chapter thirteen
Antonio walked down a long corridor in a basement. He was carrying an empty plate after a small meal. He took care of Peter not because Sadik said so, but because he didn't want the boy suffer more than it was necessary. And he knew that other people of Adnan would not be so kind..
The same act of kidnapping was something wrong for Antonio. He even tried to talk with a Turk, but he only made Sadik furious. Carriedo has long planned to leave the gang and maybe a town. But this boy made him stay, he had to protect the child from this madness. He could do only that.
Today Peter asked about his mother. Sadik of course told him that Swedish doctor was shot and had small chance of surviving. He was satisfied when he watched Peters' tears. And Antonio could only clenched his teeth and watched this cruelty.
"She is in hospital, her condition is serious, but they do everything they can. Don't be afraid." He assured the boy, who despite the explicit hatred and mistrust, was looking at Antonio with hope.
"How long will you keep me here?"
"It is depended on Sophie. If she does everything Sadik wants, you will be able to see your mother again."
Peter clenched his fists.
"Why does he do it to her?" He asked, drawling his words through teeth. Antonio looked at him surprised.
"You don't blame her, after all Sadik wants her and he will do everything to have her."
"It is truth, if she didn't come to our home…" Peter looked at Spaniard. "I don't blame her, she just ran away from a bastard, a psycho."
Suddenly he was scared of his own words, he curled up and waited for a punch. Antonio didn't move. He just considered that the boy despite the fear could understand and forgive.
"Peter is right, Sadik is a psycho." Antonio thought, following the basement corridor. "I will leave as soon as it will be over. I will find Lovina and I will explain everything to her and then maybe…"
Suddenly he heard a muffled groan. He stopped and listened for a while, wondering who except Peter could be here. "Sadik closed someone here and he didn't tell me?"
A groan was heard again, coming from one of a small cell. Spaniard pulled the handle. The door was closed, so he took a bunch a keys and he found the right one and opened the door.
On the floor in a dark corner someone was lying.
"Who is here?" Antonio raised his voice. Another moan answered him.
"Antonio…"
The Spaniard was speechless for a moment, because of a surprise.
"Heracles?"
It was he, Antonio saw clearly now. Unshaven and haggard with yellow bruises all over his face, but it was Heracles.
"What are you doing here? Everybody thinks that you left."
"Water…"
Antonio ran to small bathroom, which was next to Peter cell and he returned with a cup of water. He helped Heracles to drink. Greek breathed with difficulty, his ribcage looked really bad.
"It must hurt like hell." Antonio thought. "He was lucky that ribs didn't pierce the lungs."
"What are you doing here? And why are you in a such a state?" He asked when Heracles stopped drinking.
"Sadik..he…he…"
"But why, he said that you resigned and flew to Greece to your family."
"Sophie…two months ago…I… I helped her." Greek groaned and then took a deep breath.
Antonio suddenly understood.
"Sadik tortured you and locked you here, you have broken ribs."
"Someone tries to set them, but…he wasn't very good at it…"
"Two months here…you were tortured for two months?" The horror hit Antonio.
"Yes, he came here when he was bored… but three days ago he stopped and no one came. Give me water." Antonio gave him a cup.
"Peter was here for three days." He thought. " And I took care of him, so Sadik didn't come here anymore. He left Heracles to die."
"I will get out you of here." He assured Greek. "I don't know how, but I will…"
"It is impossible, Sadik broke my legs to make sure I will not be able to escape…they grew badly together. I can't stand up… I can't escape."
""I will take out you on my back." Antonio said firmly. He had enough Sadik's hypocrisy, his senseless cruelty and unhealthy ambition.
Heracles just nodded. Suddenly he grabbed Antonio's t-shirt.
"Antonio…Sophie… What he did?" His voice broke, he was gasping for a breath.
"He didn't catch her, yet." Antonio finally answered, but he was thinking about their meeting. "But I don't know how long it will be like that."
O
The meeting ended at 5 a.m, everybody were extremely tired. Young Vargas fell asleep on the floor, leaning against Luises' legs. She was embarrassing, because of the proximity, so she woke up Feliciano and told him, he should go home. The boy refused and he rested his chin on her knee and fell asleep again.
"Leave him. It was a big shock for him." Alfred said without thinking about Luises' emotions.
"I don't what I feel, why he should?" She thought and she tried not to improve Felicianos' hair. "What is happening with me? I must focus on the case!"
