(A/n Thanks for the reviews Ali815 & Skyfire4! There is a town called
Buchholz south of Hamburg I have never seen a Schloss there though but it's
a good area to put one. Cabs here are normally pale yellow Mercedes. Anyway-
--normal disclaimer applies. If you don't recognize them from the CA movies
then they are mine.)
*-*-*-*-* The connecting flight he caught in Frankfurt departed and arrived in Hamburg. He was amazed that for a city that size the airport was so small. He collected his baggage from the baggage carousel and went in search of a cab. He was going against he employer's orders but he was not going to set foot on a bus then a subway not after his flight next to Baby. If his employer some how found out he took a taxi he would tell her to go ahead and dock his pay. He managed to find a cab and climbed into the pale yellow Mercedes sedan. Before the driver could speak he handed the large man with the red nose, a card on which he had written the name of the hotel and address. "Sicher, aber viele Stau Heute." (Sure but lots of traffic jams today). Anthony shrugged his shoulders showing that he didn't care. He only hoped that the driver would be quiet and let him relax before he had to being working.
*-*-*-*-* Thirty minutes later the angels arrived. They had been booked on a slightly later commuter flight than Anthony had been therefore he had once again avoided making a chance contact with the Angels. After collecting their baggage they spotted a chauffer holding, above the crowd of people awaiting their friends and relatives, a sign which read "Townsend's."
"That's us," cried Natalie waving her hand at the driver. He gave the perky blonde a big smile in return and approached the four tired travelers. "Welcome to Hamburg," he said with a thick German accent. May I take your bag," he asked Natalie. She gave it up without a thought and he led them out to the waiting limo.
"You know he offered to take your bag because he likes you," said Dylan to her friend with a smirk.
"No, he doesn't," said Natalie playfully slapping Dylan on the shoulder.
"Yes, he does, he didn't offer to carry my bag or Alex's."
"But I'm with Pete," said the blonde with wide innocent eyes as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Yeah but he doesn't know that does he," with that Dylan jogged a head to catch up with Bosley who was pushing the rest of the luggage.
"She right," agreed Alex. It always amazed Dylan that Natalie didn't realize what an effect she had on men.
As he loaded the baggage into the car the chauffer said, "Frau James und Graf von Buchholz insist that you do not stay in a hotel. Rooms have been prepared for you," He then opened the door for Natalie and made a sweeping bow. She giggled but Dylan and Alex rolled their eyes and pushed their way into the car. Dylan leaned over and whispered in her ear, "You said yourself you are with Pete, try not to encourage him."
The chauffer got in and started the car and left the window separating him from the passengers down. Alex leaned forward a bit and asked, "Are you hired for the day or are you a full time employee of the Graf?"
He glanced up into the rear view mirror to get a look at his passengers. "My name is Helmar and I am a- as you say it full time employee of the Graf. Nine years now."
"That's a long time," said Nat. "Do you get a long with him?"
"As well as anyone gets along with the Graf. He is a very launisch, what is the word," he snapped his fingers to make the right word surface, "temperamental man, but it is mostly due to his frustration."
"With his condition," asked Dylan.
"You know about that. Of course you do you are friends with Ms. James." He said the name of their client as though he had eaten something bitter.
"You don't like Katja," asked Alex becoming intrigued with where their conversation with the very open chauffer Helmar, was going.
"Es tut mir wirklich leid, I am really sorry, but I shouldn't be talking about my employers," he said and rolled up the window.
Alex leaned back against the seat. "Well there is one suspect, Helmar the chauffer." They rode in silence the rest of the way to the small palace just outside the city of Hamburg.
*-*-*-*-* Anthony checked into the hotel. "Your room is 319," said the desk clerk. She was a pretty young woman with shining chestnut hair and big blue eyes. He felt the impulse to reach in and grab a lock but fought it back successfully by touching the pieces of hair he had in his pocket. He picked the black plastic ball point pen off the counter and scribbled out "I'm expecting a package, has it arrived?"
