Naughty in Norway

by Edwards, Christine

  In shock and unable to answer, I bury my face in her blonde hair and shake my head no. In a shaky cry I plead with her, murmuring against her silky mane, “Get me out of here now, oh God, please Lisetta!”

  ***

  Lisetta takes off down the long driveway racing like a banshee. The heater is blasting, yet I can’t stop shuddering. The shaking is so severe that my teeth are clattering against each other.

  I must be in shock.

  After we gain a little distance, I start to slip out of my catatonic state and reality sets in. “Lisetta, we need to go to the police or the U.S. Embassy. I’m a witness to a shooting.”

  Taking her right hand off the wheel she strokes my cheek. “Shh, it’s all right. Mikkel just texted me. He told me to hold off on taking you to the station until tomorrow morning. Everything will be okay, and you’ll have plenty of time to give them a full statement. Right now we need to get you back to the apartment and pump you full of hot liquids. You’re still in shock. Oh, Vail, I’m so sorry that happened to you. And poor Ragnar, dear God! I hope he’ll be all right.”

  As do I.

  Chapter Two

  ***

  Scandinavian Studies

  I slink out of bed the next morning, utterly exhausted from my fitful attempt at sleep. Tragic images of Ragnar keep popping into my head and I wish I’d never gone outside to begin with. It’s still early in the morning, but I decide it’s best if I go to the police station as soon as possible, no matter what Mikkel says. I throw on a pair of jeans, tall leather boots, and a lavender sweater. I top it all off with a teal puffer jacket and white fluffy ski hat.

  I step out into the living room and this morning the meticulous contemporary style strikes me as unusually cold. Lisetta is curled up in a fluffy blanket on the taupe, faux-suede loveseat. She’s sitting upright and is talking on her cell when our eyes meet.

  “Okay,” she says into the phone in Norsk. Lowering her eyes away from mine, she continues on, “Okay, jeg må dra nå.” I must go now.

  I wait for her to hang up before I start. “I’m ready to go to the police now. Could you please come with me? I’m not certain where the closest station is located.”

  She is nervously chewing on her bottom lip. Maybe she doesn’t trust police?

  Just as I’m about to tell her that I can find my way solo she says, “Vail, can we please wait until this afternoon? I promise you that I’ll go with you later, just not right now.”

  “Why?” I don’t miss a beat and feel uncomfortable about where this is heading.

  She takes a deep breath and continues, “I just spoke with Mikkel. He wants to come here and speak with us first, before we go. He sounded serious and said that he needs to find out exactly what happened with Ragnar firsthand, before the police are involved.”

  “But they have to know there was a witness. If they talk to anyone who was there they will know I was outside and they will certainly be looking for me to give a statement. What if they think I’m purposefully avoiding them? I could be deported for something like that.”

  “Vail, please, I don’t want my cousin or his club to get into any trouble. Mikkel very rarely makes requests of me. When he does, I know he’s serious. Please, let’s just kill some time together and he will be here shortly to chat with you, all right?”

  I sigh. “Lisetta, I’ll do this for you, but if he’s not here by noon then we are going to head straight to the police. They can tell me whether or not I need to go to the Embassy, too.” This whole situation is frustrating and the idea of sitting around until Mikkel shows up sounds like torture. “I have to distract myself. I’m going to the library, so text me when he gets here, all right? Has he told you anything about Ragnar’s condition?”

  It can’t be good. I shudder. I watched him get shot in the face.

  She stands and crosses to me with a look of concern and shakes her head back and forth. “Vail, I think you should stay here. Mikkel said for you to stay here with me. And no, I haven’t heard yet.”

  “You know, Lisetta, I’m already doing him a favor by delaying the inevitable to give him firsthand information. I don’t owe him anything else. I’m going to do exactly what I want this morning and I don’t care what anyone else thinks about it.”

