chapter nine
If she thought that the job would have been easy, it was mistake. The girl was smarter than anyone would expect.
Alice Kirkland climbed up the fire stairs to the roof of a small building. She had perfect view on the street and on Sophie who was walking with her short blond friend.
Yesterday she disappeared her, Alice was too focused on the police agent. And when she finally found Sophie, the girl was getting on a taxi. She remembered a car number, so she phoned the control room of this taxi company and found the address. But Alice had a bad luck, it was house where lived a person who was connected with police.
She could kill this person. Honda said that he had not cared about police, but Alice didn't want to take a risk. She decided to wait until Edelstein would be alone. But another bad luck, she was still with someone. Probably she would be forced to use a toy which was given to her by Honda.
She wasn't a saint. But she preferred to avoid unnecessary victims. The habit from old life. But Honda started asking about the girl, it was irritating. He wanted girl or dates, and the best both things. As soon as it is possible.
From the big bag she took out a sniper rifle. At first she tried to scare her and forced to ran away from the opposite building in which she was now with that short blond woman and then when panic destroyed her mind, it will be easier to catch her.
She laid on her stomach and looked through a telescope. The girl flashes in one of the windows on the fourth floor. All right. It is easy. She would have time to descend from the roof and waited for Sophie in front of the building.
You wouldn't run away, this time, Sophie Edelstein.
o
They didn't talk much. And she knew why. Last night. Susana was talking with Tina about her. They quarrelled a bit.
Sophie tried to avoid Susana, but out of curiosity she opened the door. In a dim light she saw that Tina was standing in front of Peter's room door. She knocked and asked about something. There was no reply. Then Susana arrived, she hugged Tina from behind. A small pain went through Sophie's heart.
Susana loved Tina. This cool, taciturn woman loved Tina and wanted to be loved.
Tina broke from the hug. Sophie didn't hear what they were talking about. She sighed and came back to the bed.
You were an idiot Tina. Sophie thought now. But you also cared, only you didn't want to admit it.
"We are, it is here. Are you nervous?" Tina asked when they stood before the apartment's door on the fourth floor.
"A little." Until now, she didn't realized that it could be that stressful.
"You now, that you can say no. It is only a meeting. You will know each other, talk and then you will decide."
They heard some sound behind the door. Sophie stared at the floor.
"Oh, it is you Tina." They heard when door finally opened. "And this is probably your best friend about whom you talked to me.?"
"Yes, this is she. Sophie Edelstein, Sophie this is Daniel Hedarvary."
The girl raised her gaze and smile, which immediately froze on her face.
In front of her stood a brown haired man whose wallet she stole and with who she had sex in one of the corners in 6th district.
"Are you okay?" He asked with a concern. Her face was pale. How she couldn't recognized his voice.
"Yes." She squeaked. "Just…just you look similar to one of my friends."
"It is funny, I also feel that I met you before."
He didn't recognize her? After all, she had Bell's wig.
"If you both feel that you know each other, it will be easier." Tina said. "I will go now."
"Just don't panic, don't panic." Sophie told herself.
"So, I will, Susana want to talk about something, see you later."
And she disappeared. Sophie and Daniel looked at each other.
"Sorry for keeping you on the stairs. Come, I will make some tea, or maybe you want something cold to drink?"
Unconsciously she nodded.
The apartment was rather nice. She stared at the CDs. She was surprised, because she saw many CDs with classical music.
"Do you like classical music?" She asked.
"Yes, I like everything what is classical. I ended history of art, when I understood that medicine was a mistake."
The art historian? He had no chance for work here, just like she.
"Tina, probably told you…" But Sophie interrupted him.
"Listen…Daniel… I am sorry, but I can't."
He looked at her.
"When Tina said me about it, I thought that is a good idea. Mutual benefits and so on…but I can't." She was lying, if she didn't rob Daniel earlier she would agree. "I didn't want to talk with Tina, because she is involved in this emotionally. But I tell you. I can't Sorry."
There was a moment of silent.
"I understood." Daniel said finally. Sophie sighed with relief. "But while we are here maybe you drink some tea?"
"No." She said a little too fast. "I mean, I would like, but I cannot, I have an appointment, I must go."
"Wait, I will walk you to the door."
"There is no need, but thank you."
However he approached her and stood dumfounded, staring at her décolletage. More specifically at something that shouldn't be there.
"What is it?" He asked, pointing at the gold ring which was changing on a gold chain. She touched it.
"Nothing, just souvenir." She replied, feeling a wave of panic.
She found it in his wallet. Simple gold ring with a motto which was engraved in the inner side. Semper Fidelis. Always faithful. She shouldn't take it. But she kept it as a memory of something extraordinary.
Now it ruined her.
"Can I see it? Daniel didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed her hand to see the ring. He read the inscription.
"It belonged to my ex-wife. This ring disappeared a month ago with my wallet." He looked at her, suddenly he understood. "It was you, there in that alley…"
"Let me…" She said. He instinctively let her go, but he was still staring into her eyes.
"I was looking for you. They told me that Bell is dead. But you…deceived and robbed me!"
"And what did you expect wandering alone in the 6th district at night?" She didn't want to be that rude, but she had to go.
"But… you and me…"
"I seized the opportunity. It was nice, but nothing more."
He made two steps towards her, she raised her hand to slap him, but he caught her wrist.
"Explain, why did you do that?" He asked with anger.
""Let me go!"
"I will not let you go until…"
Suddenly the widows burst, spraying a hall of glass.
