ACT IX: "They Don't Know It's A Surprise Party."
The next days were an odd mix of routine and heightened tension. Illya made rounds daily and noted the changes in security. Being slight and considered sick and weak was a bonus, as the security teams deemed him a non-threat and basically ignored him. This allowed him to observe things undisturbed.
The first dinner after Marcus's death was surreal. The table was set for the regular number, but only Illya and Talia showed. They spoke in low voices and tried to ignore the tense atmosphere as they ate. If it weren't for the enormous table and empty place settings with ghosts seated there, they might have even enjoyed themselves; but between their memories of past, intimate dinners and the tense setting, they kept a respectable distance between them and sat on opposite sides of the table.
Talia had been taking care of Monica but soon was directed by David to join Pfitzer in the lab. The Program details had to be finished. This left the harried maid to keep the grieving widow in control. According to Talia, David was rarely in the lab now as he was overseeing the details of the program release as well as other family details.
Illya, meanwhile, volunteered to oversee the arrivals of both party and sympathy deliveries. Tonnie, the near-deaf butler, and the head cook were having a difficult time keeping up. The agent also wanted to keep his eye out for his special delivery.
Monica Danzig didn't handle the fact that she was a widow with any grace. She stumbled around the house in nothing but her robe, her hair wild and eyes bloodshot. Between alcohol and tranquilizers, she was finally corralled to her room where the sound of moaning could be heard in various octaves throughout the days.
The people Illya was most interested in watching were Arthur and David Danzig. As Saturday turned to Sunday and then to Monday, Arthur was seen less and less, becoming a veritable recluse and physically appearing to wilt. He was rarely outside his personal rooms since Marcus's death.
On the other hand, David seemed to be getting stronger and more vital. His eyes, which had on Illya's arrival a touch of sympathy to them, grew hard and more determined. It appeared that David Danzig was coming into his own now that older brother Marcus was gone.
Monday afternoon brought a lull in deliveries from the village. Illya stood at the very window where they had learned of Marcus' murder, and considered a walk outside. He wanted to try and find exactly where his partner had relocated, but he changed his mind when he saw Talia coming down the stairs. Even tired, she looked beautiful. Illya stood at the bottom of the stairs to watch her. A weary smile touched her face when she saw him there.
"Hi," she said.
"Hi yourself," he replied, taking her hand when she reached the bottom. "You're tired."
"Yes, I am. But it will be over soon, won't it?" She sighed. "David called for me. I'll check with you later?"
"Sure." Illya dropped her hand. As she moved down the hall, Tonnie appeared at his shoulder.
"Sir, one more delivery in the kitchen. I believe it's for you."
"Thank you, Tonnie," Illya replied loudly, and headed to the kitchen.
The cook was bustling around in a huff, and snapped at the agent when he entered. "I don't need personal deliveries in my kitchen! It's already in a mess!" Illya had to agree; party items were stacked everywhere, and she and her helper were working constantly to keep everything in order.
"I will get it out of the way right now," he said gently. The cook had taken a liking to the lean agent almost immediately. She immediately made it her mission to put some weight on him. Her eyes softened when he spoke; he was the only person in this house besides Miss Talia that bothered to treat her like a person.
"Just take your time, dear," she said in a more polite tone. "Those guards certainly make more difficult to accept a delivery."
Security looked over every box arriving in the house, and was now talking to the delivery boy just inside the door. "A bookstore? Why is a bookstore sending something here?"
"I don't know! I just do what I'm told." Illya recognized the voice of his partner immediately and suppressed a grin. He'd expected Mark. Napoleon, dressed in a deliveryman's uniform, leaned on a wheeled dolly loaded with a crate. One of the guards was trying to pry the crate open.
"Careful!" Illya barked. "There are rare books in there. Please do not damage them."
"This is yours?" The second guard growled. Illya hadn't received much respect from any of the guards since he'd arrived. Slight, sickly men didn't deserve much notice as far as they were concerned.
"Yes. It's a gift for the Danzigs," Illya explained as he removed the top of the crate and pushed the loose packing material aside. Aged book spines became visible amongst the straw bits. "Something from my uncle's personal library for the Danzig library. It's a thank you for my being here."
The guards looked at each other and smirked. Solo looked at Illya from under his deliveryman's cap; his eyes sparkled in humor. It was a good thing they didn't know the kind of thank you the agent hand in mind and who, exactly, his uncle was.
"Fine. Take it up. We're ready for a break," the first guard said shortly. "Books. What a waste of space." The agents wheeled the crate off.
"You forgot to tell them it was a surprise," Solo said lowly as they left the kitchen.
"They don't know it's a surprise party. That's the beauty of all this," Illya replied, directing his partner up the stairs. He watched, amused, as Solo negotiated the stairs with the dolly and only grinned more when his partner glared at him.
