(A/n Hi everyone,
My hand is no longer stiff but hurts still, however my muse wouldn't let me get away with not writing this today. Yes another cliffy ending but have to keep everyone wanting more. Lots of German in this chapter so I decided to put the translation next to the sentence instead of at the end of the chapter. Have fun! PS I do not own Charlie's Angels, Bosley, or Anthony)
*-*-*-*-*
Arriving back home at the Schloss Katja was informed by Helga that the angels had left the Schloss and were staying at the small inn in town. Katja decided the taking a bath and removing the grime from the day before would let her think better. She drew the water as hot as she could get it and added her favorite bubble bath. She slipped a dainty foot into the water, hissed at the slight pain the temperature caused, and then lowered her entire body in. "Feel better already," thought Katja to herself.
The angels moving into the hotel put a damper on her plans. Her first idea had been to send the staff away and just simply kill the angels off, which of course wouldn't work now. She hoped that Anthony would take care of the situation. To her he seemed to be that kind of man, a strong, take charge kind of guy. She thought about how he removed Andreas' sister from the picture; although she didn't tell him, she was very impressed by that. The only thing that worried her was that he obviously liked Dylan how that would affect the plan, she wasn't sure.
*-*-*-*-*
Anthony heard Bosley call upstairs that the phone call with Charlie was set up and that they should come down to the dining room. He heard them run down the stairs sounding like a heard of elephants, how such slender girls could make that much noise he could only wonder. He waited until their voices drifted off and then he emerged from him room, silently walking down the stairs and positioning himself just outside the dining room door.
He could see in the mirror the angels seated at a wooden table covered with a white table cloth embroidered with bright flowers, the infamous white speaker box at the other end. The young women were talking amongst themselves until a male voice spoke, "Hello Angels."
"Hello Charlie," said the angels in synch. Anthony felt his breakfast rise, the greeting was too cute and cuteness wasn't something he was used to.
"Bosley told me that you have some questions for me."
The angel he knew as Alex spoke first. "The other night the Count choked at the fox hunt dinner. Thanks to Bosley's quick reactions he didn't"
"Aw shucks," said Bosley a blush flushing his face, "It wasn't anything."
"Yes, Alex that was mentioned in you last briefing, once again good job Bosley," said Charlie.
The angels looked at each other and Dylan continued, "Bosley applied the Heimlich maneuver and then hit him hard in between the shoulder blades when the Heimlich didn't work. When Bosley hit him a ring flew out. We were told that it must have fallen into the bowl of pudding in the kitchen and assumed it belonged to the cook."
"I put it in the pocket of the jodhpurs I was wearing and forgot about it until this morning when I found it again," said Alex
"That's when we really looked at it," began Natalie. "It was a two karat diamond set in platinum. Kind of expensive for a cook but then Dylan noticed the engraving in the band of the ring."
"I know what you will say next, Angels," said Charlie. "I had my suspicions when Katja came to the agency, but I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt." Even Anthony who had not heard Charlie's voice before could hear the weariness in it. "Katja and I met at a party a few years back. She was quite a bit younger than I and I hesitated to encourage her attentions, but she was very persuasive. Without getting into great detail I will tell you our romance was whirlwind and I was head over heals for her. I went so far as to ask her to marry me. She readily accepted the proposal and the engagement ring, the same one you have in your possession. Not long before the wedding I realized that she didn't love me but loved my money. She denied it but I canceled the wedding anyway. Katja vowed revenge on me. Then she called with the case. She even went so far to apologize for hurting me and said she had been young and foolish. I suppose I am old and foolish for wanting to believe that she had changed."
The angels sat there for a moment not knowing what to say. "I think she still wants her revenge on you and she wants to get it through us," said Dylan. "Anthony said that he was supposed to kill us too."
"I think you are right Dylan," said Charlie. "She knows the easiest way to hurt me would be to hurt you."
"Now we just need proof against Katja," said Natalie. "Do you think the ring is enough?"
