The Tulip Terror

by C L Bauer

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Lily looked over at the empty pillow. The silly man is running again. She raised herself up and saw her beloved Eiffel Tower, and the blue sky of a sunny fall day. After her morning bathroom visit, she walked slowly into the other room. Dev was standing at the window, looking out on her same view. She stood in silence, watching him.

  Dev took a deep breath. The honeymoon was not going as planned. Last night was proof of that. He took a drink from the cup in his hand. He’d brought Lily coffee too, as his own form of sacrifice to a deity. He’d need all the help he could get. This morning’s discussion would not be an easy one. He took another breath and looked down below him. No wonder Lily was captivated by this view. The golden statue of Jeanne d’Arc was glowing in the morning sun. That’s what I need, an avenging angel.

  Lily’s smile faded as she saw her husband’s face. He looked worried, then she became worried. Joy flew out of her psyche’s door like a runaway balloon. If Mr. Cool was worried and out of sorts, how bad was it? Was it a terrorist attack bad or cartel drug shipment bad?

  In just the last few days she’d met so many different characters. Her life had become an intricate soap opera, never knowing who was going to come through the stage door.

  Enter Bernard Notte, the benefactor. Her evening of dinner and conversation became a surreal practice test of how to deal with your past to survive your future. Lily was due a very lengthy explanation from Claude Barbin. Dev had appeared shocked, but perhaps he was a better actor than the lovely French woman? And then he had deviled the man in a verbal volleyball match.

  They’d lived through dinner, and then a drive-by shooting. Sidewalks in Lily’s life were very dangerous places. But, she had lived through it. Ari had magically appeared like some genie out of an Arabian tale. Claude, Dev, and Ari had pulled guns from God knew where. Geez, where did he hide that gun?

  Dev could feel his wife in the room. He finally turned in her direction to face her. “I didn’t know you had ever met him.”

  Lily sat down on the sofa and pulled her hotel robe around her for warmth. “Did Claude? She knew who he was, didn’t she?”

  Dev slowly walked over to her and sat opposite his wife. “She didn’t know you knew him.”

  Lily held up her hand. “Stop. Just stop. I’ve been involved in a shooting so I need some answers. You both knew we were meeting him. Did she or did she not know who he was? What he was? If you don’t answer me I could continue in one of these long homilies you love so much.”

  Dev took a drink of coffee. He’d been discovering many things about his wife. Father Dan and she could match each other in a homily match-off, if there ever was such a contest. “Alright, I knew who was coming. If it is any consolation, it looked like he was more surprised by us. He kept thinking he knew me, and he definitely knew my last name.”

  “That’s just peachy.” Sarcasm oozed from her speech. “You probably can’t tell me anything, again. You will keep me safe, or Ari will, whoever Ari really is, this is bigger than you and me, save the world, yadda, yadda, yadda. Is that pretty much it?”

  Dev focused his eyes on hers. “Yes, except I just heard that Notte is in a secure location and is in critical condition.”

  “So, does Claude know who Bernard is? That he is--was a bad guy?”

  Dev bowed his head. The silence embraced the room. He could hear Lily breathing. She was still looking at him. His thoughts were many, his answers should be few. “Ari and I believe she knew exactly who Bernard was, and that could be the bigger problem. She’s playing a dangerous game. Ari is playing another one, and it all orbits around an old bowl that a terrorist wants to return to his family.”

  Lily stood up and removed the coffee from his hand, placing it on the table. She sat in his lap and turned his chin up. She kissed him lightly on the lips as she placed her arms around him. “Your friend may be an accomplice in all this going on?”

  His eyes told the story. She saw embarrassment and disappointment, two feelings that were not standard practice for Devlin Pierce. “She may have deceived you all in some way?”

  Dev pulled her closer in his arms and shifted her weight off his bad knee. “Some very big way, for many years. I am hoping, just hoping that she is doing it all because of her passion. She is desperate to retrieve so many artifacts. She sees the antiquities destroyed or sold on the black market on a daily basis. Sometimes good people do bad things, or work with the wrong people for the greater good.”