"Why I can't take part in this?" Daniel didn't hide his displeasure.
"It is easy, you are a civilian." Alfred rubbed his temples. He was vexed with fatigue, but also with disappointment. He expected that Sophie would have more information about Sadik. But Turk didn't mixed his private life with his work, or maybe he just didn't trust her. So, she didn't even know, where was his headquarter.
"I can't and he can!" Hungarian pointed Gilbert who was sitting next to Sophie.
"I have special rights." Gilbert grinned in response. He wrapped his arm around Sophie's back and pulled her to himself.
"Don't exaggerated, Gilbert." Wang muttered, sipping fourth black coffee.
"Yes, don't exaggerated." Sophie stood up. "It will be better if you stay Daniel, really, I will not be worry about you."
Gilbert laughed, but he stopped when Sophie gave him furious look. Daniel clenched his jaw.
"All right."
He didn't speak until end of the meeting. Later when they were going out, Gilbert pulled him aside for a moment.
"You can be her fiancé, but it doesn't change anything." Gilbert hissed looking at Sophie, who stood in the doorway, listened to the last command of Alfred. "And I will not give up."
They gave themselves a look.
"I will fight for her. Will you answer me?" Gilbert finally asked.
"I am not going to respond to your idiotic provocations."
"So, Sophie means nothing to you?"
Daniel visibly tensed.
"She means a lot." He said slowly. " And I will not treat her as a prize and I will not take a part in any competition."
He turned and stepped to the door.
"I didn't know that winning with you will be so easy. You don't know how to take care of a woman." Daniel turned around and grabbed his by a shirt. " Oh, did I hit a weak point?"
"You don't know anything." He tighten his grip. " I know how to take care of Sophie and I do it better than you."
"Oh, you are not so boring as I thought. Who would've thought…" Gilbert smiled crookedly. "Want to take part in our action, right?"
Daniel, who wanted to leave, stopped. He looked suspiciously at Beilschmidt.
"You can go, I have an idea, but you must cooperate with me."
"Why would you do this for me?"
This time Gilbert smile wide.
"Because I like competitions, so are you going?"
O
"It must be all right. There is no other possibility."
Sophie was circling the small room, which was rented in the motel next to police office. For a few minutes she would go out, caught a taxi and drove to 0th district to meet with Sadik. She would give him a memory card and saved Peter.
Alfred's plan was easy. Sophie would give Sadik a false program that was prepared by specialists and she and Peter would leave the depot. Then police , who would be monitoring whole situation from a safe distance, would enter.
Sophie was not convinced about police. She was afraid that Sadik would find out. Alfred however was sure that it was excellent plan.
She tugged the ring on her chain. Daniel let her keep it, probably because they were engaged.
Yes, Daniel, he was another problem.
After yesterday, she tried to explain Daniel, why Gilbert kissed her, but he didn't looked convinced.
However, when they were in the hotel lobby he suddenly kissed her. It surprised her so much that she instinctively pushed him away. He looked at her with resentment in his eyes.
"I am sorry Sophie, It won't happen anymore." He said and walked to exit, avoiding her gaze. He didn't say goodbye.
She understood him. It was her fault. And she didn't know what she should do.
"Gilbert, why you came back now?" She thought, clenching her fingers on a gold wedding ring.
The quiet knock torn her from her thoughts. When she opened she saw a policeman, whose name she really didn't remember, but it was connected with Scandinavia.
"We must go." He said.
"Yes, I know."
O
Depot wasn't use for years. The whole area was full of high shelves, huge containers and behind them were large canisters with unknown contents. Around the hall, along the walls on the high of second floor were technical ramps, the narrow bridge of steel and there was small exit to the roof. The air was heavy with a smell of dust, solvent and something she couldn't recognize.
She was afraid. She knew, she was not alone, she was observed by Alfreds' people. But despite this, she was afraid.
Sophie walked next to containers. Echo of her footsteps resounded trough the hall.
"Where he is?" She thought, desperately trying to stifle a panic attack. "Where are you Sadik?"
She almost reached the other end of the depot, when she heard the hatred voice.
"Finally, we have an opportunity to meet, honey."
She jerked her head violently, Sadik was nonchalantly leaning against the railing at the labile technical ramp, he was holding a cigarette and smiling crookedly.
"Are you not happy to see me, love?"
"Where is Peter?"