  Before she can respond, I turn to leave and stop only to grab my messenger bag on the way out. It’s Sunday and I hope the library is open this early, but if not I’ll find a coffee shop to keep me distracted. I head out into the snowy streets and let the historic architecture of Oslo engulf me on the short walk to the University. Norway is an oil rich nation and commissioned many of the world’s top architects to create stunning monuments and buildings in its city center. Most of them date back to the nineteenth century. This historic architecture is interspersed with lots of interesting modern buildings.

  I bury my chin in the warmth of my down parka and trudge up the sleek glass and chrome library steps, desperate to put the nightmarish images behind me for a while.

  ***

  I unlock the apartment door at noon and hope to get this over with quickly so I can take Lisetta out to lunch. She texted that Mikkel arrived fifteen minutes ago and I’ve mentally prepped myself. I’ll see what he wants and then go to the cops. However, my mental pep talk doesn’t prepare me for what I encounter inside.

  After only one step into the apartment, I push the door fully open and freeze. Lisetta is shaking like a leaf and staring at me from the center of our living room. Her eyes are wild and fearful.

  What in the world?

  She’s flanked on either side by Bern and Mikkel, who look beyond unhappy. Their black leather gear and huge boots make them appear almost menacing. They encompass the small living room with their sheer mass. The tension is thick, nearly tangible.

  Bail now, Vail! Very bad idea!

  Before I can run for it, I sense movement coming from my left and instinctively jump to my right to get away. The door slams shut behind me with a single powerful shove from Alreck’s huge palm.

  I’m instantly terrified.

  He looks down at me, his face stern, as he folds his arms against his wide chest and looks across the room at Mikkel.

  What’s happening? My brain begins screaming the words on a repeat loop inside of my head.

  Clutching my bag against my heaving chest, I’m terrified as Lisetta begins to cry and frantically ramble, “Vail, I’m so sorry, but they’re here to ask you some questions about what you remember from the shooting last night. Ragnar, oh Vail, Ragnar didn’t make it. He died on the way to the hospital. Mikkel just told me. His poor parents and girlfriend!”

  Unable to respond, I just stand there and stare at her in numb shock. Mikkel commands in a low voice, “Vail, look at me.”

  My eyes flick to his as he says, “Tell me everything that happened when you were outside our club last night.”

  I try to speak but need to clear my throat twice before I can find my voice. When the words finally come out they are just above a whisper. “I needed fresh air so I went outside. It was snowing so hard that I sought shelter under the awning on the side of the clubhouse. Ragnar was there as well, smoking. He said hello to me then called his girlfriend or wife or whatever. They talked for at least five minutes about her day and when she was coming to the party, I think, and that’s when I heard a noise from the hill. It sounded like an air compressor gun.”

  His dark eyes flare yet he remains silent.

  “Right after that, Ragnar bent forward and leaned against the building. Two men with black hoodies and leather coats emerged from the trees. They weren’t speaking Norwegian. I think they had Russian accents. They—dear God—they yelled at him and he tried to hold his hand up to defend himself. He asked them not to but they shot him anyway.”

  I can’t continue and double over, sobbing against my bag.

  Mikkel is silent for a long moment. “Vail, tell me what they looked like.”

  I try to get it together, hoping that the sooner I give them the inf
ormation they want the quicker they’ll leave me the hell alone.

  Wiping my cheeks, I stand upright and trudge on. “They were his height, I think, but it was dark. They were far taller than me, I know that. They both had hoodies pulled up, but I did see that one guy had a black tribal-looking tattoo across his face, on the right side. The gun they used didn’t make a lot of noise and I think it had a silencer on it. That’s all I caught before I ran inside. They took a shot at me and missed. That’s all I know.”

  I listen intently as Mikkel turns to Lisetta and says something in Norwegian about traveling that totally freaks her out. Her natural rosy coloring goes paper-white as she argues vehemently with him. I catch a “no way” and “you can’t.” I tense up when I hear the name “Alreck” interspersed throughout the conversation. Where is this leading?

  This goes on for a few minutes with Lisetta becoming increasingly more upset before he grabs her shoulders and gives her a stern shake. He speaks in a gentler tone now, telling her everything will be okay.