Alex shifted in her seat and said, "I don't think so. As far as we know someone stole the ring and added it to the pudding. We need to catch her red-handed and I think I know how to do it."
"I wish you girls good luck. Be careful, Katja is more dangerous than she looks. Her only motivator is money. Good Bye, Angels."
"Bye Charlie," they said once again in unison.
"Back upstairs and Ill tell you my idea," said Alex. The three angels stood and started to leave the dining room. Through the window Dylan thought she saw Anthony leaving the hotel. She looked again and the figure was gone. "Dylan, are you alright," asked Alex.
Dylan shook herself and said, "Yeah, I guess so. I wonder what happened to Anthony." "If we are lucky he is out of the country by now," said Alex, "but knowing his tenacity he is still around somewhere."
*-*-*-*-*
After Alex informed her friends of her plan to catch Katja she headed to the hospital to check on the count. Natalie was going back to the house to look around the study for more evidence and Dylan's job was to locate the Creepy Thin Man.
Alex went to the hospital and good news awaited her; the Count was awake. She walked into the room and he smiled at her. "Alex," Andreas said motioning to the chair next to his bed, "how good to see you."
"How are you feeling," she asked
"Much better I suppose. Maybe you can tell me how I got here."
"You don't remember," Alex asked surprised.
"I remember gun shots and Dylan telling me to go into the study and not to let anyone in. I did let Kat in, and then I don't remember much. I remember waking up here, and the nurse taking blood. Is there something I should remember," he asked looking at the angel carefully.
Alex hesitated telling him that they suspected Katja of trying to murder him but knew for his own good he had to be on his guard. "Just someone almost succeeded in killing you last night."
"I assumed that much. I am apparently sturdier than I look," he said with a small sarcastic laugh. "Do you know who tried to kill me? Are they in jail?"
"We have a suspect but they aren't in jail. There isn't enough proof," said Alex
"Who?"
"Katja."
"Katja?" He laughed. "Katja? You must be mistaken."
"Graf."
"Alex, I'm sorry I just can't believe that my beloved Katja would try to kill me."
"You don't have to believe it. Just keep your eyes open and we will do our job and catch the person who tried to kill you." She didn't want him to stop trusting her, she and the angels would need his help if her plan was going to work. She hoped the Natalie was finding evidence at the Schloss.
*-*-*-*-*
Natalie arrived at the Schloss at a little after noon. Helga was nervous about letting her in because Katja had given orders for the remaining servants not to let the Angels back, but Natalie told her she had lost an earring. Helga admitted her, "Do you know where you lost it Frau Cook?"
"I am so sorry, but I don't. It could be in my room, maybe Karl's, or maybe the study."
Helga looked around cautiously, "I'm not supposed to let you in. Frau James isn't here so if you look quickly I don't think I will get into trouble."
"Where did she go?"
"I am not sure, visiting friends perhaps, maybe to see the Count. She doesn't tell me her business."
"Do you like Frau James?"
"It's not my place to like her or not to like her. I do my job and that is enough."
"But you like the Count?"
"He is a kind man. I was hired by his father thirty ago when I wasn't much older than you. I watched Andreas, I mean the Count, grow up. I very much like him. It bothers me that.." Helga let the end of the sentence drop.
"What bothers you?"
"I feel that I can talk to you Frau Cook. I'll tell you the story as we look for your earring."
"Ok that isn't quite the plan," thought Natalie, "but maybe Helga has something else she can tell me that will help us link Katja to the crimes."
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan already had an idea where to start with her assignment and went to find the hotel owners daughter. She found the little girl in the garden playing Barbie. "Hi, was machst du, (what are you doing) " she asked the little girl. "Ich spiele, (I'm playing)" the child replied. "Ich bin Dylan (I am Dylan)"
The little girl looked up from her Barbies and smiled, "Ich heiße Anna (I'm called Anna)."
"Sprichst du Englisch? (Do you speak English)"
"Ich weis ein bisschen. Wir in der Schule lernen. (I know a little. We are learning in school)"
"I want to ask you a few questions, is that okay," said Dylan. Anna nodded in understanding. "Have you seen a man around here?"