"Let me check on that for you sir," said the desk clerk before she went into the office behind the counter. She emerged a few minutes later with a large mailing tube. "This arrived this morning. Wonderful timing, was it not?"
Anthony shook his head in agreement and scribbled a quick thank you. He didn't even like writing so much but whether you talked or not people always remember the rude ones. He grabbed his suitcase in one hand, tucked the roll under his arm and carried his laptop in the other. He started towards the elevator when the young woman yelled, "Sir! Sir, I forgot." He turned and she was waving a small envelope. He had also forgotten; it was the disk from his employer. He walked back over and she tucked the disk under his arm. He nodded in way of thanks and boarded the elevator.
The room was a spacious suite and it was obvious his employer spared no expense. He placed his laptop on the secretary and turned it on. He opened the envelope and a small black floppy fell out. He flipped it over and no distinguishing marks of any kind. He popped it in the drive and looked at the contents. There was nothing except a wav file. He double clicked on the icon and a player popped up.
"If you are listening to this you have made it to Hamburg, Welcome." It was the voice of his employer. "You are on standby until you are contacted further. Once contacted you will follow the instructions listed in this recording." He unpacked as he listened; hanging anything that need hung and making sure his clothing was neatly put away. The then opened the tube and took out one of the canes that were inside. No noticeable damage. "Keep in mind you have until the day of the wedding and can be called upon at anytime. Meanwhile enjoy your stay." The recording was over. What was he going to do with himself until needed was now the question.
*-*-*-*-*
"Wow!" exclaimed Natalie. Her "wow" awakened her three sleeping companions. "Look at that." Dylan and Alex scooted closer to the other side of the car to see what Natalie was excited about and saw nothing. "It just went behind the tree line wait you can see it again soon." A large house behind a black iron fence soon emerged. It was rather plain looking itself, cream colored and three stories with a black shingled roof with several chimneys jutting out, but the front garden was amazing. It was July and everything was in full bloom, red rose bushes lined the drive way, hortensias blossomed in blue and pink, the large tree in the front yard hung heavy with cherries but the centerpiece was the large fountain that sprayed a mist of bubbling water into the air. "Isn't that just incredible?"
The limo pulled into the circular drive in front of the house and out stepped their client, Katja James. Helmar got out and went to the back passenger side of the car and opened the door. Out clamored the three angels and Bosley, all stiff from falling asleep in the back. "Welcome to Schloss Buchholz," cried Katja. "I'm so glad that you all came to help me with my problem."
"This place is fantastic," said Dylan looking around, "like something from a fairy tale."
"Reminds me of the von Trap family home in 'The Sound of Music'," said Alex.
"Well it's not quite that large, but it suits Andreas. I've had the servants prepare rooms for you all." Just then a large balding man stepped out onto the steps of the house. He wiped his red face with a handkerchief. Bosley stepped forward and held out his hand, "You must be the Graf."
"Actually," interjected Katja, "he is Andreas's new private secretary. My sister, who unfortunately can't be here, recommended him. Natalie, Alex, Mr. Bosley, Diane, this is Karl Mills."
"Its Dylan," said Dylan correcting her with a smile and shaking the hand of Karl.
"Sorry, I don't know what got into me, forgetting my own friend's name like that. Karl this is Dylan."
"Pleased to meet you all," said Karl. There was something about the Dylan girl that reminded him of someone, something about her eyes and the shape of her mouth. He just couldn't put a finger on it and it bothered him. He felt as though he should know her.
"Well why don't we go inside and let you all get settled. Lunch is at twelve, that gives you a half and hour."
"Yeah," said Karl, "Ya don't wanna be late. The Count is a stickler for punc-it-tuality."
"Our bags," asked Alex glancing over her shoulder at the car.
"Oh those don't worry about them. Helmar, ask Michael to take the bags up to their rooms. Make it quick they only have a half an hour before lunch." Helmar scowled at Katja and headed to the back of house.
"Who is Michael?"