  “Has Claude talked to you about Tom when you all were deployed?”

  “No. I don’t understand.”

  Lily kissed him again, only deeper. “Then we need to talk. She’s had time to tell you, well maybe not, but you know I can’t keep a secret to save my soul.”

  “What is it?” Dev searched his wife’s eyes. She really couldn’t keep a secret. “What would she tell you that she wouldn’t tell me?”

  “A confession. Lunch and shopping in Paris can be a bonding experience. I need to figure out how I’m going to tell you this one. Besides, we always communicate better over food.”

  Dev shook his head. “The Mona Lisa is actually a fake? Claude sold the real one?” He smiled, his eyes twinkling.

  Lily kissed him softly on the lips. “Stop. Trust me. I need to figure this out, and I probably need to tell you this in public so you can’t throw things.”

  “I don’t throw things when I get mad. That’s you.” Dev’s one eyebrow arched with superiority. “Besides, now you are the one deflecting. You can’t just drop a bombshell about some secret and then wait to tell me.”

  Lily popped up from her position. He does have a point, but right now I can’t look into his eyes and tell him. I need time to figure this out. “Mister, you are taking me out for breakfast. Then, I want to stop and buy macarons from the most popular shop in Paris. I’m buying all the flavors, all those magnificent colors. I think Abby will love them, oh, and we should get some for your dad and his friend Arlene. I don’t know if your aunts would want any. You know how your Aunt Maggie is going to the gym daily now.” Mission deflection was a success.

  Dev shook his head. His wife continued to talk as she stepped into the bedroom. She was babbling. She was nervous. Perhaps there wasn’t some dark secret or it was so bad she really was trying to figure out how to tell me. I’m confused. How will a revelation be better over food?

  “Honey, do you want to talk about the shooting last night? Do you need to?”

  “No, I’m good,” she yelled back. “I’m getting used to people being shot on sidewalks in front of me. I’m not getting used to all the characters and the intrigue. The intrigue is killing me only because I haven’t figured out how this movie ends yet.”

  Dev walked slowly into the other room. He leaned against the door frame, watching her pace between the closet and the bed. She was grabbing clothing.

  “I suppose before tonight’s gala I should get you up to speed on all those characters.” Apparently, the secret could wait. He’d wait, for now, until she was ready. If he pushed, his wife might pack her bags and leave him alone on their honeymoon. She was already dealing with Ari, Notte’s shooting, Claude and the supposed secret, along with the uncertainty of tonight. Lily looked up from her activity as though she had heard his thoughts. Her eyes were wide.

  “And the intrigue, and where the exits are. My plan of attack is to flee the building.”

  “Lily, what’s your read on Albert, that man who took you shopping?”

  “He is very nice. I’m supposed to meet his wife tonight.”

  “Would you trust him?”

  Lily nodded. “I guess so, but you are the one who said go with Claude, you’ll be safe with Claude.”

  Dev grimaced. “That hurt a little. Well, I just want you to have someone you could go to other than Ari or me.”

  Lily slowly walked into her husband’s arms. “Or Claude?” She looked up into his face and smiled.

  “I can be wrong now and then.”
/>   Lily grabbed her chest in mock surprise. “You can be wrong? I would never have thought that.”

  “Enough. Let’s get breakfast and then those cookies.”

  “Macarons.”

  “Macaroons.”

  “You are trying my patience, Devlin. Macarons, French ones. Ooh, and I want to stop by that chocolatiere down the block.”

  “Are you eating for the apocalypse?”

  Lily placed her hands on her hips in exasperation. “Do you know me? Have you met me? I need to have food in storage just in case all you super sleuths fail. I’ll exit the museum, run to the hotel and be very happy with my food. You all can save the world.”

  “Well, get dressed so I can brief you on tonight’s mission, Mata Hari.”

  “But we’ll still get my macarons and the chocolate?”

  His nod sent her back into his arms. Lily covered his face with small flutter kisses. “I love you, even if you aren’t perfect.”