"There are many men around here. Papa is a man."
"I mean a guest, a tall man who is very quiet and smokes."
The little girl thought a minute. "Ja, he is very nice. I like him." Dylan thought that it was odd that the little girl should find him nice, maybe she is thinking of the wrong person. On the other hand she also found him nice; in a strange sort of way and kissing him had been very nice, both times. "He has the room neben deines," said Anna in broken English.
"You mean the room next to mine?"
"Ja," Anna confirmed and went back to her Barbies. Dylan thanked her and headed back inside the inn. She decided to see what she could find on Katja and Anthony. Going upstairs she knocked on the door to the room to the left of hers, the one of the right was the one Natalie had. There was no answer. She tried the doorknob but it was locked. Dylan reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a credit card, "American Express," she said slipping it in-between the door jam and the door and ran it down to the lock, the door popped open, "don't leave home without it." She put the card back and entered the room.
The room was immaculate. She carefully opened the dresser drawers; they contained neatly folded clothes and nothing else. Dylan opened the doors to the wardrobe; inside neatly hung were suit jackets, pants and dress shirts. She felt around in the pockets of the clothing coming up with nothing. She shut the doors and peered under the bed, there she located his laptop and the cylindrical mailing tube. Opening the tube she discovered his stash of swords but nothing of interest. She then pulled the laptop out, sat it on the small desk near the window and turned it on. It beeped and she heard the motor whirl as the computer booted. Then she ran into her first problem the password.
"Damn," she mumbled, "if I was a tall thin, mysterious, sexy, chain smoking assassin with a hair fetish and a sword what would I use?" She tried, "Redstar"-access denied, "Cigarettes"- access denied, "Pantene"- access denied, "Rapier"- access denied. Dylan stopped and thought a moment, "Ok long shot," she said and typed her own name. "Welcome," said the computer voice. That is when she felt cold steel of Anthony's sword against her throat
My hand is no longer stiff but hurts still, however my muse wouldn't let me get away with not writing this today. Yes another cliffy ending but have to keep everyone wanting more. Lots of German in this chapter so I decided to put the translation next to the sentence instead of at the end of the chapter. Have fun! PS I do not own Charlie's Angels, Bosley, or Anthony)
*-*-*-*-*
Arriving back home at the Schloss Katja was informed by Helga that the angels had left the Schloss and were staying at the small inn in town. Katja decided the taking a bath and removing the grime from the day before would let her think better. She drew the water as hot as she could get it and added her favorite bubble bath. She slipped a dainty foot into the water, hissed at the slight pain the temperature caused, and then lowered her entire body in. "Feel better already," thought Katja to herself.
The angels moving into the hotel put a damper on her plans. Her first idea had been to send the staff away and just simply kill the angels off, which of course wouldn't work now. She hoped that Anthony would take care of the situation. To her he seemed to be that kind of man, a strong, take charge kind of guy. She thought about how he removed Andreas' sister from the picture; although she didn't tell him, she was very impressed by that. The only thing that worried her was that he obviously liked Dylan how that would affect the plan, she wasn't sure.
*-*-*-*-*
Anthony heard Bosley call upstairs that the phone call with Charlie was set up and that they should come down to the dining room. He heard them run down the stairs sounding like a heard of elephants, how such slender girls could make that much noise he could only wonder. He waited until their voices drifted off and then he emerged from him room, silently walking down the stairs and positioning himself just outside the dining room door.
He could see in the mirror the angels seated at a wooden table covered with a white table cloth embroidered with bright flowers, the infamous white speaker box at the other end. The young women were talking amongst themselves until a male voice spoke, "Hello Angels."
"Hello Charlie," said the angels in synch. Anthony felt his breakfast rise, the greeting was too cute and cuteness wasn't something he was used to.
"Bosley told me that you have some questions for me."
