Hi, I had big computer problems and lost tons of files including this
chapter. So I was busy yesterday fixing that and re-writing this. Its close
but not quite the same as the original unfortunately but I think it works
pretty well. Please review! Thanks!
*-*-*-*-*
Alex tried Dylan's cell and landline numbers again as she drove to the condo. There was still no answer on either. At first she had thought that Natalie might be over reacting to the lack of response on Dylan's part, but now she wasn't so sure. She pulled the car up in front of the building and saw that Dylan's mustang wasn't there. "Not a good sign," she thought climbing out and walking up the path to the main door. Alex dug through her purse and produced the extra set of keys and unlocked the door. Last time she had used them she had the shock of finding out Dylan and Anthony had slept together for the first time. She wondered what the surprise would be this time as she knocked cautiously on the door.
Anthony stood by the large bay window that over looked the ocean. In the darkness the sky and the water melded into an inky blackness but he could make out the beach and the white foam of the waves as they crashed against it. He leaned his head against the cool glass and wondered how the egg ended up in his things and the only explanation he could come up with was someone had broken in and put it there. It angered him that someone had been in the condo and could have hurt Dylan because of him. That wasn't the way it was supposed to be. He was supposed to protect her not place her in more danger. A light knock at the door woke him from his thoughts. He walked to the door and opened it expecting to see Dylan but seeing Alex standing there instead.
Alex was just about to place her key in the lock when the door swung open placing her face to face with the Thin Man. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her quickly inside. "What are you doing here? I thought you would be with Kate," she said in an unfriendly manner. He understood her anger towards him. He knew he had hurt Dylan, however unintentionally and that her friends were very protective of her. He envied that at times. Reaching into his pocket he produced his ever present notepad and wrote. "Waiting for Dylan to get back."
"Does she know you are here?" Alex asked. He simply nodded in the affirmative. "Well where did she go?" Anthony wrote one word, "Hospital."
"When did she leave? I just came from there and she wasn't. Natalie and I have been trying to call her cell phone all evening."
Anthony's blood ran cold. He didn't respond to Alex's question he went to the bedroom and started digging through the closet. He sighed in frustration at the mess. He loved Dylan but leave it to her not to hang anything but just let it fall or throw it on the closet floor. "What are you looking for?" asked Alex watching from the doorway. Finally he found it, a cylindrical black case about three feet long. He opened it carefully sliding the contents out on the bed revealing four swords. He selected one and looked down the blade. Then he pulled out a cotton cloth and wiped the blade from end to end. Then he sheathed it in a cane cover. Finally he decided to answer Alex's question and wrote, "I'm going to look for Dylan."
His answer wasn't really what Alex had in mind but she had an idea what it meant, "Why do you think she is in trouble?"
"She left here over and hour ago to go to the hospital," he scribbled quickly and headed for the door. Alex was close behind him, "I'm coming with you." He held out his hand for her to stop and then wrote, "Tell Natalie to keep an eye on Rutherford."
*-*-*-*-*
Natalie pushed open the door to Rutherford's room, visiting hours would be over in ten minutes and if the man had something to say, well she guessed he would just have to tell her. Rutherford looked up from the magazine he was reading and smiled at her, "Natalie dear, has Dylan arrived yet?"
She was surprised at how much better the man looked already. "It must be something about villains that makes them indestructible," she thought. "No," she replied, "We don't know where she is. Maybe you could tell me and I can pass it on to her?"
"I'm afraid not. I could tell Anthony."
"Anthony?" asked Natalie. She was surprised that Rutherford was asking for the assassin when he was the main suspect.
"Yes, I believe you might remember him from the gala; tall chap, piercing pale blue eyes, doesn't say much. Hmmm?" He waited for an answer.
"He tried to kill you." Natalie really didn't want believe that which is why she and Alex decided to give Dylan some time, but the evidence said otherwise. Rutherford didn't answer he just gave her a strange smile. "What?" asked Natalie confused.
"Either her or him, my dear. By the way did you see this article about Prince Charles? Whole lot should be taken out and dis.."
"Mr. Rutherford, we can't find out who did this to you and catch him without your help," Natalie interrupted. He ignored her and began flipping through the magazine again.
