Chapter 8:
A man strode slowly, keeping a distance of a meter behind a group of Japanese tourists. He was six feet tall, with fine blond hair and a fair complexion. Loki was his codename – resembling the Norse deity of mischief and trickery – and new identity. It provided the man a new future. A fresh start.
Glancing at his watch, he listened to the museum curator explained the beauty and value of the paintings. He was pleasing to the eyes and charming – his usual boyish grin soothing but deceiving in nature. A friend was supposed to meet him here in five minutes time.
Being a careful man, Loki had already studied the museum a week before the meeting, finding possible escape routes. He was not fond of the location selected. It was filled with security cameras and guards. It was not because he had no faith and trust in his friend, but after those bitter years he learned that unnecessary problems were best avoided at all cost.
Moving to the left, he abandoned the group of tourists and headed down the stairs.
His years in the army had provided him with valuable experiences that his competitor could not rival. He was an expert in stealth, handling of weapons and hand-to-hand combat. But the solider in him had long died after the death of his close friend and idol, Colonel Garrett.
Loki never appreciated the time he spent in the army. He was a smart man who could have lived a brilliant life in academia but poverty stalked his family. His parents died when he was no older than six and was forced to live with his psychotic grandfather – a veteran of war with an inflated ego. He was conscripted into the army after he finished high school and had spent the first three years in the army wallowing in self misery.
But things changed under the humid yellow sky, when he crossed path with Colonel Garrett. The Colonel was young for his rank but that did not invite any unpleasant remark from anyone. No one deserved the rank more than Garrett. Not only was he brilliant in the battlefield, he was equally brilliant in academics. He was well literate and showed great fondness for books.
His life had gotten better after their first encounter. It was the turning point of his life. He and the Colonel became close friends. He idolized that man and would always stand at his side. Slowly he made his way up the military ranks. Life got better, but under the same yellow sky in an alien land, his life ended.
William Hall, the handsome Captain died together with Colonel Garrett.
William died and Loki was born.
He could no longer live in that world. The thought of his superior leaving his team without backup when they were attacking an enemy's base was sickening. Many men had died in that attack. Garrett would have lived if he had not protected him.
Now, he was conman to the eyes of federal agents but a vital courier to the underground world.
He shut his eyes and cleared his thoughts.
From the top of the stairs, he saw his friend, Thornton, the detective whom he had met a few years back, before Garrett's death. He knew Detective David Thornton's brother, Private James Thornton, well enough to be considered a loyal comrade if not a friend.
Simple greetings were exchanged and hands were shook.
"It has been long," Thornton said, a small smile rested on his lips.
Loki flashed the man a smile. "Not long enough apparently."
The detective laughed and shook his head. "Yes, not long enough."
"You were pretty obscure through the phone," Loki remarked, taking the styrofoam cup filled with his favourite brew from Thornton. He still remember, Loki mused silently.
"I'm afraid I have to." Thornton waved apologetically and pushed the glass door open. The colour of his eyes now a shade of misty grey. There was appreciation in them.
Thornton was no different from his brother. They were the few who would never abandon a needing friend. The sort that never forgets a person's charitable act and would find a way to repay their kind deeds.
A humble soul despite the vulgar mouth.
"I see," Loki muttered as they made their way out of the museum.
"I'm sorry for calling you out. It's rather unorthodox to meet in there but it's better than the quay and dingy bar. The last thing I need is Harlan sniffing my boxers for cocaine or morphine."
Loki smiled and briefly studied the buildings, cars and passersby. It was habitual. Something drilled into him after all those years of training.
"Are you being followed?" Loki queried.
"No. I went on an unnecessary detour before arriving here."
"Were you being followed then?"
Thornton kept quiet. He had been followed a few times by Harlan's men but he knew and understood well what Loki meant. Hesitation flickered in those gentle eyes. "Yes, once."
Loki observed Thornton, trying to read the detective's facial expression. His hazel eyes caught the other man's eyes and held them in a steady gaze.
"Devereux was following me. The top man of Markov," Thornton answered Loki's unvoiced question.
Loki nodded. "I have heard a fair deal about him from the trade."
"It's really nothing. I have other matters to discuss with you."
"Go on," Loki prompted.
"I need your aid – greatly. I need information, but that can be settled later after I show you the man I need you to protect."
Loki stopped dead in his track. "Protect?"
"I know I am asking a lot from you, but hear me out. He's Ryan Evans. He was involved in the air crash not long ago. I found RDX from the wreckage. I believed it to be Composition C. It does not fit the usual murderer profiles. I suspect this to be the work of someone of higher authority."