  “Don’t push it, love.”

  “By the way, what is the purpose of this gala?”

  Dev held her tighter in his arms. “It’s a fundraiser for that piece of pottery. Imagine an entire party for a clay pot with tulips painted on its sides. Claude told me it was smuggled out of Iran and dates back to the Ottoman Empire. That’s the piece I think the terrorist is after. Lily, I need to know about that secret.”

  “Let’s go to breakfast. You need to eat before you hear this or you’ll yell or growl or do both.”

  Lily left his arms, and he hung his head down. “And we’re back to food.”

  Her voice echoed from the bathroom. “Besides, I also have to tell you about Ari’s visitor last night. You won’t believe this one! I’ll tell you that one first, and you’ll be mad. When I tell you the other story, you’ll be livid.”

  Dev hung his head down. “Honey, please stop making all this sound normal. It really isn’t.”

  Lily peeked her head around the corner. “If I don’t make it sound normal, Dev, I’ll be so afraid I can’t go out that door. And I need chocolate.”

  What the hell was she going to tell him? What could revolve around Claude and Tom? And who was Ari’s visitor. Don’t push Lily. She’ll tell you when she’s ready. Dev would have to wait.

  “Lots of chocolate!”

  “Damn, it must be bad,” Dev whispered to himself. He would soon find out.

  Lily’s husband sat across the table, his arms folded in front of him. He had promised to not yell in the restaurant, no matter what information she conveyed to him. At times, she thought he was dispassionate, but in fact, he was taking it all in. He said nothing after she finished. Her story about Tom confirmed suspicions he had already created in his mind. However, Claude’s involvement with the Army, and their decision, made him sick to his stomach. As Lily recounted the meeting of Khalid and Ari, he couldn’t wait to get his hands around the man’s neck; Ari or Khalid, both or whoever came into his path first. He was unusually silent, but smiled at the Lily’s joy as they ate their meal and strolled to the shops. They held hands; he had her walk nearer the storefronts, away from the street.

  By the time they arrived back at the hotel, Ari was waiting in the bar. Lily wanted no part of this meeting. You are in so much trouble, Ari. Lily went up to the room, leaving the two men alone to fight it out. In a few hours, she would be attending a party in one of the most famous museums in the world. She would be dressed in a designer gown and jewels. She’d be on the arm of a handsome, wonderful man who cared deeply about more things than she could imagine. She’d mingle with rich and powerful world leaders, and dangerous nefarious ones. Lord, just get us through this one night.

  After a light early dinner, they dressed. Once downstairs, Lily and Dev entered a waiting car. Lily watched historic buildings and fountains pass by her in their short trip. Paris was beyond belief at night. Once they arrived at the Louvre, they didn’t enter by the side or the “basement” entrance under the pyramid of glass. There was a red carpet set on the stone pavers, welcoming them to the massive front door. Kings and queens used to enter here, and now it was the little florist’s turn. Other cars were lined up.

  As Lily exited the sedan, Dev took her hand. “You look so beautiful tonight. You must know that.”

  Lily could see other women arriving and realized her nice dress from Kansas City wouldn’t have been good enough for this group. ”I believe it because I believe you. I do feel pretty good.”

  Dev placed her arm through his. “Geez, Lily, pretty good?” He leaned down so only she could hear. “You look damn good, honey. I have some ideas for later tonight.”

  “After you’ve saved the world?”

  “That and improved the world economy, removed all dictators and despots, burned some bad movies, and brought back Scooby Doo.”

  “Wow, you are energetic.”

  “But first, let’s just go and try to have a good time. Just be yourself and don’t worry about anything. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

  Dev was completely correct. As Lily entered the grand hall, it was all overwhelming. It was after hours at the museum and here she was. There was something delightful in being somewhere when it was closed to others, something very special. It was a dream come true with lovely ladies dressed in amazing gowns, and men in their finest tuxedos. If she went up the main marble stairs, she could see the Mona Lisa again, but she much preferred staying with Dev.

