A/N: Happy New Year to everyone! I'm back, and at long last I've been writing again. Since I finished Mysterious Ways I've been making a start on its sequel, but thanks to some new reviews and pokes from you lot I've been getting on with this fic too. Thankyou to everyone who has reviewed and given me that much needed kick in the ass: Lunar Nightley, Odd Little Turtle, Bluekrystal, AcidRush, Khaleda… I salute you! :D
Chapter 9: Bargaining
At the end of the evening I was escorted back to the Benchley suite, thoroughly drained of energy after several hours making nice with El-Aziz and his companions in the dining hall. Trent's behaviour earlier in the night had made it twice as difficult for me to feign a relaxed and friendly air around my new acquaintance, and the effort had exhausted me. The balls of my feet throbbed in the stilettos, and I was desperate to get out of the dress and into bed, but sadly that had to wait as I was summoned immediately to the room Gunderson had set up as his office.
Paul had accompanied me back in the elevator, and he followed me into Gunderson's room and closed the door. I neither knew nor cared what had happened to Kurtis, but after the confrontation in the bathroom he had thankfully disappeared. Perhaps he had tripped and fallen overboard, I thought hopefully as I waited for Gunderson to finish looking over his documents and acknowledge my presence. Eventually he pushed aside the papers he had been perusing and met my eye.
"This evening went well," he said gruffly. "Your cooperation has been useful to us."
I raised an eyebrow. "If that's your way of saying thankyou, then don't mention it," I replied dryly. His stony face remained grim and expressionless, and I found myself trying to imagine if he was capable of smiling. I couldn't picture it. I reached up to the strap on my dress and removed the tiny microphone Kurtis had placed there earlier, putting it down on the desk in front of Gunderson. "So, I take it you know that El-Aziz has invited me to lunch with him tomorrow," I went on. "Shall I go?"
He pondered the problem for a moment, trying to decide whether I could be trusted with the task.
"I believe I should," I offered, while he was still chewing it over. "He may become suspicious if I don't show my face again for the rest of the trip. And if I can actually form a friendship with El-Aziz then we have an opportunity to learn much more about the site, and his own excavations."
Gunderson paused for a little longer, and then nodded. "Your conversations must still be recorded," he said, gesturing towards the miniature microphone.
"Of course," I replied calmly. Anticipating his next condition, I spoke again quickly. "But I think I should go alone from now on. No escort hanging around like a bad smell. It's a lot more difficult to keep up the pretence if I'm making up excuses for them being there."
Gunderson narrowed his eyes, but nodded once again. "Very well. But if I suspect you are using this meeting to try and warn El-Aziz, or to make your own escape, then I will not hesitate to act. Do you understand?"
I swallowed hard. The threat was intended to remind me that I was not the only one in danger; two other lives depended on my cooperation with Gunderson. "I understand," I said quietly.
"Very well. You may go now. I will speak to you again before you meet with El-Aziz tomorrow." He turned away from me to attend to some other matter, but I had to grab this chance to bargain with him.
"One more thing," I said. He looked up in mild irritation, clearly not used to people interrupting his concentration. "You've told me what I'm going to do for you, but there's something I want in return."
Gunderson leaned back in his chair, hands folded in his lap. "Yes?"
"I want to see them," I went on, making sure I kept my voice steady and clear. "Daniel and Winston. Before I lift a finger to help you, you have to prove to me that they are alive and being well treated."
"You are really in no position to be bargaining with me, Ms. Croft," he replied, voice rumbling with annoyance.
I stared back unfazed, determined to hold my ground on this matter. "Perhaps not," I went on, "but are you really in a position to refuse me? I'm not asking for a lot. Do this for me and I will cooperate fully. If you don't, then I will have to assume my friends are already dead, and I will do everything in my power to stop you from reaching Egypt." I stopped then and waited, my words hanging heavy in the air between myself and this man I knew only to be a ruthless commander and killer. Had I gone too far?
After an agonising silence, Gunderson spoke. "I will give you what you ask for."
"Proof of life. Every day," I said, pressing my conditions firmly. He gave a short, sharp nod before turning away again.
"Now go," he snapped, and I gladly went. "Paul, send Trent in," I heard him say as I stepped out into the hallway. He sounded angry, and not just because of our conversation.
Desperately weary, I reached for the door to my room and let myself in. As I was about to close the door again behind me, Paul called out to me. I looked out to see him leaving Gunderson's office and walking towards me.
"Is there anything I can get for you before you go to sleep?" he asked amiably, and for a moment all I could do was stare at him blankly, still stunned by how different his manner was to that of his colleagues.
"Um…" I rubbed my head, thinking, and remembered that I had been trying to ignore a headache for the last hour. "Could I have some aspirin? My head is pounding after all that talking. Not to mention the champagne."
Paul smiled and nodded. "I'll see what I can do." I watched as he wandered casually back down the corridor towards the lounge area, then closed the door and flicked on the lights. I let out a sigh as I sank down onto the bed, and bent down to take off my shoes. Before Paul could return, I quickly slid out of the dress and put it on a hanger in the wardrobe, then pulled on a t-shirt - Kurtis' cronies had failed to pack a nightgown - and the thick white bathrobe. I was sitting cross-legged on the bed brushing my hair when I heard raised voices from across the hall. Gunderson's booming tones were easy to identify even when muffled by the walls between our rooms. I went to my door and opened it a few inches to listen. After a moment I heard Kurtis' voice raised in loud protest at something his superior had said, only to be drowned out again by another verbal barrage from the other man. My curiosity piqued, I strained to make out what was being said, but they seemed to be speaking in German, a language for which I have little affection and even less knowledge. I frowned. At our 'meeting' earlier that day it had seemed as though Kurtis could do no wrong in Gunderson's eyes, so what had happened since then?
I jumped in surprise as Paul appeared suddenly in front of me. Smiling sheepishly, I opened the door wider.
"I thought you'd had enough espionage for one evening," he said wryly, holding out a hand to reveal two small white tablets.
"Thanks," I said, taking them. At that moment the door to Gunderson's office burst open and Kurtis stormed out, still dressed in his suit but looking extremely ruffled, his face as dark as thunder. Without passing a glance in mine or Paul's direction, he stalked down the corridor to his own bedroom and went inside, slamming the door.
"What was that all about?" I wondered, looking at Paul's equally stunned expression.
A/N: Sorry if that chapter was a bit heavy on dialogue and a bit light on Kurtis. That will all be remedied in the next chapter, which is almost finished and just needs some final tweaking. ;)Oh, and I'd also like to apologise for not reviewing anyone else's stuff lately… I rarely get time to sit and read through anything on the site so I'm really behind with all your stories. At some point I'll put everything on disc or print it all out so I can catch up! :)