“I’m here, bro!” I retort.
“Get ready!” he says.
Merc and the gendarmes close rank.
I hear someone coming down the aisle.
A female voice calls out.
“Hold your fire, gentlemen!” it says in English, then French.
It’s fucking Olivia!
30
Leigha
January 28, 2019
“Hold your fire, please!” Olivia says in a loud voice.
Evan motions for me to go to the front of the car, closer to the engine.
The train goes through a tunnel, and it gets dark.
“Now! Leigha! Vic! Go!” he shouts.
Levi jumps across the car to shield us as we move to the back and bolt through the door. Evan is right behind us.
I see Grace rushing towards us, and I want to grab her, but she pushes past. She’s got a kit and a bottle of vodka in her hands.
I see her kneel by Isaac, Levi, and the gendarmes closing around them to provide protection.
Merc glares at me, and I turn to follow Evan...
We leave the car behind and move towards the front of the train. People are huddled down, behind seats and crowded into the corners, and near the platforms.
Evan and Vic and I ignore everyone and run through into the next car.
“How many cars until the engine?” Evan asks a conductor.
The man is wary, because of the Glock, but also seems to be unafraid.
“Monsieur, I must insist that you return to your car or compartment!” he says, in a gravelly voice. Evan looks at the man.
“You are COS, aren’t you, Sir?” he asks the man.
The man, looking surprised, nods gravely.
“We need to get to the engine, and make a call to MI-6,” Evan says evenly.
The man’s eyebrows raise, and he grimaces.
“Follow me,” he orders.
He shouts for the others to clear a path, both in French and English.
“Merci,” I tell him.
He smiles, grimly.
He asks me, in French, why I travel with people of such low character. I inform him that Evan is ex-RAF and he rolls his eyes. He repeats himself, and this time I know he’s just teasing me about Evan. I smile as he holds the door for us to go into the next car.
“Combien de voitures de train avant le moteur?” I ask him politely.
“Trois autres voitures, puis le moteurthe conductor says. “Personne ne va vous déranger maintenant.,” he adds.
“Je Vous remercie,” I respond and relay the information to Evan. “Three more cars and we should be there,” I say.
I see another conductor waving us forward, past the passengers huddled down.
I thank him again, and we advance.
* * *
There’s not been any more gunfire, that we can tell.
Evan moves from car to car, and I step onto the platforms, noticing the surrounding countryside. It’s hilly, but not mountainous. There are a few farmhouses, and it appears we are approaching a town.
I think I hear helicopters, but Evan grabs me and pulls me to him.
“Stay close,” he whispers, daring a quick kiss.
My heart skips a beat, and I see Vic giving me another knowing look.
I smile at her.
She’s no longer a threat, so maybe we can even find it in ourselves to be friends someday.
If we get past Olivia…
* * *
Evan approaches the engineer, who is already giving us a dark look.
“The Conductor has informed me of our peril, at least as it appears guns are being fired in the rear,” he says, eyeing Evan and the Glock.
Evan puts the Glock back into his waistband.
“My apologies. We need to use your radio or telephone to call someone to help us,” he explains.
“Why can’t you use your cellular phones, messier?” the engineer asks.
Evan walks to the comm area of the train.
“Not secure enough, I’m afraid,” he says, picking up a radio headset.
He tunes the old equipment to a frequency and then starts speaking military jargon to someone.
“Yes, that’s right. Oscar Bravo six-niner five four oh-oh. Evan Stone,” he says.
I watch him listening.
He gives a quick rundown and then asks the engineer which track the train is using.
He responds in French and Evan looks at me confused.
“Seventy-nine West, but we but he’s switching to eight-four-seven south in fifteen minutes,” I explain with a sigh.
Evan transmits the new information and then listens again.
He signs off but leaves the headset within reach.
“Listen,” he says.
I hear helicopters approaching.
“We’re ten minutes from any meaningful assistance,” he tells the engineer.
“There is a tunnel on our route, about four kilometers ahead,” the man responds.
“Can you stop the train there?” Evan asks.
The man responds in French again, delight in his eyes.
“He says the track goes down to a single line before the tunnel, and another train back to Monaco is set to pass through the tunnel in forty minutes, and we’ll have to move well before then,” I explain to Evan.
“Not for very long. There is another train set to pass in forty minutes, and another coming from the town, that will pass by in fifty-six, we will need to be gone by then,” he replies.
Evan thinks for a minute.
Vic looks out the windscreen.
“Evan!” she shouts, pointing to the left side of the train.
We crane our necks out and see three helicopters quickly approaching us.
Men are positioned to rappel down to the train in the lead chopper!
“We’ve got to let Levi and Merc know!!” Vic yells.
She runs back out the door, towards the rear of the train.
“Victoire! Get back here!” Evan screams after her.
But she’s gone.
“Damn it!” he says, slamming his fist on the radio counter.
“Go after her,” I tell him instantly.
Evan, instead, turns to the engineer.
“My friends are going to be here in less than ten minutes. They are bringing French COS with them, and G9. Do you understand?” he asks him.
The man nods.