  Her husband didn’t miss a beat when they saw Claude. He was playing himself. They laughed, they commented on how lovely the gowns were, Claude told them where the champagne and the food was located. But Lily noticed Claude was babbling. She knew what that babbling meant. Dev and Claude agreed they needed to talk about someone who was there--Khalid. Dev’s posture became even straighter, if that was possible.

  “You go with Claude. I’ll be fine. I’m going to find the champagne,” Lily said as she patted his arm for assurance. Dev looked at her suspiciously.

  “You’ll be fine?”

  “Yes. I want to see that old clay bowl.” She waved him away and walked through the crowd. She heard music and followed it to another room. She heard an Englishman remark that the Paris Philharmonic was entertaining. Lily took it all in, including the enormous urns with massive amounts of tulips within. They were all white tulips. They must have cost a fortune, and how big was the greenhouse they grew them in? Of course, they may have gotten them from South America?

  “Dear Lily.” She heard Albert’s voice from the other side of the room.

  Lily moved closer to the duo. “Albert, it is so nice to see a face I know.” He kissed her on each cheek and turned to introduce his wife. “I was a little distracted by the tulips.”

  “My wife, Anne, and this is the lovely Lily.”

  My, no one ever has introduced me that way. “You are too kind and it is so nice to meet you.” The petite woman hugged her without the traditional kissy face tradition.

  “My dear Albert had such a wonderful time shopping with you and thank you for our gifts. It was so kind of you.”

  Lily was relaxed with these two kind people. And Anne had hips! Finally, someone in Paris with hips who wasn’t a tourist.

  After a brief tour of the room with her new friends, and Albert’s assurance that she could always find them near the entrance, Lily headed on her way in search of the old bowl that had brought everyone together tonight.

  She followed a group into a larger room. Under a spotlight of soft white sat the tulip bowl, under protective glass. Lily slowly made her way to the object. It was protected by four guards, one on each corner of the ropes. It was simple bowl with blue tulips painted around the sides. Each tulip, which reminded her of delph china from Holland, had a bloom, a small bud and two petite leaves. There was a rim of gold at the top and at the bottom.

  “Do you know that tulips were worth more than gold at one time in civilization?” The low voice came from behind her, the breath blowing a few out of place curls.

  “
Yes, smarty, I did know that. Did you know that a tulip is like a turban? Did you know someone stole some bulbs and took them back to Holland and the rest is histoire, mon ami?”

  “Touché, Mrs. Pierce. I did know all that. I know things.” Ari was now standing next to her. She looked up to see a super spy, well at least in her imagination. His tux was fitted, emphasizing his wide shoulders. His shirt was whiter than white, only matching his glowing teeth. Every hair was in place. He wore a black tie with a diamond pin. Holy Moly. If Abby saw him she would faint. She needed to get a photo. Crud. Dev had a phone. She’d have to wrangle a photo of the two of them later.

  “I bet you do. How long do we look at this?”

  Ari stifled a laugh with his hand. “You know, many have wondered, but very few have actually asked something like that out loud. You are delightful.”

  “So?” She tilted her head, waiting for an answer. “Mr. I--Know--Things, how long?”

  He squinted his eyes intently. “Until we are thirsty. What about the buffet and a little libation? I hear they are serving caviar from Russia, and I saw some lovely crab claws.”

  “So the French like Russia?”

  “They like their caviar. And did you not hear me that they have crab claws? Come on, little one. I know where the food is.”

  He extended his arm out and she took it. “I like a man who knows things like that.”

  Lily was carefully placing food on her plate as Ari piled his on. “You know, I half expected to see you tonight with a black eye, or two black eyes on that face of yours.”

  “Did you see these mushrooms? Beautiful. Well, your husband was a little understanding. Thank you for that. He said you told him to be nice. He was grateful that you were in perfect condition, thanks to me.”

  “I see. You haven’t come clean with him yet, have you?”

  Ari smiled. My, in such a short time the woman knew him very well. “There are some things that need to be left unsaid. There will be time enough for that, but for now I’ve spotted us a couple of seats.”