"Ms. Cook," said a nurse, "I'm afraid visiting hours are over." Reluctantly Nat left the room just as her cell phone started to ring.
"Hello?"
"Nat it's me," said Alex on the other end of the line, keeping a cautious eye on Anthony.
"Did you find Dylan?" she asked anxiously.
"No, but I found the Thin.Anthony," she corrected. "He said Dylan left over an hour ago. He wants to go looking for her and I'm going with him."
"Come here and pick me up," said Natalie grabbing her coat off the chair and starting down the hall. "I'll meet you guys out front."
"He said that you should stay with Rutherford. I'm starting to think that might be a good idea. I'll call you as soon as we find anything," said Alex then disconnected. Natalie sighed and dialed her home number. Hopefully Pete would want to come and keep her company.
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan woke up with an enormous sense of déjà vu. The brothel interior of the room: red silk wall paper, gilded mirrors, baroque cherubs, and candles were reminiscent of her room at the Chief's house near Kings Canyon. She wasn't tied and there was a plate of food on the vanity. As she sat up her head spun and she felt as though she was going to be sick. She laid back down and closed her eyes until she felt she could go on. Once she was ready she started to head towards the door and realized her shoes were missing. "I wonder why anyone would take my shoes?" she said softly to herself. She reached out and tested the brass and crystal door knob which to her surprise turned without resistance. She was starting to feel more confident as she quietly shut the door behind her and crept down the hall. She approached the top of the stairs and could see the main entry way, "A little further then I'm home free."
He watched her from the monitor and smiled to himself. She was predictable and such a prize. At first he had been upset with Francisco for bringing her to him but then he realized all the potential the situation had; much more potential than the eggs. He had thought himself clever when he learned of Anthony's connection to the old Russian scientist; that using the old man's grand niece to drive a wedge between Anthony and the angel. Then there was Anthony, there had never been such a betrayal. What good was honour amongst thieves if the thieves didn't honour it, or in Anthony's case honour amongst assassins? Anthony would pay for helping the FBI find his headquarters and for Jorge's death." The Chief picked the silver frame with the picture of his former driver, bodyguard, personal assistant, and lover up and ran his finger over it. Of course the death was ruled suicide by the prison officials but he knew the truth, Jorge couldn't take it; despite his hard exterior he had been a sensitive man. The Thin Man and the Angel might not have been there and tied the sheet around Jorge's neck but it was the same as if they had done it. The Chief sighed as he watched Dylan creep down the stairs then he pressed the button on the intercom, "Stop her please."
As Dylan reached for the door knob she heard a voice call out, "Stay right where you are." She turned and looked to see three well built, muscular men in small gold Speedos scowling at her. "Okay" she thought, "this proves all hot guys are on the wrong side." They held her attention for a moment then she went to turn the knob.
"I said stay!" yelled the man again raising a taser and taking aim. This time she didn't turn to look. She felt the door move and then a tremendous pain through her. She fell to the floor in fetal position she couldn't even scream, every muscle in her body twitching as though she were having a seizure. Slowly the contractions stopped and she just laid there staring at the shining prisms of the chandelier that hung above her.
"Well, well Dylan, I think your real name suits you much better that Lucrezia did. What a pleasure it is to see you again. I was a bit shocked when Francisco brought you to be my guest but I think this will turn out nicely." Dylan couldn't see him but she knew that voice. If she could have spoken she would have but the taser had left her weak and helpless. He stepped into her line of sight as though he read her thoughts. As he looked down at her Dylan was surprised at how much he had appeared to age in the last few weeks. Before he looked like a boy not much older than twenty but now he looked closer to Rutherford's age. "It's just the neurons in your brain going screwy from the shock," she thought.
"Is that better? I am sure it is. Dylan you will find that my home here is much more secure than the one in Kings Canyon which is why I felt no need to tie you up or lock your door. Now if you aren't a good little angel all that can change. Christoph," he said looking at the large blond man in his employ, "Carry her upstairs and put her back in bed. It will be awhile before she is able to walk on her own and I don't want her cluttering my foyer." When Christoph didn't move fast enough the Chief clapped his hands together in two short bursts and shooed him over to Dylan.