  I watch in confusion as she sags against him and nods weakly. Without looking at me, she walks slowly down the hall toward my bedroom.

  This so cannot be good!

  I want to call out to her but fear keeps me immobile as I look into Mikkel’s agitated face. “Mikkel, what’s happening? I need to go to the police and give my statement now. I waited and gave you all I know.”

  With a deep frown he looks down at the carpet, as if searching for a way to tell a child something unpleasant.

  Desperately, I try again. “Mikkel, you’re scaring me. What’s going on?” I take a step back toward the door.

  No answer, but his vivid scotch eyes connect with mine and what I see within them scares me even more. He looks intent, and dangerous.

  The gravity of my situation hits me like a runaway train.

  Instinct tells me to run. Stupid, stupid! I shouldn’t have told them anything. I should have gone straight to the cops last night.

  I’m frightened and try to call his bluff. “This isn’t funny, Mikkel. I think you and your big buddies need to tell me what’s happening. I’m beyond sorry for your friend dying and I wish that there was something, anything, that I could have done last night to prevent it from happening, but I couldn’t. I told you all I know, now please leave me alone. I’ve had more than enough stress in the past twelve hours.”

  The tension threatens to tear me apart and I’m just barely holding it together. At this point all I want to do is talk to the police and crawl into bed for a few days. Why, why did I go out last night?

  Bern looks surprised and Mikkel’s frame locks still, his eyes narrowing in abject fury at my demanding tone.

  Way to go, Vail, now you’re in for it. Note to self, not the best idea to piss off burly bikers.

  In a deadly whisper, Mikkel hisses, “You think this is a fucking game, Vail? It sure as fuck is not and you’re going to do exactly as we say. You most certainly don’t call the shots. We do. You’re playing by our rules now.”

  My head jerks back slightly at his frightening words and demeanor. Damn! Why do they have to be so intimidating?

  Just as I’m about to turn around to make a break for it, Lisetta comes out of my room with tears rolling down her cheeks. She still won’t look at me as she drags one of my large duffle bags on the floor behind her and I can see that it’s bursting with my belongings. My jaw drops open.

  Before I can protest, Mikkel asks her in a stern voice, “Har du pakket kun varme klær?”

  With an annoyed look she answers him in English, “Yes, I packed warm clothes only.”

  I need to get out of here!

  Taking a deep breath, I whirl around and shove hard at Alreck’s torso in hopes of getting past him and out the door, but it is like trying to push over a brick wall. I’m unable to move him an inch as he effortlessly grabs me and pins my arms to my sides, clutching my back against his thick chest.

  “Let me go!” I scream at him as I twist about and writhe desperately, using all my strength. It’s not nearly enough. His power is irresistible.

  The men are yelling at each other and Lisetta is crying harder now, her delicate hands clutched against her wet cheeks. I swiftly pull my leg forward and slam my boot heel back, landing with a sharp thud against Alreck’s kneecap. Take that! I hear a deep grunt from behind me and his hold loosens.

  That second is all I need to scramble free, but I only make it one step down the narrow hallway before he grabs me by the neck of my parka and yanks it hard. My feet suddenly fly out from under me.

  As soon as I’m knocked to the ground he doesn’t miss a beat and descends on me. I struggle against him like a wildcat on the slick maple floor.

  The more I fight him the tighter his grip becomes and he’s using his sheer mass to subdue me. He’s so unbelievably strong! He pins my arms above my head and his heated, muscled thighs are straddling the outsides of mine. His breath is hot and minty against my face as I vehemently refuse to yield or even look at him.

  My breath is coming out in choppy, desperate pants. It freaks me out that he stays silent and seems both detached and eerily calm while forcing me to be still beneath him, to submit.

  Lisetta screams in the background, “Alreck, you’re going to hurt her. Please stop!”

  I’m frantic to escape, thinking they want to kill me, or possibly worse, and I start to hyperventilate. Alreck notices this and hauls me back up to my feet with no effort, forming a firm cage around me with his arms. As I continue to struggle and suck in air, Mikkel closes in and hands something to Alreck, but it’s out of my direct line of sight. Lisetta cries out as something damp and smelly covers my entire face.