"What's…" Sophie started, when Daniel pushed her to the ground.
"Get down!"
Someone shot.
She couldn't hear the shots, but the noise of breaking furniture and glasses. Debris all around them. Daniel pressed her to the floor.
After a while, it ended, Sophie wanted to get up, but Daniel stopped her.
"Don't raised your head. On the back of the house is my car. We will go there, first me and you behind me."
She couldn't say a word, she only nodded.
"For three we got up and run. One…"
Then through the broken window was thrown a small container, it started emitting acrid smoke.
"To hell with counting, now." He shouted and grabbed her hand. They ran downstairs.
They reached to the car. And there was a surprise.
"You don't have a keys!" Sophie couldn't believe.
"Damn, wait I will get them."
"No way, you can't."
"Okay, don't wait. You can run away. You are good at it." He gave her a cold look and ran back to the house.
"I must find help." She thought when she was running to the main street. She ran on someone. Tall Swedish.
"Susana, what are you doing here?"
"I could ask the same thing." She was nervous and shortened vowels, so Sophie barely understood her. She looked on the smoke rising from the fourth floor and swore. "I should guess what Tina wanted to do when she asked me about Daniel's address." She shook her head and took Sophie's arm in an iron grip. "You are coming with me."
"What?.., Wait, Daniel is in danger, someone shoot and he…"
"Where is he?
"Daniel? He ran into the house after the car keys. But someone tried to …"
"Policeman is with me, when he saw what is going on here he called reinforcements. They are going, don't you hear?"
Somewhere near the sirens howled.
"But… how, ?" How the hell she knew that it was criminal case? Fear gripped her throat.
"You are wanted for murder in a 6th district, which took place a month ago. I worked on it. Yesterday I thought I knew you from somewhere… Soon there will be police and you are going with them, we must resolve this case."
"What? I…. I can't! He will find me! Let me go!" Sophie tried to jerked from Susana's grip. "Susana, please, let me go!"
"It is rude to not do what lady asks." Someone with British accent said. Blond woman with intense green eyes stood in front of them. Behind them was a wall.
"You…" Swedish couldn't hide her astonishment.
"You bother me." Englishwoman reached under her jacket. Susana quickly pushed Sophie away.
"Run!"
Then was a shot.
"Susana!" Sophie yelled, when the blood spurted from Susana's head. Tall woman fell on the pavement.
Sophie didn't exactly know when she began to cry. She felt on her knees.
"Susana, please don't, please…." She wanted to touch her, but she was too afraid. Everywhere was blood. So much blood.
"You are coming with me." Englishwoman said and grabbed her shoulder.
"It is because of me?" She allowed the murderer to touch her. Again, it is her fault. Like Bell. "If yes why she had to die? Why did you kill her?" Last question was shouted and then Sophie suddenly stood and punched her enemy's stomach. Again she felt adrenaline.
In a sudden rage she did something that the attacker released the gun from her hands. But then was worse. Englishwoman was trained in martial arts. She pushed Sophie against the wall and hit her face hard. Sophie could feel her lip broke.
"I should call a double bet. I don't like hitting women." The blond muttered and hit Sophie one more time. She felt dizzy and sank to her knees, still looking at the attacker with rage.
And then Sophie heard.
"Stop, police!"
She wasn't sure, but she saw only one man. Maybe the rest was just behind him.
"I didn't expect you here." Englishwoman said and slowly turned to the policeman. "Alfred."
"Alice!" He hissed through his teeth still in shooting position, he looked at Sophie then Susana who was laid in a pool of blood. His eyes darkened from fury. "Drop the gun!"
"I don't have." Said a woman, Alice quietly, lifting her empty hands.
"You killed her." Alfred pointed Susana.
"She was in wrong place in wrong time, for a second time anyway."
"You have no chance for escape. Give up."
Alice snorted.
"You don't change a bit, right?" She looked at the slowly rising Sophie. "We will meet again Sophie Edelstein."
She started running, Alfred rushed after her.
Kirkland ran into blind alley. She jumped on a container, almost loosing balance and she climbed over the wall. Jones tried to shoot her. Then he saw that she was sitting on the wall.
For a moment ling as eternity they stared into each other eyes. Kirkland smiled, casually saluted and jumped. A moment later Alfred heard the sound of the motorcycle behind the wall.
Alfred stood there with gun in his hands, he cursed himself, that he couldn't shoot.
o
"Sophie are you all right?"
Sophie looked at Daniel.
I don't know." She finally said and allowed her tears to fall.
"When I ran down with the keys, you've gone somewhere. I heard the police… so I thought… Jesus Christ!" He suddenly saw Susana's body. He knelt, checking vital signs. "Sus, can you hear me? Holy shit, Su!"
"It is my fault." Sophie said and knelt beside him. "My fault."
Hedarvary hideously cursed and yanked his cell from a pocket. He threw it to Sophie.
"Call the ambulance. It is not too late." He took off his shirt and began to tear it into strips. "It is bleeding a lot, but it is normal in head wounds… I will need your help. Hold her." He looked at Sophie, who was still staring on lifeless Susana, clutching Daniel's phone. "Call!" He urged her.
She woke up. The life depended on her. That woman saved her. She wanted to call but suddenly the cell began to ring.
"Daniel?" She heard a trembling voice. She blinked, suddenly felt anxiety.
"Tina?"
"Sophie? Is that you? I can't contact with Susana and… something terrible happened." Her voice broke.
"What… what happened?" Sophie asked.
"It is Peter, Sophie… Peter was kidnapped."