Chapter 9: Easier said than done
Ghent, Belgium.
After the thirty-minute journey between Brussels International Airport and the medieval city of Ghent, at the convergence of the River Lys and Scheldt, Catherine parks the rental car in one of the streets near the Gravensteen, a big castle which, in 12th century, was the residence of the Counts of Flanders.
Junior gets out of the car staring in amazement at the beautiful city, dividing his attention between the bustling rhythm of the waves of students and the impressive architecture. Junior had never been to Europe before, but he thinks this is a good city to start falling in love with the old continent.
Catherine smiles and takes him by the arm to force Junior to follow Doris, who walks away quickly, towards the bridge that crosses the River Lys. None of the three notices a bald man, wearing a black trench coat, who follows them at a distance.
A few minutes later they arrive at a small pub; the atmosphere is dim, illuminated by the light of tiny lamps placed on the small tables, spread out in front of a beautiful oak bar.
Behind the bar, a sixty-year-old bartender, with his hair turned upside down and his gray beard falling untidily on his chest. The man serves a couple of huge glass jars with a dark and frothy beer.
Upon hearing the tinkle of the little bell that hits the opening door, the man looks up and smiles when he recognizes Doris, who emits a loud laugh and extends her arms saying, "Oleg ... my dear friend!" The man walks towards one end of the bar and wraps Doris in a tight hug, greeting her in English splashed with incomprehensible words in a language that Junior thinks sounds as French, "My dear Doris! It's a pleasure to see you, as always."
After getting away a little, Doris points to her two companions and says, "Oleg ... These are Catherine and Junior. Both shake the old man's hand affectionately. Oleg says, as he kisses Catherine's hand, who blushes instantly, "Enchanted! C'est toujours a plaisir de rencontrer une belle dame ... " He pauses briefly, and his face darkens, as he tells Doris, "The last time I saw you, your company was a little different ..."
She nods, with a sad look and sits on one of the tall chairs that line up in front of the bar. Junior and Catherine sit on either side of her and Oleg returns to his usual place, saying, "I guess your visit has something to do with that, isn't it?"
Doris's expression changes with a slight touch of astonishment and she asks, "You know?"
The man nods and leans down to take a small yellow envelope from behind the bar, "He told me you would come."
"When, Oleg?"
"He came a couple of weeks ago, he looked sad and dull. He looked constantly around him, as if he feared someone was stalking him ... He gave me this for you, and told me I should give it to you and only you." The man extends his hand and gives Doris the envelope, while asking," He is dead, isn't he?" She nods silent.
Sighing, Oleg serves four jars of beer and places them on the bar in front of his three visitors, saying, "La maison invite ... Let's drink for our mutual friend." The four collide their glasses and drink the warm and thick beverage. At that moment, the bell tinkle again and the bald man enters, sitting at a table in the corner, where he can observe discreetly.
Oleg apologizes and moves away towards the newcomer, who orders a beer in English. Catherine can't help the strong accent of the man from drawing her attention, and looks at the visitor furtively for a few seconds, then goes back to listening to Doris, who is talking to Junior in a very low voice. The SEAL asks, "What relationship did Yao have with Ghent?"
Doris smiles wistfully and answers, "He loved Ghent ... It brought back pleasant memories to him. The first time he visited Europe with his wife, she fell in love with the city, and they came together a few times before ... " she pauses, not wanting to talk about the death of Wo Fat's mother and everything that happened after that, however she says, "Last year we came together and he introduced me to Oleg. We get along right away ... we've seen each other a couple of times since then." She stops for a moment and sighs deeply, "It's a great irony that his days are over here ..."
Catherine looks at the envelope which rotates between Doris's nervous fingers and asks, "What's in the envelope?"
Doris opens it and pulls out a small white plastic card, the size of a credit card. On one side, an unmistakable logo is printed with a complicated red 'M' on one end, and the number 305 on the center. On the other side, a dark band runs across the card from side to side. Doris checking if there is nothing else inside the envelope. Junior looks at the card and asks, "What is that?"
Catherine gives it a couple of turns and answers, while she gives the card back to Doris, who keeps it in the pocket of her jeans, "It's the key to a hotel room ..."
Twenty minutes later, after saying goodbye to Oleg with the firm promise to return, the three leave the pub and begin to walk on the sidewalk, crossing the river again by the Grasburg Bridge, begin to walk south with a slow rhythm and leisurely, trying to mix with tourists. A couple of yards later, they pass by a bus whose black and shiny windows reflects all the sidewalk. Absentmindedly, Catherine looks to the left and then sees it in the reflection: Ten or twelve yards behind them, the bald man in the black trench coat walks down the same sidewalk, his eyes fixed on Doris.
Catherine takes Doris by the hand and beckons to Junior, who, without needing words, understands that something is not right. Without asking questions, they stop in front of the shop window of a bakery, pretending to see the great variety of sweets, chocolates and cakes that are exhibited, until Catherine sees the reflection of the man passing behind them and keeps walking. Once he's walked a bit, the guy leans forward to tie the laces of his sneakers, Cath says softly, as he notices the guy furtively looks at them, "That man was in the pub ..."
The three exchange a glance and, taking advantage of the brief moment of distraction of their stalker, Junior separates from them turning left in an alley and begins to run, surrounding the building of the bakery. Catherine and Doris, remain looking at the shop window. The man takes out his cell phone and pretends to look for something, without losing sight of them.
Suddenly, the guy seems to realize that the man who was with them is nowhere to be found. Forgetting discretion, he begins to look around, until he realizes, very late, that Junior is standing next to him, pressing the barrel of his gun against his back and saying in a very low voice, "Shhh. Take your hands out of your pockets slowly and walk ... Easy! This gun goes off on its own. "The guy starts walking in front of Junior, both spinning back into the alley, where they meet Catherine and Doris.