"Don't over extend yourself," Solo growled sarcastically.
"I wasn't planning on it!" Illya replied lightly as he examined his fingernails.
Once in Illya's room, the wheat-haired agent looked over the contents carefully. Solo surveyed the room. "Nice," he quipped. "Beats sleeping in the jungle out there."
"We all have our crosses to bear. Looks like everything is there. You better get out of here."
"All right. Oh, my new location is about there," Solo said, pointing out the window. "We took over a nice, homey spot formerly occupied by some sort of large critter. I can only hope it isn't a bear."
"I doubt it. According to Danzig, there's only deer and other small game around here."
"Oh, well, that makes me feel much better." The sarcasm was not missed. Solo moved to the door with the dolly. "The assault team is assembling west of here. So far, so good. I saw some of Danzig's men installing things along the inner wall that you may want to check out. If they're putting in electronic sensors, then this may be the last time we can talk before Thursday."
"You know my signal. Lots of noise."
"We'll be watching." Something peeked out from under the bed and caught his attention. He leaned down and pulled it out: A security guard uniform! "Well aren't you a tricky Russian," Solo said with a gleam in his eye.
Illya shrugged a non-committal shrug. "They put me in charge of the incoming deliveries. Can I help it if some of the items were misdirected?"
"You'd better hide it better than that."
"Yes, mother."
Solo stuffed the item back under the bed. They went down the hall and out the kitchen door together, dodging the cook and her helper who hustled around other boxes. Solo made a loud, disparaging remark for the sake of the onlookers about the tip Illya slipped him and bounced away in a tattered box van.
+++++++++++
The funeral was the next morning, Tuesday. It was unusually chilly when daylight finally broke and Illya's walk found him chilled to the bone. He moved along the wall, checking his watch every few yards. The men Solo had seen were doing exactly what he'd suspected: There were now electronic sensors in the area. The Danzigs had boosted security to a new height. There really was no need for him to contact his partner, but it was good to know the extent of the security.
He arrived at the house in time to see a limo pull up to the front and disgorge a uniform-clad nurse. She was waiting in the foyer when the agent entered the house. The nurse had a pinched expression and tapped her foot impatiently. Talia made her appearance at the top of the stairs a moment later. She was dressed in a tasteful black shift and sweater, her hair up in an off-the-neck style that showed her elegant neck. The vision wasn't lost on the agent.
"Oh, hello," she addressed the nurse. "Mrs. Danzig is up here. Please," she motioned down the hall behind her. "Come on up."
"I'm Mrs. Deeds," the curmudgeon nurse snorted.
"May I help you?" Illya offered his arm, but the woman gave him a quick once over with her eyes.
"No. I'm not an invalid."
Illya suppressed a grin at the woman's snappishness and stepped out of her way. She marched up the stairs with purpose. Illya followed the nurse up the stairs at a respectable distance, and when he reached the top, followed the women to Monica Danzig's door.
Talia tapped respectfully on the door, which was opened by the harried maid. When she saw then nurse, relief washed over her face and she quickly stepped aside and let her in. By the time Illya reached Talia's side the maid had stepped out to the hall, shut the door and hurried off, mumbling to herself.
"They got Monica a nurse to accompany her to the funeral. I don't thinks it's going to be a pretty sight," Talia said.
"Unlike you," Illya replied, eyes sparkling.
"You cad!" Talia giggled. "Really, we should be more respectful of the event."
"I suppose you are correct. I guess I'd better get ready."
It wasn't much later when a line of black limos made their way through the gates, each one getting a thorough examination on arrival. There was a short memorial in the ballroom of the house with a very small number in attendance.
"Family only," Talia whispered. "And there's not much extended family left." Illya studied each face as he passed them to his seat, but was most taken by Monica Danzig.
The nurse had pulled her together quite well, but he could tell she was heavily sedated. The lively sparkle was gone from her eyes, replaced with a dull look. She swayed in her seat through the short eulogy by David. Arthur Danzig looked like a shadow of his normal self and allowed David to run the show.
By the time they arrived at the gravesite, the numbers had grown a bit. The nearby village had sent its representation, as well as Danzig business partners. Illya noted a face or two that regularly graced the business sections of papers worldwide, as well as a politician or two. It was a respectable crowd and the security was impressive. The whole affair went smoothly.
When it was over and the crowd mingled to give their condolences Illya noticed that Monica was lead away by the nurse to a waiting limo.
Talia also noticed and frowned. "That's odd. I thought she was going back with us. David?" She touched David's shoulder as he shook a hand with a serious looking man. He turned to her as soon as released the handshake.
"Yes, Talia? What is it?"
"Isn't Monica going back with us?" She asked.
David didn't answer right away. Instead he put his arm around her shoulders and said something in her ear in a hushed voice. Talia's eyes grew wide. David turned back to the reception line and Talia stepped back.
