by Brook, L M
I’m cushioned between Marie and Frederick in the back of the luxurious Rolls while the others follow in the waiting Ranger Rover.
I find the courage to talk again remembering last time I received a fist for being outspoken. “Where are you taking me?”
“To my chateau until it’s time to leave for the bank.” She seems calm and in control “we have an hour drive so don’t get any ideas of being trouble or the cuffs will go back on. I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”
CHAPTER 13
We travel through country roads, forests and open fields not passing another car on the road. The scenery is breath taking as the sun touches the morning dew creating a sprinkling of glitter over the passing hedgerows. Eventually I see signs for Beust Valley as the road bends and dips into a tree lined road with golden autumn leaves. We stall in front of an opening as iron gates edge backwards and allow us entry onto an estate that looks vaguely familiar.
I remember a picture that Freya had shown me of her father standing beside his Mercedes on a sprawling driveway in front of their German home. This must be Freya’s home. “Did Anna and Philipp live here?”
“Yes” Marie snaps.
The cars slowly meander down the drive and pull up at the main house. The gardens surround the chateau with rich reds and golds; it’s just as Freya had described it. The car door opens and Frederick steps out beckoning me to follow. Standing on the gravel I look up to the house. What a peaceful idyllic location hidden deep in the valley, I can imagine Freya as a child running through the gardens to play hide and seek.
A jerk in my side scatters the serene dream as I’m prompted to move inside. The hallway is magnificently lined in oak panels with light flooding the stairs from a stained glass window on the landing.
“Frederick take Darcey to her room.” Her instruction is followed by further discussion in German.
We climb the staircase together and then I am led to a room at the back of the house. Frederick is carrying a small travel case which I immediately recognise as mine. Everything has been planned and organised down to the room where I’ll be imprisoned.
The room is a large traditional country house bedroom with wooden floors, white cotton sheets and views out over the grounds. Frederick throws down the case and points to a small ensuite.
“You’ve three hours to get ready. Clara will bring you some breakfast later.” He turns to leave and locks the door behind him.
Looking out of the window I can see two more men patrolling the rear of the house. There’s no way of escaping without being seen. Opening my case I can see they have evidently been to my apartment to collect my clothes, coat and boots.
They must’ve planned for last night a long time ago knowing I’d be dressed inappropriately for a visit to the bank.
I step out of my dress and retrieve my mobile phone, it’s nearly dead. I quickly tap out a message to Anthony.
“I’m at a Chateau in the Beust Valley; we’ll be leaving here in three hours for the bank in Berlin.”
Anthony immediately responds “We are within an hour to you, how many are at the Chateau?”
My fingers speedily reply “I’m not sure, I’ve seen five men, two patrolling the back of the house and Marie is downstairs with a house servant.”
More questions follow “Where are you in the house?”
“I’m locked in a bedroom to the back on the right.” I wait for his reply.
He must be discussing tactics and options with someone then more questions “Did you see the guns they’re carrying?”
“Yes all have holsters with at least two guns inside their jackets. The two men patrolling have larger guns hanging over their shoulders.” I wonder whether they’re also carrying knives.
“Did you see any security cameras when you drove in?” Anthony is drafting a plan of attack.
“No, nothing at the electric gates, not sure about the house.” There’s another lull from Anthony as I sit staring at the phone.
He continues “what do you see from your bedroom window?”
“We’re at the bottom of a valley with trees surrounding us. I can see a road at the edge of the woodland which rises up into the hills. There’s no boundary wall.” My heart is pacing at the thought that any minute someone will return to my room.
“Can you climb out of your window and down to the trees?” He wants me to try and escape.
“There’s no way of climbing down and the men are patrolling below.” I sigh in desperation.
“Sit tight, we’re near A x.”
I pull on my boots, black pencil skirt and cashmere sweater. Curling up on the bed I tuck my phone under the pillow. The house is silent and time seems to be slowly ticking by. I feel so tired as I try to keep my eyes open but slowly drift off into a light sleep.
When I wake I’m aware of someone else in the room and without moving I peer through one eye to see Frederick sitting on a chair at the end of the bed. He’s peeling an apple with a knife and cutting chunks to eat with cheese and bread. I keep my eyes shut tight and wonder where Anthony is.
Frederick starts to move around the room and then sits on the bed beside me. I can feel his hand on my leg and then glide under my shirt and upwards on the inside of my thigh. I clasp my legs tightly together rolling onto my back and sharply booting him back off the bed. Falling against the chair he sends the plate of food and knife hurtling up into the air and crashing down to the floor. Cursing in German he stands up abruptly and then launches himself towards me.
“You want to play rough Darcey?” He glares at me as I kneel upright on the bed with clenched fists.
I move slowly backwards ready to run but he’s too quick for me. He pins me down to the bed straddled above and then throws an almighty thump to the side of my face. I’m feeling dizzy as I see another fist about to rain down on me.
The door swings open as Marie enters with another, she yells in German and Frederick eases back off the bed and leaves the room looking extremely angry.
She moves around the bed staring past me as I gradually lean up on my elbows also noting the mobile phone which is now on display from beneath the pillows.