"Oh he is the butler but he usually has Mondays off. Come along." And with that they followed her into the house.
Inside was dark and cool, all the curtains were drawn and there was very little light. "Part of how Andreas protects himself from the sunlight," said Katja as she lit several candles. As the foyer brightened they could see a large broad marble staircase. Next to each banister was a pedestal with a large vase of sunflowers. Dylan wondered why bother if no one could see them anyway without lighting a candle.
"Is it just as skin sensitivity or his eyes," asked Alex taking one of the tapers that was in an old fashioned brass holder.
"Both actually. You may of course open the curtains in your rooms but I have to ask that, for Andreas' sake you leave the other closed. She started up the stairs and the others took a candle as well and followed.
Dylan was towards the back of the group and called out, "I do have a question." Katja turned and raised her perfectly plucked eyebrow as a sign Dylan should go on. "Its about the notes, If the Count has such a hypersensitivity to light then why did the killer suggest that he might die breaking his neck in a horse riding accident?"
"Oh that," she said turning and continuing up the staircase. You see there are two traditions in my fiancé's family. One is that two days before the wedding the men all go riding, sort of a fox hunt without hurting the fox, at least now days. In Andreas' case the men will be taking a midnight ride, he didn't want to forsake tradition and so we planned our wedding for a day that falls two days after a full moon. That way there is a lot of light and the ride can take place. Your rooms are down this way," she pointed to the right and they followed.
"So what is the second," asked Dylan.
"Didn't I go over that with you? No I suppose not," she said not letting any of the angels' answer, "so we will have to take a day to remedy that. The second tradition is a costume ball then night before the wedding."
"How fun! I wish Pete could be here."
"Is Pete your boyfriend," asked Katja unaware that that was a dangerous question. When Natalie got started on the subject of Pete there was no stopping her.
Mills watched Katja lead her friends to their rooms. They seemed like nice girls. Too bad his employer had warned him about them. Dividing and conquering would probably be the best way to handle the situation. He wondered how the silent guy from the park was doing. He never did learn his name and could only hope that the man actually made it and did his job properly it would make his job so much easier. If he didn't he would still do what he was paid to do even if there was a chance he could be caught.
*-*-*-*-* The connecting flight he caught in Frankfurt departed and arrived in Hamburg. He was amazed that for a city that size the airport was so small. He collected his baggage from the baggage carousel and went in search of a cab. He was going against he employer's orders but he was not going to set foot on a bus then a subway not after his flight next to Baby. If his employer some how found out he took a taxi he would tell her to go ahead and dock his pay. He managed to find a cab and climbed into the pale yellow Mercedes sedan. Before the driver could speak he handed the large man with the red nose, a card on which he had written the name of the hotel and address. "Sicher, aber viele Stau Heute." (Sure but lots of traffic jams today). Anthony shrugged his shoulders showing that he didn't care. He only hoped that the driver would be quiet and let him relax before he had to being working.
*-*-*-*-* Thirty minutes later the angels arrived. They had been booked on a slightly later commuter flight than Anthony had been therefore he had once again avoided making a chance contact with the Angels. After collecting their baggage they spotted a chauffer holding, above the crowd of people awaiting their friends and relatives, a sign which read "Townsend's."
"That's us," cried Natalie waving her hand at the driver. He gave the perky blonde a big smile in return and approached the four tired travelers. "Welcome to Hamburg," he said with a thick German accent. May I take your bag," he asked Natalie. She gave it up without a thought and he led them out to the waiting limo.
"You know he offered to take your bag because he likes you," said Dylan to her friend with a smirk.
"No, he doesn't," said Natalie playfully slapping Dylan on the shoulder.
"Yes, he does, he didn't offer to carry my bag or Alex's."
"But I'm with Pete," said the blonde with wide innocent eyes as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Yeah but he doesn't know that does he," with that Dylan jogged a head to catch up with Bosley who was pushing the rest of the luggage.
"She right," agreed Alex. It always amazed Dylan that Natalie didn't realize what an effect she had on men.