“I will stop the train once we are completely in the tunnel, but I can only keep it there for four and a half minutes!” he says.
“Let’s hope that’s enough!” Evan murmurs, as he runs past me.
“Stay here, and if anyone calls back on the radio, tell them Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Seven!” he shouts.
The man shouts the code back at Evan, as he gets to the door.
I run to him and grab him by his shoulders.
I see his duty to Levi and Merc in his eyes. Those gorgeous eyes. He pulls me close and kisses me again.
One last kiss and then without another word, he’s gone.
The engineer silently watches us.
“Amour,” he grins.
I stand next to the radio, waiting for the next words.
31
Evan
January 28, 2019
I turn away from Leigha, knowing that there is disaster waiting.
My training allows me to compartmentalize the various parts of my life, including how I feel about her. About Vic. About this whole mess.
My mind drifts to Olivia, and the last time I saw my aunt, Lauren. I had thought Leigha had killed her. The coroner’s report had affected Leigha, to the point where we had sought a bit of counseling about it. Leigha eventually came to terms with it. Her hand had been forced. There were no other options.
I didn’t blame her.
But now?
I don’t know what to think…
I hug the side of the aisle, trying to stay out of any lanes of fire.
As I approach the car with Levi a
nd Merc, I stop, putting the Glock into a low-four position. I listen and hear conversation. The words are muffled. I take a breath and walk across the platform separating the two cars.
Olivia is chatting with Levi and Merc!
What the fuck?
“Evan! Come here with the rest of the adults,” Levi says.
I can tell from his voice that he is agitated.
“Olivia has made us a generous offer,” he says, sardonically.
Merc’s eyes track me as I walk to the rear of the car.
“Is Leigha okay, Evan?” he asks.
“She’s fine. Vic, too. And, they will stay that way, if I have any say in the matter,” I add, brandishing the Glock.
“Put that away, you silly boy,” Olivia chides.
I notice she has three thugs with sub guns behind her.
“What’s this all about, then?” I ask.
“I am offering all of you an out, Evan,” she replies.
Isaac is still on the floor, with Grace attending to him.
Her eyes shoot daggers at Olivia.
“Kill her!” she mouths to me.
I don’t think anyone else sees it, but I shake my head slightly. She goes back to Isaac, who is worse than when I had left.
Olivia sits at a table and grabs a bottle of champagne.
“Levi, dear, would you mind?” she says, extending the bottle out to him.
Levi takes the bottle. It’s Dom Perignon.
1978. A terrible year, as I recall.
Fitting.
Levi finds two flutes and sets them in front of Olivia.
“Ah! You are going to join me, then, Levi? How nice and polite of you!” she chuckles.
“Well, I need a drink,” he says, nonchalantly. “Why not?”
He smiles as he pops the cork and pours out the two flutes. He sets the bottle back on the table, and for a moment I think he’s going to whack Olivia in the head with it. His eyes are cold and steely.
But, to my chagrin, he picks up a flute and clinks it against hers.
“To future friendships?” he offers.
Olivia laughs.
“How about, to success?” she counters.
Levi nods, but only sips a bit from his flute.
Olivia downs hers with a single, fluid motion.
“You are much like Noah, Levi,” she says, and motions for a refill.
Levi does the polite thing and sets his glass on the table.
He picks up the bottle, and this time, I can tell he has no intent in bashing her skull. I sigh with relief. I was not relishing getting into close quarters combat with a trio of subgun-armed henchmen.
Olivia nods her thanks, and takes another quick gulp, and empties her glass.
She sets the flute down.
“Now, then. Let’s discuss why I haven’t killed all of you,” she smiles.
“Evan, would you be a dear, and help Grace with poor Isaac? I know the medics are on the way. I can hear them, can’t you?” she says, and motions towards the windows.
I hear helicopters approaching.
There’s no way to tell if they are hers, MI-6 or French military. I think to myself; they sound like Alouettes. But I can’t be sure. I’ve flown those, as well as the Wildcat and Gazelle. Once, I was a passenger in an Apache, if you can call the gunner a passenger. It was only a ferrying flight, but I was mightily impressed. These sound as if they have fenestrons in the tails. Those are enclosed blade tail rotors. If that’s the case, they could be Dauphin.
And, that’s very odd.
“Are those your choppers, Olivia?” I ask directly.
“Of course, dear boy. Well, technically, they belong to one of the subsidiary corporations my dearest Geoffrey controls, but only the best, you know,” she says.
Shit.
I wonder if Leigha has managed to get the final messages out.
“Why don’t you sit and join me, Evan?” Olivia says.
I am cautious.
Levi nods.
I sit down.
“What can I do for you?” I ask.
Olivia pulls out a compact and removes an imaginary bit of lipstick from the corner of her mouth.
Her eyes are icy.
“You want to know where your father is, don’t you?” she asks.
“You know I do,” I reply.
“Do you want to leave here with him? Alive?” Olivia asks.
I hesitate, sensing a trap. Levi and Merc are watching our exchange closely.
Isaac coughs, and some blood emits from his tight lips. Grace cleans it up without comment, but I can see the look on her face.