  Oh God, they’re going to kill me.

  I give one last fleeting attempt to struggle out of the vice-like hold. Against my will, my body slackens in defeat as I faint dead away in his arms.

  Chapter Three

  ***

  A Battle Of Wills

  I’m moving and I’m cold.

  Strong vibrations are coming from beneath me as my eyes flutter open. Slowly brushing my long mahogany-colored hair away from my face, the first thing I notice is a beautiful snow-covered mountain range that’s so close outside the window that it appears to be nearly within reach. I’d rather stare at the majestic scene than face the reality of whatever the hell is in store for me.

  I’d almost rather not know at this point.

  I’m so cold that I’m shivering hard and my hands have a white-blue tinge to them. My coat is lodged between my head and the frosty window I have been leaning against. I slowly push myself away from the window and retrieve it, grateful for the warmth it provides as I slide it on.

  Although I already have a pretty good idea of who I’m with, I stiffly turn to see Alreck behind the wheel of a silver pick-up truck. He’s merely a foot away, way too close for comfort, and I almost groan out loud at the misery of the situation. My head spins wildly and I grab the dashboard to steady myself.

  Gathering myself the best I’m able, I hiss at him, “Are you insane?”

  Nothing. Not even a glance.

  “Let me out of this truck!” I shout at him and the effort causes my head to throb violently.

  His size and dominant aura are beyond intimidating, but at this moment I’m too livid to care.

  Why won’t he at least answer me?

  As I sit and tremble inside the frigid truck he thankfully reaches down to turn on the heat.

  I can’t fight the urge to let him have it. “Are you going to kill me? Just tell me now, you sick bastard, and get it over with, all right?”

  I suck in a gasp as he turns his head to me with a furious glare. His eyes are arctic as he grates out a single word, “No.”

  At least he understands English.

  “Then if it’s not too much of an inconvenience for you, I’d at least like to know where in the hell you’re whisking me off to.”

  I wait expectantly for an answer, trembling arms crossed in def
iance.

  A smooth rumble passes his full lips. “Calm down.”

  I sit back in a supreme huff and consider my options. How can I escape before we’re too far away from Oslo? Gruesome thoughts of what these guys could be capable of turn over in my mind as the miles tick by. Surely they wouldn’t want to harm me for just being a witness to a murder … Or would they?

  After several minutes of thick silence, I can’t take it anymore and glare at him once again.

  “I need to use the bathroom,” I say, all feigned innocence and calm.

  He gives me a disbelieving look but pulls the truck off the lonely mountainous highway at the next exit. As he slowly enters the parking lot I realize that it’s dusk. Panic leaps into my throat because it was noon when I was last conscious.

  In a suspicious whisper I ask him, “How long have I been out?”

  His voice is a deep murmur, “Over four hours.”

  That’s surreal. I’ve never even fainted before … Then, like a lead weight, the memory of the cloth being held to my face hits me.

  “You monster!” I let loose and rage on him for all I’m worth. “You, you drugged me, didn’t you? That’s why I feel so strange and was out for so long.”

  I’m beyond freaked out as my heart jackhammers in my chest. What if it was something toxic?

  Oh God, I could have died!

  Reaching the tiny gas station, he pulls the truck into a distant lone parking space. He turns to watch me closely while he leans forward with both of his long forearms draped casually over the black steering wheel.

  In a clear voice as smooth as whiskey and unnervingly deep, causing it to reverberate throughout the interior of the truck like a sound system, he says, “I know what you’re thinking, but you don’t want to run from me, American. You won’t escape.”

  I’m completely taken aback. This Neanderthal speaks perfect English with a beautiful, lilting Scandinavian undertone. It’s the only sentence he’s ever spoken to me and I realize this man doesn’t speak without reason. His eyes betray a cold intelligence and it’ll take a sheer miracle to get away from him.