Danny opens his eyes, confused. The feeling of dizziness and nausea is more intense than before ... and the back of his neck hurts much more. Tries to sit down, but his hands and legs don't respond. "Damn it!" He thinks, as he realizes that bastard has drugged him again. He has no idea of the date or time, he doesn't know how much time has passed since he spoke with Hades.
Tears of fury escape from his eyes, while a wave of images invades his mind. Thinks of his children ... if he closes his eyes, he's sure he can hear their laughter as they play in the waves ... He allows himself to let memories take over his anguished heart. Grace kidnapped by Rick Peterson; the carjacking , the threat of Tsunami and the gunman in the Aloha Girls camp ...oh! and the winter formal.
All the times his daughter has been in danger and he has been able to save her ... Suddenly, the fear ... an awful fear grips his throat ... What if he can't be there anymore ... to prevent something bad from happening to her or Charlie?
A voice pierces his brain ... "I'm here, Danno ... Don't worry, we'll get out of this, buddy!" He knows that voice. Surprisingly, a sense of peace surrounds him like a warm blanket ... Steve ... He will be there for them. He will take care of his children as if they were his, as he always has. If something happens, and Danny can't get out of this miserable cell, Steve will be the father of his children.
It couldn't be otherwise ... besides in his will is clearly established, they have spoken several times, when things have become difficult, or Danny has been hurt; and Steve has promised ... it is painful for his friend to make that promise , because that implies accepting the possibility of Danny dying and that is something Steve has refused to do. He has promised Grace countless times that he will always do the impossible for Danny to return home, even at the cost of his own life.
That's why he has no doubt Steve is looking for him and Danny can only hope he doesn't take too long.
Sixteen hours have passed without sleep. After the telephone conversation with Lou and Jerry, fatigue begins to be felt in Steve's body. Although his recovery is progressive and faster than the doctor expected, he can't forget it's been just a month, since he left the hospital, weak and weighing almost 20 pounds less than his usual weight. After taking the medication, he drops himself heavily on the bed and closes his eyes. His thoughts travel back to Danny, praying that his friend is fine.
In some way, he trusts Hades won't hurt him ... Danny is the only guarantee he has that Steve will do what he has asked and retrieve the evidence for him, but that doesn't lessen his concern. He allows himself a time to think and irremediably guilt comes back. It's not the first time that Danny's life is in danger because of his mother. It's true that she couldn't guess what would happen, but Steve doesn't stop lamenting that the people he loves the most are at constant risk because of the job Doris has done for more than forty years, lamenting all the lives that have lost because of it. His eyelids close inexorably, and a restless sleep, seizes him.
"Who are you?" Catherine asks for the third time, to the man who merely smiles silently. They have taken him to the alley behind the bakery, where they can avoid the looks of the passers-by. Junior has checked his pockets and has taken a cell phone, a wallet, a Glock 380 gun and a wrinkled photograph of Doris. Soon, they realize it's useless to try to get information from him. In an unusual attack of anger, Junior hits him on the head with the butt of his gun, knocking him unconscious.
Catherine says, "We can't leave him here ..." and Doris replies, "Yes, but we can't take him with us ... So, what can we do?"
Without thinking twice, Junior raises the unconscious man on his shoulders, throwing him into a large trash bin filled with rubbish and closes the metal lid, saying, "This will give us some time to sneak out."
Ten minutes later they enter through the main door of the Marriott Hotel, walk directly to the elevator, go out on the third floor, and begin to walk down the hall, silently reading the numbers of the rooms and stopping at the door marked with the number 305. Without hesitation, Doris takes out the card and inserts it in the lock; a few seconds later, a slight beep sounds and a green LED lights up. Catherine pushes the door and the three enter the room, quickly closing the door behind them.
"Yao must have paid the room for several weeks," Catherine says, "The locks are re-programmed every time there's a new guest." Junior looks carefully at the large room. Two king size beds, covered with snow-white bedspreads, and a couple of huge red pillows in each. In the background, next to the large window, a small living room and a desk, next to a large dressing table. The bathroom is on the right, next to the door, Junior looks at there, grateful. Sketching a slight smile, he walks towards it, and comes in closing the door.
Catherine walks to the closet, opening it. There are some pants and shirts hanging from the hangers and some socks and underwear accommodated in the wooden shelves. There is a safe, embedded in the side wall. There's a black suitcase, placed on the floor, that she takes and places on one of the beds, opening it. Inside, some medicine bottles, personal hygiene items and a couple of books.
Doris checks the drawers of the dresser and the bedside table, all are empty. "There must be something here ..." she says uneasily, "Did you find something?"
Cath answers, "Only clothes and a suitcase, but there's nothing out of the ordinary ... In the closet there's a safe, but it's locked." Following her instincts, Doris approaches the safe saying, "It's a six -digit key code", begins to try at random, certain combinations with numbers that she believes may be related to Yao: his son's date of birth, his wife death, and other possibilities ... Nothing!
Junior comes out of the bathroom, to observe Doris, who, frustrated, begins to walk around the room, speaking to herself ... "Yao knew that I would come here ... He wanted me to do it. So it could be a number that is related to me, rather than him ... " Suddenly, she has an idea and walks quickly to the safe, pressing the numbers, 2-9-0-4-9-2. The door opens with a 'click'. Catherine looks at her in surprise, and Doris simply murmurs, "April 29, 1992, is the date of my death". She opens the safe door and looks inside. It's empty.