The angel he knew as Alex spoke first. "The other night the Count choked at the fox hunt dinner. Thanks to Bosley's quick reactions he didn't"
"Aw shucks," said Bosley a blush flushing his face, "It wasn't anything."
"Yes, Alex that was mentioned in you last briefing, once again good job Bosley," said Charlie.
The angels looked at each other and Dylan continued, "Bosley applied the Heimlich maneuver and then hit him hard in between the shoulder blades when the Heimlich didn't work. When Bosley hit him a ring flew out. We were told that it must have fallen into the bowl of pudding in the kitchen and assumed it belonged to the cook."
"I put it in the pocket of the jodhpurs I was wearing and forgot about it until this morning when I found it again," said Alex
"That's when we really looked at it," began Natalie. "It was a two karat diamond set in platinum. Kind of expensive for a cook but then Dylan noticed the engraving in the band of the ring."
"I know what you will say next, Angels," said Charlie. "I had my suspicions when Katja came to the agency, but I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt." Even Anthony who had not heard Charlie's voice before could hear the weariness in it. "Katja and I met at a party a few years back. She was quite a bit younger than I and I hesitated to encourage her attentions, but she was very persuasive. Without getting into great detail I will tell you our romance was whirlwind and I was head over heals for her. I went so far as to ask her to marry me. She readily accepted the proposal and the engagement ring, the same one you have in your possession. Not long before the wedding I realized that she didn't love me but loved my money. She denied it but I canceled the wedding anyway. Katja vowed revenge on me. Then she called with the case. She even went so far to apologize for hurting me and said she had been young and foolish. I suppose I am old and foolish for wanting to believe that she had changed."
The angels sat there for a moment not knowing what to say. "I think she still wants her revenge on you and she wants to get it through us," said Dylan. "Anthony said that he was supposed to kill us too."
"I think you are right Dylan," said Charlie. "She knows the easiest way to hurt me would be to hurt you."
"Now we just need proof against Katja," said Natalie. "Do you think the ring is enough?"
Alex shifted in her seat and said, "I don't think so. As far as we know someone stole the ring and added it to the pudding. We need to catch her red-handed and I think I know how to do it."
"I wish you girls good luck. Be careful, Katja is more dangerous than she looks. Her only motivator is money. Good Bye, Angels."
"Bye Charlie," they said once again in unison.
"Back upstairs and Ill tell you my idea," said Alex. The three angels stood and started to leave the dining room. Through the window Dylan thought she saw Anthony leaving the hotel. She looked again and the figure was gone. "Dylan, are you alright," asked Alex.
Dylan shook herself and said, "Yeah, I guess so. I wonder what happened to Anthony." "If we are lucky he is out of the country by now," said Alex, "but knowing his tenacity he is still around somewhere."
*-*-*-*-*
After Alex informed her friends of her plan to catch Katja she headed to the hospital to check on the count. Natalie was going back to the house to look around the study for more evidence and Dylan's job was to locate the Creepy Thin Man.
Alex went to the hospital and good news awaited her; the Count was awake. She walked into the room and he smiled at her. "Alex," Andreas said motioning to the chair next to his bed, "how good to see you."
"How are you feeling," she asked
"Much better I suppose. Maybe you can tell me how I got here."
"You don't remember," Alex asked surprised.
"I remember gun shots and Dylan telling me to go into the study and not to let anyone in. I did let Kat in, and then I don't remember much. I remember waking up here, and the nurse taking blood. Is there something I should remember," he asked looking at the angel carefully.
Alex hesitated telling him that they suspected Katja of trying to murder him but knew for his own good he had to be on his guard. "Just someone almost succeeded in killing you last night."
"I assumed that much. I am apparently sturdier than I look," he said with a small sarcastic laugh. "Do you know who tried to kill me? Are they in jail?"
"We have a suspect but they aren't in jail. There isn't enough proof," said Alex
"Who?"
"Katja."
"Katja?" He laughed. "Katja? You must be mistaken."
"Graf."
"Alex, I'm sorry I just can't believe that my beloved Katja would try to kill me."