She’s ready to do something foolish.
“Grace, can you check on Vic and Leigha?” I ask.
“I think that’s an excellent idea. Merc, you keep checking on Isaac. The medics will be here momentarily,” Levi says, looking pointedly at Olivia.
She waves her hands.
“Yes. Yes! For god’s sake!” she grumbles.
She turns to her goons.
“Call the engineer and the pilots. Stop the train just this side of the tunnel, and have the medical team come onboard to tend to Isaac. We’ll make the exchange, and I will go with the package to meet the Duke. Let them know,” she orders.
The three thugs turn and leave the car.
Isaac groans as Grace stands, and Merc immediately takes his place.
“Hang on, my darling!” I hear Grace whisper, and she kisses Isaac’s cheek.
She turns and glares at Olivia and Levi, and then walks towards the end of the car.
Levi stops her with a hand on her arm.
“Let Leigha know that Olivia is in charge. We will be stopping the train. No interference. Be sure she conveys that message, Grace. Do you understand me?” he says, seriously.
Grace stares at Olivia.
“One day, bitch. You and me,” she spits.
Olivia shrugs.
“Get in line, dearie,” she replies, not at all impressed by Grace’s vindictiveness.
Grace leaves the car, slamming the door closed.
“What did you mean? I thought Noah was the ‘package,’” I ask Olivia.
She chuckles.
“There you go again, Evan. Trying to think!” she laughs.
Levi stands towering over Olivia.
“What is the arrangement, Olivia?” he asks. “If Noah isn’t the package, what is going on here?”
Olivia stands, straightening out her dress.
“You all are so serious! Why can’t you enjoy the day, as I do?” she says.
“Evan, do me a favor and fetch Leigha from the locomotive, will you, dear?” she asks me.
I stand there for a moment.
“No,” I say.
Olivia sighs.
“Look, this is what is going to happen – Evan, you will go retrieve your dear wife, ex-wife? Whatever she is. Bring her here. I will then leave with my friends, and Leigha…” she says.
“Like hell!” I roar.
I place the Glock against her forehead.
She rolls her eyes.
“You boys and your stupid toys,” she says, sarcastically.
“If you kill me, you don’t get Noah, Evan, dear,” she adds.
I stand back, tempted to smack her with the gun.
“Evan, stand down,” Levi says.
I take a step back.
“Now then, where was I? Oh, yes. Leigha and I will take a helicopter down the way, and I will let her off and continue with my errands. Noah is in the rear of the train, and you can have him. Good riddance, too!” she smiles.
Levi, Merc, and I all stare at each other.
Olivia laughs.
“Oh, my! The looks on all your faces! He’s quite fine, don’t you worry. I suspect he’s drinking some Merlot, or maybe that horrible whiskey he adores,” she chuckles.
She turns to me.
I see two helicopters make a low pass outside the train, and a third zooms overhead.
“Ah! My ride is here
,” she smirks.
“Evan, go find Leigha! Hurry now, I am on a schedule!” she orders.
Gritting my teeth, I brush past her, smelling that familiar perfume she wears.
* * *
“I’m going to do what?” Leigha protests.
“Fuck that! Evan, shoot her!” she adds.
Grasping her arm, I guide her past Grace and Vic.
“I’ll do it if you won’t, Evan!” Grace snarls.
“How dare that bitch…” she continues, but Vic interrupts.
“She said she’s going to let Leigha go? Then, what do we have to lose?” Vic asks.
Leigha and Grace look at her in disgust.
“You of all people shouldn’t be asking that question, Victoire!” Grace says.
I take Leigha and begin to walk her out of the engineer’s cab.
“Monsieur! Your friends, they are fourteen minutes away!” he shouts from the front.
He’s holding onto the headset.
I notice one of Olivia’s men has managed to make his way up to the locomotive.
He walks past me, ignoring me.
“Stop this train. Now,” he orders the engineer.
The man shrugs and puts the headset down.
He begins braking the train, and I can see the choppers whirling around ahead of us.
As the train slows, one of them lands about three hundred feet down the track.
The other two hover over us, keeping pace with the engine as it decelerates to a stop.
Finally, we are motionless.
“Let’s go, Leigha,” I say.
Grace and Vic stare after us, and then to the helicopters.
I can see Vic is not too worried. But I am afraid Grace might do something rash.
Leigha and I walk across the platform, separating the engine from the other cars.
She hugs me, and then we walk back to where Olivia is waiting.
* * *
“That’s better! Leigha, darling, how nice to see you again!” Olivia says, and she even sounds sincere.
Leigha hugs me tighter.
“I am so happy you two are back together again!” Olivia smiles.
Her eyes glint with cold malice.
“Leigha is going with me, now, gentlemen. I expect you will all behave accordingly. I promise she will be released unharmed in one hour, and I will have the engineer leave coordinates for you. Evan, be a dear and make sure those MI-6 fellows leave me alone. I have ways to dissuade them, and I am sure we don’t want an international incident if your silly antics force me to take action!” she warns.
FRACTURE: Hearts of Stone Book Six Page 17