"Oh, you will not say something nice to me?"
"What you did to him?" She asked again, her nails dig deep into her hand.
"Nothing yet." He replied, suddenly growing serious. He straighten up and let go the railing. "I will not let him go, until you give me my stuff."
"I will give you it, but I want to see Peter."
Sadik smiled, which made Sophie trembled. She knew that something was wrong.
"You don't understand me." He said when he finally stopped laughing. "I said you to bring me my disk, alone."
She saw the shadows on the ramp and behind the containers. These were Sadiks' armed men. They had three policemen with their hands up. One was that Scandinavian man and the second…
"Gilbert.." She choked when Beilschmidt fell on his knees, pushed by one of the gangsters.
"I expected, that you, despite my insistent prayers, don't come alone." Adnan continued after a short break. "So I check that your new friends will want to take part in our meeting. So I choose this depot. You know what is in these canisters?"
"Technical grease, it contains oil." Sadik didn't hide his satisfaction. "Do you understand, my dear?"
"Son of…" Gilbert began, but when he felt gun on his neck he shut up.
"Oh, your friend guessed." Sadik lighted another cigarette.
Then Sophie understood. She turned on her heel to warn other people.
"It is a trap…" She managed to shout, when he threw a cigarette to the open canister.
The flame shot up, some pipes violently burst with a bang, scattering around rain of sparks.
She threw herself towards the steel ladder.
"I will not let you go away Sadik Not with Peter."
She ignored Gilbert's cry, who use a moment of confusion to kick a man who was holding a gun.
Over her head flew bullet, bouncing off from the ladder. From the hall came the sound of many shots.
"It was his plan." She thought climbing as fast as it was possible. "Make this fire as killed as many cops as he can. Probably he even doesn't care about the disk."
She hit the ramp panting. Quickly she looked down, her eyes were searching for friends. From the leaky canister came out burning oil, flooding the large area. Flames reached other containers and canisters. With the horror she watched fire which slowly approached the largest canister.
"The canister cannot sustain the pressure. All will explode." She thought panicked, her hands trembling violently.
"Alfred! The oil canister!" She screamed on a top of her lungs. She didn't know where was Jones, but she hoped he was alive.
Now, more important was Sadik. She ran to the place where she saw him last time. Rusty ramp trembled.
"He was there. He looked at inferno under him with a smile.
"Sadik!" Sophie shouted, panting after the race.
"I knew you would come to me." He said without turning to her. "Good."
"Good?" She blinked, fog irritated her eyes.
"Good, because you will give me my disk."
"He thinks I have a real one." She thought, instinctively recoiling a step, when Sadik moved towards her.
"Not until you let Peter go!" She threw arrogantly, frantically looking for anything suitable for defense. "Why didn't you give me a gun, Alfred?"
"I am afraid, you don't decide here, baby." Adnan grabbed her arm in an iron grip and pulled her to him. "I always get what I want, bunny."
For a moment she froze.
"Oh, you are afraid? Good, you should be, after all you were very naughty and we have to punish you, right? You will be fine, but maybe we will make more of that pretty scars that you received after your last escape, hmm?"
And she started jerking.
"Stop kicking!" He roared.
"Let me go!"
"Sophie!"
Gilbert suddenly jumped between the girl and the gangster. Sadik let Sophie go, when Gilbert punched him.
"Run!" He cried, trying to kick the Turk, who quickly recovered from the surprise.
"Gilbert!" She cried desperately.
"Sophie!"
She looked back. Her eyes widened in amazement.
"Daniel, what are you doing here?" She shouted when Hedarvary came to her and grabbed her hand.
"I will explain this later, we must go, because the fire can bar the exits. Come on, near the depot is my car."
"But Gilbert…"
"He will be all right. We don't have time! Come!"
To prove his words another canister blew up with loud roar. Someone was screaming. Sophie for a last time looked at the fighters. At the same time Sadik pushed Gilbert and took a gun, he fired. It destroyed old rust barrier on which Beilschmidt fell. Sophie felt like everything was happening in a slow motion. She could see the surprise on Gilbert's face and a glimmer of panic in his eyes when he was falling down.
"Nooo!" She cried.
Daniel, who was standing next to her, rushed forward and grabbed in the last moment Gilbert's hand. Now he was hanging above the hell.
"Don't let me, don't let me!" Panic won with self – control.