Her head and limbs dangled like a rag doll as he carried her up the stairs. She tried to sit up, she knew she was telling her muscles what to do but they didn't listen. When she had first joined the angels one of the things involved in training was feeling different weapons in use. It wasn't pleasant but it was necessary. She could only wonder what kind of taser they had used on her; it had packed one hell of a punch. Normally it didn't take this long to recover.
Christoph nudged the door open with his shoulder and entered the room making sure he didn't hit her head on anything. Laying her on the bed he looked at her with pure hatred and said, "He was my brother." Then left her alone to wonder who his brother was.
*-*-*-*-*
Kate sat alone in the living room of Dimirti's house dreaming up scenarios of Anthony's return when she felt a presence behind her. She turned and let out a scream. The man placed his finger to his lips as a signs she should be quiet. As she calmed she said, "W-who are you?" He just looked at her and smiled. "I know self-defense so you better not try to rape me."
"Sweetheart, no one wants to hurt you. I just want to give you something that is yours," he said and placed a sports bag on the arm of the couch.
"I doubt you have anything I want," she said defiantly.
"Oh but I do," he said reaching into the bag and removing a purple velvet bag much like the one that the Resurrection egg was in. He untied it and slipped the egg out and into his hand. "Lovely, no?"
Kate gasped in amazement and stretched out her hand. He placed it gently in her palm and watched as she turned it over and inspected its red enamel and jeweled surface. "It's the Caucus egg. Where?" she began to ask then realized he recognized the man as an employee of the museum, he drove the truck when she picked up the eggs from customs. "You stole them?"
"Si and I return that one to your care. If you want the rest you need to deal with my boss."
"I don't understand," she said as she tried snatched the bag off the back out the couch but he moved with shocking speed and pulled the other two eggs away from her grasp. Francisco said nothing as he watched her with a smirk on his face.
"I am not the one to explain. My friend said if you wish to speak to him about the eggs you may do so." He held out a small white business card that she readily took. Kate looked at him trying to figure out the whole situation. She didn't understand why anyone would steel something as valuable as the eggs only to give one of them back. "And what might I have in common with a thief?"
"My friend, my employer he is no thief but what you might have in common with him is dislike of the same people. Call him. You seem like the type who if she really wants something will stop at nothing to get it. He will help take care of your problem." And with that Francisco turned and left leaving Kate staring at the card and the eggs in her possession.
*-*-*-*-*
Alex tried Dylan's cell and landline numbers again as she drove to the condo. There was still no answer on either. At first she had thought that Natalie might be over reacting to the lack of response on Dylan's part, but now she wasn't so sure. She pulled the car up in front of the building and saw that Dylan's mustang wasn't there. "Not a good sign," she thought climbing out and walking up the path to the main door. Alex dug through her purse and produced the extra set of keys and unlocked the door. Last time she had used them she had the shock of finding out Dylan and Anthony had slept together for the first time. She wondered what the surprise would be this time as she knocked cautiously on the door.
Anthony stood by the large bay window that over looked the ocean. In the darkness the sky and the water melded into an inky blackness but he could make out the beach and the white foam of the waves as they crashed against it. He leaned his head against the cool glass and wondered how the egg ended up in his things and the only explanation he could come up with was someone had broken in and put it there. It angered him that someone had been in the condo and could have hurt Dylan because of him. That wasn't the way it was supposed to be. He was supposed to protect her not place her in more danger. A light knock at the door woke him from his thoughts. He walked to the door and opened it expecting to see Dylan but seeing Alex standing there instead.
Alex was just about to place her key in the lock when the door swung open placing her face to face with the Thin Man. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her quickly inside. "What are you doing here? I thought you would be with Kate," she said in an unfriendly manner. He understood her anger towards him. He knew he had hurt Dylan, however unintentionally and that her friends were very protective of her. He envied that at times. Reaching into his pocket he produced his ever present notepad and wrote. "Waiting for Dylan to get back."
"Does she know you are here?" Alex asked. He simply nodded in the affirmative. "Well where did she go?" Anthony wrote one word, "Hospital."
"When did she leave? I just came from there and she wasn't. Natalie and I have been trying to call her cell phone all evening."