"I assume Devereux is on your suspects list?"
"Yes. He came to the headquarters about a day or two ago. The investigation on the crash was aborted suddenly, stating that it was a technical malfunction. How did the RDX past by the lab unnoticed? It seems – "
"A little too farfetched?"
Thornton nodded, slowing his steps. "That does not match with Devereux's MO."
"I can see where this is going to. You think is someone far more powerful than Devereux."
"Absolutely."
"It does not fit their personality and mode of operation either. No man with great influence and power would be bothered by a business man. They have better things to do," Loki replied, knowing that Thornton was suggesting the involvement of a political figure.
Since RDX could be only found in the military, he had a faint suspicion that Thornton was implying that it was the work of some General or high ranking officers. Either that of those who worked in the department of defense…which seemed a little absurd to him.
"Maybe Ryan's presence was a threat? That could be possible," Thornton said.
"Let me summarize this, you want me to protect him due to a debatable inference in your head that concerns his safety?"
"That's about it. I believe there will be a second strike."
"Makes no sense you know," Loki said with a grin as he studied the document Thornton had given him.
"Why?"
"Why did they not eliminate Bolton? He pose as much as a threat as the Evans. He should not be the only one worried."
"I know. I will work on that but will you help me?" Thornton asked.
"I'll think about it. I have something to deliver."
Loki wondered at times about Thornton's loyalty. That man was too loyal. For a detective like him, he should have been handcuffing him, not chatting away like good old friends. He knew Thornton was finding a way to repay his debt to him.
Loki had saved his brother out from the attack. They were on the same team with the Colonel. Though his brother was saved but he was not as fortunate as Loki. The man was already severely injured before Loki pulled him out from the shithole.
Private James remembered the man who saved him. He told no one except his dear brother, David, regarding the man who rescued him. Loki wanted to erase the existence of Captain William Hall. He partly knew that his return to the base would involve a heated argument with the senior officers, perhaps trade a few blows with them, followed by court marshal and the removal of his rank.
Including the fact that the team was left without any help and some vague hints from Colonel Garrett before his death, he was determined never to return to that place again.
He cleared his throat as they approached the café. He recognized the young man from the photograph Thornton had provided him in the brown envelope. "Was he aware of your plan?"
Thornton casted Loki a small smile and shook his head.
Approaching the singly occupied table, the young man rose to his feet, stood to his full height and extended his hand. Loki shook the gentleman's hand and greeted him blandly. It was etiquette.
Again his hazel eyes scanned the surroundings of the café.
He took the empty seat next to the young man and dismissed the waitress. The young man began asking him questions. Questions that he could easily answer. Questions about assassins, mercenaries, explosives and smuggling.
He sensed fear behind the young man's cool exterior.
The conversation lasted for a few hours. There were moments in between where all parties kept their mouths sealed. Each preoccupied with their own thoughts, forgetting the presence of others seated close to him.
To Loki, he was preoccupied with something else. His thoughts were not on guns, bombs, assassins or anything related to their topic of conversation. He was perturbed about something else.
Something that needed verification.
Casually, he walked into a florist, examined some flowers which he held no interest in while he waited.
He left Ryan Evans and Detective Thornton back in the café, giving the excuse that he was late to deliver an important package. He had no important package other than a stolen portrait.
He waited for the two men to past the florist while he picked five stalks of carnations. But that was not what he was waiting for.
He was waiting for someone else.
Not long after the two men had past by this shop, a man with a baseball cap and a blue jacket tailed them. That man was certainly not Devereux.
Hazel eyes shone brightly in their slits as he paid for the flowers and walked out from the shop. He suspected that Thornton was being followed ever since he left his office. Ever since they left the museum, he felt disturbed. It got worse in the café.
Throwing the carnations down a bin, his brows furrowed. He had seen that man before…
What was he doing here?
Author: Finally Loki aka Captain William Hall is in the story. Thornton - investigation. Loki/Hall - thrill. Driscoll/ doc - insights on Ryan's health and something else. Devereux - the one that makes people confuse due to his actions. Sorry if you see little Ryan and Troy (he was not even mentioned) in this chapter. I plan to update Chapter 8 and 9 together. Chapter 9 focus fully on Troy and Ryan - somethinge easy to the eyes???. But I have to rewrite the entire Chp 9. I know its confusing with all these new characters. Sorry. Did not mean to confuse anyone. This chapter gives you a tiny glimpse of who the actual culprit might be. Shows you the other side of Thornton. Explain a little on what had happened to James. Forshadows what will happen in the later chapters. I might write down the profiles of some characters...if I am not that lazy. Hope you enjoy this chapter.