"Take my other hand. Otherwise I can't hold you!" Daniel bit his lip, trying to pull the German.
Another explosion and they felt acrid smoke. Sophie saw that Sadik ran away through roof exit.
She rushed to help Daniel. They pulled Gilbert up the ramp.
"I thought I will die." German said, wiping sweat from his forehead. He looked at the hard breathing Daniel, who was lying on his back. "Who could think, that you will save me? I will have to thank you."
"It is all right."
"Did I thank you now? I will do it later, when we… Oh damn!"
Gilbert knelt beside lying Hungarian and tore his hand from his side. Blood poured from the wound.
"It is nothing." Hedarvary groaned.
"Daniel!" Sophie cried, suddenly the truth struck her. "Sadik had a gun and he managed to shoot, but Daniel still jumped."
"We don't have time to dress him now." Gilbert looked around. " Fire may soon cut off our escape route."
"My car… is where you told me to leave it…" Daniel panted. "Sophie pressed my wound."
Gilbert threw Daniel's arm over his head and stood him on his feet. The wounded man groaned in a pain. Sophie pressed her jacket to his side.
At the bottom the fighting was ending. They could hear single shots, but most people ran away from the depot.
Gilbert and Sophie went out with Daniel and walked to the car. Daniel was pale, but he tried to stay consciousness.
They put him into back seat and Sophie sat beside him still pressured the wound. Daniel put his bloody hand on her and squeezed lightly her fingers.
"Sophie…"
"Stop talking, it tired you."
"Sophie… I want to tell you…"
Then they heard shots from the street.
"Goddamn it , they moved out shooting!" Gilbert shouted.
Suddenly three Sadiks' men appeared, they started shooting to Gilbert, who was standing next to the car, he jumped in driver's seat.
"Gilbert, hurry up!" Sophie cried.
German looked at the keys and then at the girl.
"Don't tell me…" She felt panic. "that you cannot drive."
"And when I was supposed to learn?" Gilbert almost crowed. The next shoot aimed the car. "I have never driven a car!"
"You are kidding."
Daniel groaned, Sophie pressed the wound tighter.
"We need to replace, I will drive." She started and in this moment bullet destroyed the window. Sophie cried horrified.
"We don't have time!" Gilbert pressed keys in the ignition and turned them on. But the car didn't react.
"Clutch! Press the clutch!"
"What?"
"The pedal on the left! The gas is on the right!"
Engine started working, car emitted some noise.
"First gear! On the gearbox!"
"Fuck" Gilbert cursed., completely losing his temper. He pulled the lever furiously. The car blurted out to the front. Turned sharply, under fired the window glass broke.
"Bend down Sophie!"
Glass were everywhere on them. Car rolled in corners. She barely kept groaning Daniel. Gilbert strangely twisted to hide from bullets, barely saw the streets. And he drove fast. Too fast.
"Gilbert, slow down!"
"Shut up, I know what I am doing!"
"You will kill us!"
"I just ran away from a fire from gangsters and this freak will kill me." She thought and punched Gilbert's arm.
"Crazy bitch! I drive here!"
"Brake! This is the pedal in the middle! Slow down this instant!"
She didn't know how they managed to go to hospital, without destroying anything on the road. But now they were safe and Daniel will be okay, it was the only important thing now.
Before he lost consciousness he made Gilbert bent over.
"You owe me a mechanic." He said weakly. "All the way, you drove on the handbrake…"
O
The phone rang, Honda picked up immediately.
"Action failed." His caller didn't say hello.
"I know, Adnan's idea was not so bad, but as usual he made too many mistakes.": Honda sighed. "Pity…"
"And it will be easier to get the disk from Sadik then from Edelstein."
"There would be no need to take it from Sadik, this fool wants money, he would use the program and it would be after our case."
There was silence. After a moment caller said.
"Police will not allow to use the program, that young German woman deciphered codes."
"And she will die. This will confused police and they will be no longer so careful."
"Are you sure that your Vargas will do what she should?"
"If not, she will regret it, I don't need inefficient employees."
"Adnan will try one more time. What will we do?"
The Japanese thought for a moment, turning his fingers around a memory card, that looked exactly like the one which was in polices' hands
"I think that we use the mistake of the Estonian programmer. And beside Braginsky we will destroy Sadik."
Kiku didn't see his caller, but he was sure that the caller was smiling now.
"Excellent idea, Mr Honda."