She picks it up and glares at me, “what’s your passcode?”
I mumble “4321.”
Her fingers flick through the messages on the screen. Her fury is raging ready to explode and I’m petrified for my own safety right now. “We’re leaving right now, clean up your face and get your coat!” She throws the phone across the room hitting the wall and barks another German order to her colleague. He continues to point his gun at me as she leaves the room. I can hear her yelling orders as she moves through the house with shoes running along wooden floors downstairs. What have I done! I slowly pick myself up from the bed and move towards the ensuite to wash my face. Blood is dripping from my nose and heavy red marks are evident on my cheek.
Wandering back into the bedroom I kneel down to pick up my coat which is laying in the case. The man stands behind me at the bedroom door with the gun pointed directly at me. I spot the knife tucked under the bed and slyly recover it, hiding it swiftly inside the inner pocket of my coat.
“Hurry up!” he shouts.
Inserting my arms inside the coat I stand to make my way downstairs. The cars are waiting at the front door and again I’m sandwiched in the back of the Rolls.
I cup my locket praying that Anthony will see that I’m on the move and no longer locked in a room at the chateau.
Marie leans in through the rear door of the car. “Hold her still.” My heart pounds as she reproduces the needle she had used last night. Both Frederick and his accomplice hold me down, pulling up my skirt as she plunges into my thigh.
My eyes become heavy and my body relaxed, their voices drift away as she climbs in and closes the passenger door.
Waking I feel groggy as I slowly take in my surroundings; I’m alone in a bedroom on a luxurious boat. Sitting upright handcuffs tug at my wrist while I stretch to peer through a window. The boat gen
tly rocks from side to side as I stare up at the threatening grey sky and the red brick of a gothic styled bridge with pointed archways and two decorative towers.
Patting the inside of my coat I can still feel the outline of the knife that luckily they didn’t find. There are no voices or sounds of movement on board just a distant boat tooting on the river. My face is sore where Frederick had punched me and my thigh is now throbbing from the stabbing of the needle. I panic wondering whether Anthony can still trace me. My hand searches for the locket hanging around my neck, I gasp realising it has gone. They must’ve taken it when I was unconscious.
What am I going to do? Anthony will never find me. My mind escalates into hysteria with plots of Marie murdering me and then dumping my body over the side of the boat. I have to escape somehow.
A mobile phone rings in the room next door and can I hear Marie’s voice.
“Hi” then follows a short silence. “Have you got the key and the documents?” There is shuffling as someone moves closer to the door. “Don’t you trust me Anthony?”
My heart leaps hearing his name, a key turns in the lock and Frederick stands in the open doorway. Marie is behind him with the phone to her ear.
“Calm down Anthony………..she’s here.” She holds the phone to my ear as we glare into each other’s unforgiving eyes.
I take a deep breathe to settle my nerves and straighten my thoughts. “Hello.” I watch her as she listens to our conversation.
“Darcey are you ok?” he seems very composed.
“Yes.” My mouth is dry and my words can’t flow freely. I count the clock chiming on the bridge tower. Its noon and I’m secretly ecstatic to hear the same tolls on the other end of the phone. Anthony must be close by.
“Listen, answer yes or no.” He stops and I can hear someone else talking with him “I know you are nearby, are you on the bridge?”
“No” my eyes don’t stray away from Marie’s face.
“On the river?” he continues to question.
“Yes” I’m instantly aware that Marie is getting agitated as she snatches the phone away.
“That’s enough Anthony; see you at the bank.” Marie ends the call walking back into the other room.
What do I do now? Wait for Anthony to find me? Too late, Marie is back in the room and points a gun at my head. My mind is racing; this is where they finish me off. I suppose I have served my purpose luring Anthony to Berlin with the key. Frederick unlocks the cuffs and steps back. I close my eyes expecting a bullet to pass between them. “Get up, we’re leaving. I’m warning you Darcey any games and you’re gone, understand?”
Opening my eyes I nod slowly, I breathe again as I try to stand but my legs are still weak from the drugs and cave underneath me.
“Frederick carry her to the car!” Marie impatiently storms ahead of us as he lifts me up into his arms. I scan faces of tourists as they walk along the riverside and then peer back over at the imposing bridge for any signs of Anthony or Nick. We reach the cars parked alongside the river bank and are joined by the rest of Marie’s clan. Speeding away we weave in and out of the traffic joining the fast flow towards the city.
Our driver seems edgy staring back in the rear view mirror then snaps a comment in German. Everybody turns around promptly to take a look behind. I’ve no idea what is going on as she makes another phone call. The German is incomprehensible but the tone and urgency is obvious. Frederick remains twisted in his seat watching with an air of concern.
Two cars trail either side of the Range Rover that still follows. Gun shots fire from both sides aiming at the occupants of the Jeep which suddenly drops back and retaliates with a barrage of bullets. Our car picks up pace and darts a head merging in between cars distancing us from the battle taking place.