Anthony's blood ran cold. He didn't respond to Alex's question he went to the bedroom and started digging through the closet. He sighed in frustration at the mess. He loved Dylan but leave it to her not to hang anything but just let it fall or throw it on the closet floor. "What are you looking for?" asked Alex watching from the doorway. Finally he found it, a cylindrical black case about three feet long. He opened it carefully sliding the contents out on the bed revealing four swords. He selected one and looked down the blade. Then he pulled out a cotton cloth and wiped the blade from end to end. Then he sheathed it in a cane cover. Finally he decided to answer Alex's question and wrote, "I'm going to look for Dylan."
His answer wasn't really what Alex had in mind but she had an idea what it meant, "Why do you think she is in trouble?"
"She left here over and hour ago to go to the hospital," he scribbled quickly and headed for the door. Alex was close behind him, "I'm coming with you." He held out his hand for her to stop and then wrote, "Tell Natalie to keep an eye on Rutherford."
*-*-*-*-*
Natalie pushed open the door to Rutherford's room, visiting hours would be over in ten minutes and if the man had something to say, well she guessed he would just have to tell her. Rutherford looked up from the magazine he was reading and smiled at her, "Natalie dear, has Dylan arrived yet?"
She was surprised at how much better the man looked already. "It must be something about villains that makes them indestructible," she thought. "No," she replied, "We don't know where she is. Maybe you could tell me and I can pass it on to her?"
"I'm afraid not. I could tell Anthony."
"Anthony?" asked Natalie. She was surprised that Rutherford was asking for the assassin when he was the main suspect.
"Yes, I believe you might remember him from the gala; tall chap, piercing pale blue eyes, doesn't say much. Hmmm?" He waited for an answer.
"He tried to kill you." Natalie really didn't want believe that which is why she and Alex decided to give Dylan some time, but the evidence said otherwise. Rutherford didn't answer he just gave her a strange smile. "What?" asked Natalie confused.
"Either her or him, my dear. By the way did you see this article about Prince Charles? Whole lot should be taken out and dis.."
"Mr. Rutherford, we can't find out who did this to you and catch him without your help," Natalie interrupted. He ignored her and began flipping through the magazine again.
"Ms. Cook," said a nurse, "I'm afraid visiting hours are over." Reluctantly Nat left the room just as her cell phone started to ring.
"Hello?"
"Nat it's me," said Alex on the other end of the line, keeping a cautious eye on Anthony.
"Did you find Dylan?" she asked anxiously.
"No, but I found the Thin.Anthony," she corrected. "He said Dylan left over an hour ago. He wants to go looking for her and I'm going with him."
"Come here and pick me up," said Natalie grabbing her coat off the chair and starting down the hall. "I'll meet you guys out front."
"He said that you should stay with Rutherford. I'm starting to think that might be a good idea. I'll call you as soon as we find anything," said Alex then disconnected. Natalie sighed and dialed her home number. Hopefully Pete would want to come and keep her company.
*-*-*-*-*
Dylan woke up with an enormous sense of déjà vu. The brothel interior of the room: red silk wall paper, gilded mirrors, baroque cherubs, and candles were reminiscent of her room at the Chief's house near Kings Canyon. She wasn't tied and there was a plate of food on the vanity. As she sat up her head spun and she felt as though she was going to be sick. She laid back down and closed her eyes until she felt she could go on. Once she was ready she started to head towards the door and realized her shoes were missing. "I wonder why anyone would take my shoes?" she said softly to herself. She reached out and tested the brass and crystal door knob which to her surprise turned without resistance. She was starting to feel more confident as she quietly shut the door behind her and crept down the hall. She approached the top of the stairs and could see the main entry way, "A little further then I'm home free."
He watched her from the monitor and smiled to himself. She was predictable and such a prize. At first he had been upset with Francisco for bringing her to him but then he realized all the potential the situation had; much more potential than the eggs. He had thought himself clever when he learned of Anthony's connection to the old Russian scientist; that using the old man's grand niece to drive a wedge between Anthony and the angel. Then there was Anthony, there had never been such a betrayal. What good was honour amongst thieves if the thieves didn't honour it, or in Anthony's case honour amongst assassins? Anthony would pay for helping the FBI find his headquarters and for Jorge's death." The Chief picked the silver frame with the picture of his former driver, bodyguard, personal assistant, and lover up and ran his finger over it. Of course the death was ruled suicide by the prison officials but he knew the truth, Jorge couldn't take it; despite his hard exterior he had been a sensitive man. The Thin Man and the Angel might not have been there and tied the sheet around Jorge's neck but it was the same as if they had done it. The Chief sighed as he watched Dylan creep down the stairs then he pressed the button on the intercom, "Stop her please."