As he loaded the baggage into the car the chauffer said, "Frau James und Graf von Buchholz insist that you do not stay in a hotel. Rooms have been prepared for you," He then opened the door for Natalie and made a sweeping bow. She giggled but Dylan and Alex rolled their eyes and pushed their way into the car. Dylan leaned over and whispered in her ear, "You said yourself you are with Pete, try not to encourage him."
The chauffer got in and started the car and left the window separating him from the passengers down. Alex leaned forward a bit and asked, "Are you hired for the day or are you a full time employee of the Graf?"
He glanced up into the rear view mirror to get a look at his passengers. "My name is Helmar and I am a- as you say it full time employee of the Graf. Nine years now."
"That's a long time," said Nat. "Do you get a long with him?"
"As well as anyone gets along with the Graf. He is a very launisch, what is the word," he snapped his fingers to make the right word surface, "temperamental man, but it is mostly due to his frustration."
"With his condition," asked Dylan.
"You know about that. Of course you do you are friends with Ms. James." He said the name of their client as though he had eaten something bitter.
"You don't like Katja," asked Alex becoming intrigued with where their conversation with the very open chauffer Helmar, was going.
"Es tut mir wirklich leid, I am really sorry, but I shouldn't be talking about my employers," he said and rolled up the window.
Alex leaned back against the seat. "Well there is one suspect, Helmar the chauffer." They rode in silence the rest of the way to the small palace just outside the city of Hamburg.
*-*-*-*-* Anthony checked into the hotel. "Your room is 319," said the desk clerk. She was a pretty young woman with shining chestnut hair and big blue eyes. He felt the impulse to reach in and grab a lock but fought it back successfully by touching the pieces of hair he had in his pocket. He picked the black plastic ball point pen off the counter and scribbled out "I'm expecting a package, has it arrived?"
"Let me check on that for you sir," said the desk clerk before she went into the office behind the counter. She emerged a few minutes later with a large mailing tube. "This arrived this morning. Wonderful timing, was it not?"
Anthony shook his head in agreement and scribbled a quick thank you. He didn't even like writing so much but whether you talked or not people always remember the rude ones. He grabbed his suitcase in one hand, tucked the roll under his arm and carried his laptop in the other. He started towards the elevator when the young woman yelled, "Sir! Sir, I forgot." He turned and she was waving a small envelope. He had also forgotten; it was the disk from his employer. He walked back over and she tucked the disk under his arm. He nodded in way of thanks and boarded the elevator.
The room was a spacious suite and it was obvious his employer spared no expense. He placed his laptop on the secretary and turned it on. He opened the envelope and a small black floppy fell out. He flipped it over and no distinguishing marks of any kind. He popped it in the drive and looked at the contents. There was nothing except a wav file. He double clicked on the icon and a player popped up.
"If you are listening to this you have made it to Hamburg, Welcome." It was the voice of his employer. "You are on standby until you are contacted further. Once contacted you will follow the instructions listed in this recording." He unpacked as he listened; hanging anything that need hung and making sure his clothing was neatly put away. The then opened the tube and took out one of the canes that were inside. No noticeable damage. "Keep in mind you have until the day of the wedding and can be called upon at anytime. Meanwhile enjoy your stay." The recording was over. What was he going to do with himself until needed was now the question.
*-*-*-*-*
"Wow!" exclaimed Natalie. Her "wow" awakened her three sleeping companions. "Look at that." Dylan and Alex scooted closer to the other side of the car to see what Natalie was excited about and saw nothing. "It just went behind the tree line wait you can see it again soon." A large house behind a black iron fence soon emerged. It was rather plain looking itself, cream colored and three stories with a black shingled roof with several chimneys jutting out, but the front garden was amazing. It was July and everything was in full bloom, red rose bushes lined the drive way, hortensias blossomed in blue and pink, the large tree in the front yard hung heavy with cherries but the centerpiece was the large fountain that sprayed a mist of bubbling water into the air. "Isn't that just incredible?"