"What did he say?" Illya asked lowly, taking her elbow.
"It seems that Monica is joining Emily in Nice."
"What exactly is in Nice? Arthur mentioned doctors there."
"Emily is in a sanatorium. A mental hospital." Talia was shocked.
"It looks like the Danzig women are interfering with the family business," he commented.
Talia shot him a stern look and clamped her mouth shut. Taking the hint, Illya backed off. She joined her fiancé at his side.
After a short time Talia, David and Arthur got in a limo. Illya rode back with some of the house staff in a separate limo. The ride back was quiet, save for some sniffling from one young female. They arrived at the house in the early afternoon. As soon as Illya stepped into the how he instantly knew that something was wrong by the glance Talia gave him. She was scared.
David escorted her up the stairs and Illya followed at a respectable distance. He waited in his room, knowing she would come to him when she could. He scanned the room with his wristwatch just to be careful; it still was cleared for audio.
Nearly an hour passed before there was a tap on the door. He quickly let her in, and noted that she'd changed to casual clothes. "Illya, he's moved up the release."
"What?"
She pulled her hair back into a ponytail as she spoke. "I'm supposed to finish up with my part of the Program tonight and David is going over it tomorrow. The introduction and tour that was scheduled for tomorrow? The one for the Thrush Council? Well, that's all a front to launch the program. It wasn't supposed to get launched until the next day, Thursday, when more of the Thrush technical personnel arrive. Arthur doesn't want the technical staff on the property now. He wants full control immediately."
He gripped her shoulders. "When, Talia? Do you have an exact time?"
"Not exact, no. I know that the Council members arrive tomorrow around noon. There's a cocktail party to welcome them and their spouses late afternoon, then the Council and David meet in the conference room for a brief. That should take about a half hour or so. Then David plans on taking them to the computer lab and show them the set up."
"Is that when he's launching it?"
"Yes. He's launching it up right under their noses. I'm guessing eight o'clock?" She paced a small circle, wringing her hands. "He's angry and wants to prove something to them. It can't get launched, Illya! Every computer on that system will be exploited. The information that will be available to them is . . ." She was unable to finish the sentence. "The power they will have will be immeasurable. No one will be safe."
Illya's voice was calm as his mind raced. He pulled Talia into a quick hug. "I know, Talia. I'm well aware of what those men want. Then the program will be finished tomorrow?"
"Yes. I don't see a problem. I'll have to work most of the night, but yes."
"Then we'll just move things up, too. Don't worry. I just have to tell Napoleon. I already have everything I need."
++++++++++++
Napoleon Solo was bored and tired of waiting. Neiman kept track of the assault team assembly, and informed him of the progress. By noon Thursday, all of them should be here. "Slate and Dancer want to discuss details with you. They're in the village."
Solo made his way to the village to find the pair enjoying a hot meal.
"This beats that Russian food all to heck," Slate mumbled with a full mouth.
"What did you find out, April?" Solo asked, giving Slate a friendly slap on the back.
"It looks like Talia Inova is on the up and up, Napoleon." She said, wiping her fingers on a napkin. "Her work prior to meeting David Danzig checks out, as does her whereabouts after Illya." She told them the story relayed to her by Sophia Transenburg. When she finished, both Slate and Solo had a look of astonishment.
"Didn't know he had it in him," Mark said quietly.
"It certainly doesn't sound like the Illya we know," April replied.
Solo nodded thoughtfully. "But it does explain a lot about him, doesn't it?" He was quiet for a moment then leaned in closer. "Illya wanted this information kept private. I expect you to respect that."
"No problem," the agents agreed.
"Mark? What did you find?"
"I can tell you that strangers definitely stand out in that area of the country. When I finally got close to where I believe the real Androv Inova lives, I began to hear about 'the other two strangers'."
"Danzig's investigators?"
"Sounds like it. Anyway, they had been snooping around about the Inovas, but I don't know if they found them or not. It seems that they met up with an auto accident and wound up in the river. And with a river that cold, they couldn't have lasted long."
Solo frowned. "So, if we were lucky, what we heard on the phone tap was just a lure, and they didn't get any information from them at all."
Mark sucked some air between his teeth and looked doubtful. "Well, the problem is that only one body was found in the car. The other one has not been found."
They were quiet for a minute as they contemplated the possibilities. "So, one investigator was taken by the assassin, got away, or washed down river," April summed up. "He could show up here at any moment."
"Exactly."
Solo chewed his lower lip. It wouldn't be good for Illya if he did return; they'd have to watch for him and risk exposure. It was a tough call. "So much for luck. We have a day and a half to watch for that investigator; we're too close now to have Illya's cover blown. I'll put Neiman on the watch. I have to admit, he's good at concealing himself."
They all knew that anything could change in day and a half and ruin the whole operation. The clock was now counting down.