As Dylan reached for the door knob she heard a voice call out, "Stay right where you are." She turned and looked to see three well built, muscular men in small gold Speedos scowling at her. "Okay" she thought, "this proves all hot guys are on the wrong side." They held her attention for a moment then she went to turn the knob.
"I said stay!" yelled the man again raising a taser and taking aim. This time she didn't turn to look. She felt the door move and then a tremendous pain through her. She fell to the floor in fetal position she couldn't even scream, every muscle in her body twitching as though she were having a seizure. Slowly the contractions stopped and she just laid there staring at the shining prisms of the chandelier that hung above her.
"Well, well Dylan, I think your real name suits you much better that Lucrezia did. What a pleasure it is to see you again. I was a bit shocked when Francisco brought you to be my guest but I think this will turn out nicely." Dylan couldn't see him but she knew that voice. If she could have spoken she would have but the taser had left her weak and helpless. He stepped into her line of sight as though he read her thoughts. As he looked down at her Dylan was surprised at how much he had appeared to age in the last few weeks. Before he looked like a boy not much older than twenty but now he looked closer to Rutherford's age. "It's just the neurons in your brain going screwy from the shock," she thought.
"Is that better? I am sure it is. Dylan you will find that my home here is much more secure than the one in Kings Canyon which is why I felt no need to tie you up or lock your door. Now if you aren't a good little angel all that can change. Christoph," he said looking at the large blond man in his employ, "Carry her upstairs and put her back in bed. It will be awhile before she is able to walk on her own and I don't want her cluttering my foyer." When Christoph didn't move fast enough the Chief clapped his hands together in two short bursts and shooed him over to Dylan.
Her head and limbs dangled like a rag doll as he carried her up the stairs. She tried to sit up, she knew she was telling her muscles what to do but they didn't listen. When she had first joined the angels one of the things involved in training was feeling different weapons in use. It wasn't pleasant but it was necessary. She could only wonder what kind of taser they had used on her; it had packed one hell of a punch. Normally it didn't take this long to recover.
Christoph nudged the door open with his shoulder and entered the room making sure he didn't hit her head on anything. Laying her on the bed he looked at her with pure hatred and said, "He was my brother." Then left her alone to wonder who his brother was.
*-*-*-*-*
Kate sat alone in the living room of Dimirti's house dreaming up scenarios of Anthony's return when she felt a presence behind her. She turned and let out a scream. The man placed his finger to his lips as a signs she should be quiet. As she calmed she said, "W-who are you?" He just looked at her and smiled. "I know self-defense so you better not try to rape me."
"Sweetheart, no one wants to hurt you. I just want to give you something that is yours," he said and placed a sports bag on the arm of the couch.
"I doubt you have anything I want," she said defiantly.
"Oh but I do," he said reaching into the bag and removing a purple velvet bag much like the one that the Resurrection egg was in. He untied it and slipped the egg out and into his hand. "Lovely, no?"
Kate gasped in amazement and stretched out her hand. He placed it gently in her palm and watched as she turned it over and inspected its red enamel and jeweled surface. "It's the Caucus egg. Where?" she began to ask then realized he recognized the man as an employee of the museum, he drove the truck when she picked up the eggs from customs. "You stole them?"
"Si and I return that one to your care. If you want the rest you need to deal with my boss."
"I don't understand," she said as she tried snatched the bag off the back out the couch but he moved with shocking speed and pulled the other two eggs away from her grasp. Francisco said nothing as he watched her with a smirk on his face.
"I am not the one to explain. My friend said if you wish to speak to him about the eggs you may do so." He held out a small white business card that she readily took. Kate looked at him trying to figure out the whole situation. She didn't understand why anyone would steel something as valuable as the eggs only to give one of them back. "And what might I have in common with a thief?"
"My friend, my employer he is no thief but what you might have in common with him is dislike of the same people. Call him. You seem like the type who if she really wants something will stop at nothing to get it. He will help take care of your problem." And with that Francisco turned and left leaving Kate staring at the card and the eggs in her possession.