.”
“I am very sorry for the misunderstanding – things got out of hand quickly I’m afraid. My people were too zealous.”
“There’s a dead police officer who would agree with you.”
“I very much regret that.”
“You are the one who should be standing trial – not your minions.”
“I understand your bitterness, but…”
“But nothing!” I retort. “You think you’re wealth puts you above the law. One day I hope you’ll be on the receiving end – like Gavin and I hope I’m there to witness it.”
“I have instructed that he be set free after a doctor has attended to him.”
“Good.”
“Arcadia?”
“Yes.”
“I am still very much interested in purchasing the ‘item.”
“Not a chance in hell.”
I snap the phone shut and toss it in the nearest trash can.
Chapter 9: Finally Back To London
Finally I can board my plane without looking over my shoulder and relax during the flight.
The attendant come saround for drink orders.
“Scotch whisky – on the rocks.” I request.
“We are not serving alcohol at this time Miss.”
Oh no here we go again…
My parents greet me and we go directly to the London Museum to deposit the books along with the others. I almost faint with relief when the safe door closes behind us.
Back at their apartment it takes hours to relate the tale of my trips and tribulations.
“Sounds like our good old days.” My father says to mother.
“I do so miss those times.” She replies wistfully.
“Don’t think we’d have the stamina any more old girl.” He grins.
“You’re right. Just listening to Arcadia wears me out.”
‘Arcadia – what will you do about the books?”
“I have to fly to Rome and speak to Roberto.”
My father tells me that he spoke to the curator of the museum who has immense interest in purchasing some of them for display – even perhaps on a reciprocating basis with your museum he said.
“That could be a possibility – it would be a shame to separate the collection but I don’t think any one museum could raise the funds to buy them all.”
“Well, speak to Roberto about it and get back to me.”
Chapter 10: Romance in Rome
I spend a day regrouping with them and board a flight to Rome the next day where Roberto picks me up and takes me to his home. I tell him what transpired but leave out the death of the policeman – I don’t think he wants to associate the books with death.
“I have been so worried about you.” He informs. “And it all started because of my father.”
“Well it’s over with. Now you have to decide what you want to happen with the books and how much you wish to sell them for.”
“Si, I have been thinking about that. I sent the sample to you because you are well known and I think Americans can pay most money for them, but now things have changed. What you and your parents have done is magnifico and makes me humble. I put you and Gavin at risk and that was wrong. I have a good life here, I have my home, my friends and my father – I don’t think he would like anywhere else. The books belong to the people, not me. Here is my wish; I wish the books to be divided into three – one third to the museum in London, one third to your museum and the last third to the museum here in Rome – after all, da Vinci was Italian, but there is a price to pay.”
I am confused. “What is the price?” I ask.
“A kiss – one kiss from you.”
“You are crazy… A kiss – that’s really all you want?”
“Si, you are so beautiful, a man who would kiss you would have heaven in his heart forever.”
“Roberto – you flatter me too much, I am just a woman.”
I didn’t know that Italians could kiss like that… and I granted his wish with bonuses – it’s the least I could do.
As for Gavin? He is re-growing fingernails I’m told and has become somewhat of a recluse. It seems that he is embarrassed by the new shape of his nose and limp so he doesn’t welcome friends any more.
I have sympathy but he made his own bed.
The museums are beyond ecstatic that they have the most sought after collections ever recovered and have signed a contract to rotate them among each other every year. My parents have been given the honor of overseeing those exchanges and of setting up displays at the London Museum.
As for me? I am back rotating my positions at Harvard and the Metropolitan, where I spend most time – I sit and stare at the exhibit for hours and remember what it took to get them here. I have been offered all kinds of promotion and gifts, but, like Roberto, I have everything I want and need. Except red high heeled shoes of course… I can never have enough of those - and a tango partner.
As for Roberto? He is coming to New York next month, at my invitation, to bring the page that he deposited at his bank in Rome and to see how we have presented his gift to the world. He declines to be interviewed by the press and has remained an anonymous donor.
I haven’t told him that I have arranged tango sessions for us with my dance instructor.
I suspect that I will be making further payments…
***THE END***
If you enjoyed this book, don't forget to leave a review! I highly appreciate your reviews, and it only takes a minute to write & post one.
Checkout Other Great Books by Joshua Elliot James:
• THE PERFECT KILLING MACHINE, An Archaeological Mystery Thriller
Archaeology Professor Arcadia Jones returns in the latest action packed mystery novel from Joshua Elliot James.
Seven Russians managed to break into the World War Two Museum in Munich. They stole 3 highly secretive items which have been part of a secret collection of Nazi technology and memorabilia. One of them was a power source unlike anybody has ever seen, the Spear of Destiny. Together with the two other stolen devices it would be the perfect killing machine. If it would fall into the wrong hands it could wipe out entire nations at once. It is up to Arcadia and her team to track down the stolen items to save the world. Will she be able to succeed?
• THE RUBY RED EYED BEAST, An Archaeological Mystery
Archaeology Professor Arcadia Jones returns in the latest action packed mystery novella from Joshua Elliot James.
Arcadia Jones has stumbled across a mysterious tablet from Göbekli Tep. When she starts researching
the mysterious relict one of her informants get murdered by a brutal attack in front of her eyes. She discovers an ancient cult around the ruby red eyed beast who wants to take over the world. Will she manage to escape the villains and safe the world?
• THE ANCIENT GATE INTO ANOTHER WORLD, An Archaeological Mystery Thriller
Archaeology Professor Arcadia Jones returns in the latest action packed mystery novella from Joshua Elliot James, a sizzling story of love, adventure and rescuing the world from Aliens dominating the Earth.
The Antikythera mechanism which suddenly has come to live is the key that will unlock hidden secrets older than the world itself. Arcadia races against time to recover the artifact against overwhelming odds, and at great personal danger leading her to the ancient Greek island of Antikythera. There she discovers ancient unknown ruins, hidden deep within the recesses of an undiscovered cave. A mysterious figure steals the valuable artifact from her, leaving a trail of secrets behind. Arcadia discovers the deathly plot and together with her new found Love tries to stop those crazy and dangerous plans.
The Stolen Da Vinci Manuscripts Page 7