Cars beep frantically as we speed along the fast moving, busy road, Marie shouts in German and I can’t resist but turn to see what’s going on behind us. The jeep spectacularly flips over after colliding with another car and blocks the lanes. Both cars are still in pursuit and make good progress through the traffic. Frederick and his partner hang haphazardly out of the side windows and aim shots at the chasing cars. I duck down onto the back seat expecting a tirade of bullets but no return fire is heard.
Another two jeeps pull onto the road in front of us and manoeuvre alongside. Marie signals for them to overtake and then shouts further orders. I grasp the front seat tightly as the car spins sideways, abruptly stopping and blocking the whole road. Oncoming vehicles brake hard screeching to a halt as we quickly escape from one side of our stationary car. I’m dragged along to the waiting jeeps where I’m bundled inside before we accelerate away.
Diverting onto back roads we slow down enroute to the bank. A triangular glass modern extension faces a magnificent baroque building which can be seen from a distance at the end of the straight esplanade. An expanse of concourse and waterfalls separates the entrance from the main road. As we turn into a side street facing away from the bank, I look back to search for signs of Anthony.
Sitting in silence we wait in our parked cars along the tree lined road. I’m secretly praying for this to be all over and back home once again. Frederick asks Marie a question in German and she looks back in the mirror with a gleeful smirk “When I give the signal put a bullet in her head and get rid of the body. Don’t get blood over my leather seats!”
My jaw drops as I erupt hurling myself forward. “You promised you’d let me go, you LYING BITCH!”
She turns to face me with a twisted evil smile “I didn’t promise you anything.”
I’m hysterical “Why are you doing this to me? You have what you wanted.”
“Because he deserves to suffer the way my father suffered when Anna shot his parents dead……………An eye for an eye Darcey!” She picks up her mobile phone.
“He doesn’t know you’re related, does he?” I’m disgusted at how far she was prepared to go to retrieve the key. “Anthony trusted you.”
“So what! Do you think I’m honestly interested in his feelings, marrying him and having his children?” She sniggers reading a text message looking around.
“He wants to be happy with me, why can’t you just let him have his life back?” I screech leaning further forward as Frederick’s firm hand pulls me back.
“You’ve already taken Joanna’s life, Anthony is agreeing to hand you the key. Just let us go.” I’m so close to pleading for her to leave us alone.
“Darcey he doesn’t want to be with you! Where do you think he was that night after the restaurant; when Frederick attacked you in your car? How about the night when he was so angry because you met with Daniel, yes he was with me!” Her vicious tongue cuts through me as she glares into my eyes.
I’m gob smacked, I had no idea. Has he been sleeping with her all along? Was he lying when he said he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me? I look down feeling ashamed and pathetic, how could I have been so stupid to think that he’d be in love with me? He comes from a wealthy family, is deliriously hot and can have his pick of any woman he wants.
“They’re here.” Marie picks up her briefcase. “Let’s go.” She turns to check that Frederick is ready. “Goodbye Darcey, I won’t be seeing you again.”
Without lifting my head I ignore her farewell, I’m passed caring about the vault, the money, Anthony or anything else. This is about survival and I’m not ready to die, not just yet. The car door slams and Frederick joins her as they walk back towards the concourse.
The driver and his colleague talk briefly in German and I catch the phrase cigarette as the driver leaves the car joining the others across the road outside their car. Their associate who is left inside the car to babysit me, sits staring backwards watching Marie and Frederick. I run my hand along the edge of my thigh and clasp the knife inside my coat pocket. Slowly I withdraw the blade, holding it tightly on my lap. He still stares through the tinted windows while I peer sideways watching him. I block out mentally what I am about to do,
this is my life or his. Swinging my elbow back, I use my full strength to punch the knife into his heart.
He turns gasping for air as I stare into his shocked, widened eyes. Holding a hand over his mouth I pull out the knife stabbing him again and again in the neck. Blood splats over my coat, down my arms and smothers my hands. He struggles a little trying to breathe and then freezes slumping sideways onto the back seat. I look down at his fixed eyes and still body; this was someone’s son, husband or father. What have I become?
Prioritising my thoughts I snatch the guns from his holsters and wipe the tears away from my eyes. I have to get focused before I get myself killed. Looking down at my blood stained hands I try to form a plan in my head. My decisions are heavily influenced by my anger towards Anthony for not being honest. I’m even more determined to not give him the satisfaction of knowing how much I need him right now.
Swinging around I check that the key has been left in the ignition; I could take the car and get away. If I reverse backwards to force their other car off the road back down the embankment, it will be unlikely that they’ll be able to follow. I can then drive forwards across the pedestrian concourse to reach the junction in front of the bank.
I now panic knowing they’ll try to track the car so I’ll have to dump it at the first underground station and get on a train towards the airport. Damn it! I’m going to need money. Wiping my bloodied hands down my coat I finger through the dead man’s jacket searching for his wallet. I contemplate whether my legs will be able to carry me. Found it! He has about two hundred and fifty euros. What am I thinking? How am I going to get out of the country without a passport? I need to contact Daniel; he knows people here who can help me.
The men are still chatting and smoking as they lean against their car. Climbing into the front seat I press a button to internally lock the doors and then look back in the mirror to see Anthony and Nick meeting Marie and Frederick on the concourse.