"You don't have to believe it. Just keep your eyes open and we will do our job and catch the person who tried to kill you." She didn't want him to stop trusting her, she and the angels would need his help if her plan was going to work. She hoped the Natalie was finding evidence at the Schloss.
*-*-*-*-*
Natalie arrived at the Schloss at a little after noon. Helga was nervous about letting her in because Katja had given orders for the remaining servants not to let the Angels back, but Natalie told her she had lost an earring. Helga admitted her, "Do you know where you lost it Frau Cook?"
"I am so sorry, but I don't. It could be in my room, maybe Karl's, or maybe the study."
Helga looked around cautiously, "I'm not supposed to let you in. Frau James isn't here so if you look quickly I don't think I will get into trouble."
"Where did she go?"
"I am not sure, visiting friends perhaps, maybe to see the Count. She doesn't tell me her business."
"Do you like Frau James?"
"It's not my place to like her or not to like her. I do my job and that is enough."
"But you like the Count?"
"He is a kind man. I was hired by his father thirty ago when I wasn't much older than you. I watched Andreas, I mean the Count, grow up. I very much like him. It bothers me that.." Helga let the end of the sentence drop.
"What bothers you?"
"I feel that I can talk to you Frau Cook. I'll tell you the story as we look for your earring."
"Ok that isn't quite the plan," thought Natalie, "but maybe Helga has something else she can tell me that will help us link Katja to the crimes."
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan already had an idea where to start with her assignment and went to find the hotel owners daughter. She found the little girl in the garden playing Barbie. "Hi, was machst du, (what are you doing) " she asked the little girl. "Ich spiele, (I'm playing)" the child replied. "Ich bin Dylan (I am Dylan)"
The little girl looked up from her Barbies and smiled, "Ich heiße Anna (I'm called Anna)."
"Sprichst du Englisch? (Do you speak English)"
"Ich weis ein bisschen. Wir in der Schule lernen. (I know a little. We are learning in school)"
"I want to ask you a few questions, is that okay," said Dylan. Anna nodded in understanding. "Have you seen a man around here?"
"There are many men around here. Papa is a man."
"I mean a guest, a tall man who is very quiet and smokes."
The little girl thought a minute. "Ja, he is very nice. I like him." Dylan thought that it was odd that the little girl should find him nice, maybe she is thinking of the wrong person. On the other hand she also found him nice; in a strange sort of way and kissing him had been very nice, both times. "He has the room neben deines," said Anna in broken English.
"You mean the room next to mine?"
"Ja," Anna confirmed and went back to her Barbies. Dylan thanked her and headed back inside the inn. She decided to see what she could find on Katja and Anthony. Going upstairs she knocked on the door to the room to the left of hers, the one of the right was the one Natalie had. There was no answer. She tried the doorknob but it was locked. Dylan reached into the back pocket of her jeans and pulled out a credit card, "American Express," she said slipping it in-between the door jam and the door and ran it down to the lock, the door popped open, "don't leave home without it." She put the card back and entered the room.
The room was immaculate. She carefully opened the dresser drawers; they contained neatly folded clothes and nothing else. Dylan opened the doors to the wardrobe; inside neatly hung were suit jackets, pants and dress shirts. She felt around in the pockets of the clothing coming up with nothing. She shut the doors and peered under the bed, there she located his laptop and the cylindrical mailing tube. Opening the tube she discovered his stash of swords but nothing of interest. She then pulled the laptop out, sat it on the small desk near the window and turned it on. It beeped and she heard the motor whirl as the computer booted. Then she ran into her first problem the password.
"Damn," she mumbled, "if I was a tall thin, mysterious, sexy, chain smoking assassin with a hair fetish and a sword what would I use?" She tried, "Redstar"-access denied, "Cigarettes"- access denied, "Pantene"- access denied, "Rapier"- access denied. Dylan stopped and thought a moment, "Ok long shot," she said and typed her own name. "Welcome," said the computer voice. That is when she felt cold steel of Anthony's sword against her throat