Relics

by K. T. Tomb

  Phoe’s interruption was expected this time. “No, Simon. I’m going to trust you to keep your word.”

  He smiled at her. He knew what she did, and he almost applauded her for doing it. “In other words, you will not relinquish the Spear to me until I fulfill my end of the bargain.”

  It was her turn to mock him. “Well done, Simon! You also have to remove all the bugs and video devices in or near Simple Treasures and my living space in the back!”

  Simon’s forced smile made Phoe nervous. He maintained control over the conversation, while still being considerate. “You are really hung up on me videotaping you, aren’t you? I have never videotaped you in any capacity. Nor will I ever do such a thing. I will make sure that any listening devices that quite possibly might be lurking somewhere nearby will be deactivated at once as well.”

  “Why, Simon? Why did you put bugs in my home? I thought we worked really well together on the Hammer of Thor.”

  He took another sip of brandy. “I don’t like admitting this to you and you won’t hear me saying it often, but I need you, Phoe.”

  Phoe felt the power switch from Simon to her.

  She liked being in control! “You have a funny way of showing it, Simon.”

  “On the contrary, Phoe. I have shown it the only way I know how. You have provided me with an excellent employee in Jeremy Riddick and retrieved an artifact that could actually be the real Mjolnir, except for the lack of Thor’s thunder god powers. And I’m sure it wasn’t made in Asgard. The fact is, you have made me a lot of money. There’s no reason for us to part ways now.”

  “Seriously, Simon? I have no idea how much more money you will need to accumulate before you become happy.”

  “Answer the cell phone I gave you when I call, and all will be well. If you agree to that one small request, then we will both be happy,” he said nonchalantly.

  That didn’t seem too much to ask.

  She had been ignoring it.

  “We have a deal, Simon. Oh, and one other thing. I want another limo driver. That girl you replaced Bob with? She’s a real bitch.”

  Chapter Three

  Captain Sampras broke the silence as the plane descended. “We are touching down in Portland, Oregon. The weather is a cool 42 degrees.”

  Pam approached Phoe as she sat back in her seat, waiting for the jet to come to a complete stop. “I hope everything goes well with your visit, Phoe. I know when I visited my mother for Christmas, it wasn’t pleasant. I have to stay away for almost a whole year before she shows any kind of love toward me. You let me know if you need to talk. Take care!”

  Phoe’s mouth dropped with surprise. Pam walked back behind the curtain that separated the flight attendant area from the passengers.

  Simon had told his crew who I’m going to see?

  Phoe shook off the discomfort of having everyone knowing her business. She liked Pam, just not as a friend.

  She liked her as a flight attendant.

  ***

  The long drive to her mother’s condo felt equivalent to a prisoner’s walk to the death chamber.

  Phoe hadn’t talked to her mother in a while, but it had been even longer since they had met face to face.

  Phoe tried to prepare herself for the third degree from her mother. It was always the same when they were together.

  She vowed she would never be that way if she ever had children.

  The limo entered the Q2—or second quarter—section of Portland. If you owned a house or condo there, it meant that you were far higher than middle class.

  Phoe never understood why people flaunted their wealth.

  Her mother lived modestly in a condo. The only time she had ever flaunted her wealth was when she had invited herself to the Mayor’s Ball.

  Somehow, she had never gotten asked to leave.

  The limo pulled into the condo’s parking garage. Phoe glared at the elevator as they pulled up to it. The driver lowered the glass between Phoe and him. “I’m afraid they have no parking place available for the limousine, so I will have to drop you off here.”

  He handed her a business card. “This is my private number. Please feel free to call me when your business here is finished. I won’t be far.”

  Business.

  It was always similar to attending a business meeting when she visited her mother.

  ***

  Phoe arrived at the door to her mother’s condo. She lowered her head and took a deep breath as her hand balled into a fist. Her fist reluctantly banged once against the hard wood.

  And again.

  Phoe leaned against the door as if it would somehow assist with her mother answering.

  The door opened suddenly. Phoe had to keep herself from falling forward as her mother stared at her.

  Phoe had always thought that her mother was beautiful. Angelica Phoenix stood before her daughter. Her long black hair flowed perfectly over her shoulders. She was dressed in a navy blue business suit with a white blouse underneath. She wore black heels, which completed the ensemble. She carried a small Gucci bag. Phoe realized one thing as she looked at her mother.

  She had gotten her nose from her father.

  Her mother would often look at Phoe as she would a lost puppy. Angelica intimidated the younger Phoenix.

  Without blinking an eye, Phoe’s mother calmly said, “I have an appointment. I can’t stay. You should have called.”

  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 with 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 handw
riting.

  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 Nuremberg.

  She assumed that he was close to Nuremberg 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 Peter when she was finished with her mission.

  She thought about Eric.

  Is he okay?

  Is he eating?

  Is 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 and 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! Am I that distracted?

  She had forgotten to give the driver a destination. She was sure of it.

  How did he know where to go? He doesn’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 thr
ough 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 is 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 rearview mirror every few seconds to see where the sedan was behind him.

  He took off the driver’s cap and threw it on 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.