The limo pulled into the circular drive in front of the house and out stepped their client, Katja James. Helmar got out and went to the back passenger side of the car and opened the door. Out clamored the three angels and Bosley, all stiff from falling asleep in the back. "Welcome to Schloss Buchholz," cried Katja. "I'm so glad that you all came to help me with my problem."
"This place is fantastic," said Dylan looking around, "like something from a fairy tale."
"Reminds me of the von Trap family home in 'The Sound of Music'," said Alex.
"Well it's not quite that large, but it suits Andreas. I've had the servants prepare rooms for you all." Just then a large balding man stepped out onto the steps of the house. He wiped his red face with a handkerchief. Bosley stepped forward and held out his hand, "You must be the Graf."
"Actually," interjected Katja, "he is Andreas's new private secretary. My sister, who unfortunately can't be here, recommended him. Natalie, Alex, Mr. Bosley, Diane, this is Karl Mills."
"Its Dylan," said Dylan correcting her with a smile and shaking the hand of Karl.
"Sorry, I don't know what got into me, forgetting my own friend's name like that. Karl this is Dylan."
"Pleased to meet you all," said Karl. There was something about the Dylan girl that reminded him of someone, something about her eyes and the shape of her mouth. He just couldn't put a finger on it and it bothered him. He felt as though he should know her.
"Well why don't we go inside and let you all get settled. Lunch is at twelve, that gives you a half and hour."
"Yeah," said Karl, "Ya don't wanna be late. The Count is a stickler for punc-it-tuality."
"Our bags," asked Alex glancing over her shoulder at the car.
"Oh those don't worry about them. Helmar, ask Michael to take the bags up to their rooms. Make it quick they only have a half an hour before lunch." Helmar scowled at Katja and headed to the back of house.
"Who is Michael?"
"Oh he is the butler but he usually has Mondays off. Come along." And with that they followed her into the house.
Inside was dark and cool, all the curtains were drawn and there was very little light. "Part of how Andreas protects himself from the sunlight," said Katja as she lit several candles. As the foyer brightened they could see a large broad marble staircase. Next to each banister was a pedestal with a large vase of sunflowers. Dylan wondered why bother if no one could see them anyway without lighting a candle.
"Is it just as skin sensitivity or his eyes," asked Alex taking one of the tapers that was in an old fashioned brass holder.
"Both actually. You may of course open the curtains in your rooms but I have to ask that, for Andreas' sake you leave the other closed. She started up the stairs and the others took a candle as well and followed.
Dylan was towards the back of the group and called out, "I do have a question." Katja turned and raised her perfectly plucked eyebrow as a sign Dylan should go on. "Its about the notes, If the Count has such a hypersensitivity to light then why did the killer suggest that he might die breaking his neck in a horse riding accident?"
"Oh that," she said turning and continuing up the staircase. You see there are two traditions in my fiancé's family. One is that two days before the wedding the men all go riding, sort of a fox hunt without hurting the fox, at least now days. In Andreas' case the men will be taking a midnight ride, he didn't want to forsake tradition and so we planned our wedding for a day that falls two days after a full moon. That way there is a lot of light and the ride can take place. Your rooms are down this way," she pointed to the right and they followed.
"So what is the second," asked Dylan.
"Didn't I go over that with you? No I suppose not," she said not letting any of the angels' answer, "so we will have to take a day to remedy that. The second tradition is a costume ball then night before the wedding."
"How fun! I wish Pete could be here."
"Is Pete your boyfriend," asked Katja unaware that that was a dangerous question. When Natalie got started on the subject of Pete there was no stopping her.
Mills watched Katja lead her friends to their rooms. They seemed like nice girls. Too bad his employer had warned him about them. Dividing and conquering would probably be the best way to handle the situation. He wondered how the silent guy from the park was doing. He never did learn his name and could only hope that the man actually made it and did his job properly it would make his job so much easier. If he didn't he would still do what he was paid to do even if there was a chance he could be caught.