Heart to Heart (Chapter Four)

Clint was down in the Business Center of the hotel, waiting on a fax. Viki had gone down to meet him because she had an idea about finding Karen. It was now after 4 o’clock and Viki thought maybe room service would be delivering a tray to Karen, if she were in the hotel. She quickly informed Clint of her idea and then asked him to meet her at the Room Service Department. “Now, where would Room Service be, anyway?” she asked herself. Seeing a bellman, she asked him where the kitchen was.

“Which kitchen, Madame?”

“The one that provides room service to the guests.”

“But all the restaurants have room delivery service. If the guest chooses from the room menu, the order is channeled to the restaurant that makes that dish. If there are more restaurants involved, it is prepared in steps.”

“So there’s no way to know where my sandwich came from?” asked Viki.

“Was there something wrong with the food sent to your room, Madame? I am so sorry, let me assure you . . .”

“No, you don’t understand,” Viki said. “There’s nothing wrong. I just wanted to talk to one of the waiters that brought my sandwich.”

“Did he act improperly? If so, we will get to the bottom . . .”

“No, you don’t understand,” Viki said again, growing increasingly frustrated. “I just want to talk to him. Oh, never mind, I’ll talk to the manager.”

Viki was even more frustrated upon learning that the manager was in a meeting with the secretary of the Shah of Uriquai. Heading back to her suite, she was disappointed. It wasn’t until she was almost back at her room that she remembered Clint was supposed to meet her somewhere else. She gave up and thought surely he would come back to the room.

Lying on the love seat, she kicked off her shoes and put a pillow behind her head. “Just a few moments of shuteye,” she thought.

“Knock, knock,” said a loud voice. Startled, Viki sat up and tried to orient herself. The sun was going down. It was a lot later than when she had laid down. Barefooted, she cautiously went to the door and peeked out the peep hole. It was Mark.

“Viki, it’s me, Mark.”

Unlocking the door, she opened it and let him in. “I was just resting. What time is it?”

“Well, it’s only 7:00 p.m., but I thought I’d come check out things here. Larry seems to be fast asleep. I only lightly tapped on his door.” Looking around the suite, he asked, “Are you here all alone?”

“Yes, but I do wonder where Clint is. He’s been gone for a couple of hours. I can’t imagine where he’s gotten off to.”

“He didn’t tell you where he was going? Strange,” replied Mark.

“Well, Mark, it’s a long story. Clint and I were going to do some sleuthing of our own. We decided to meet at the Room Service area, but I was told there wasn’t one. So I came back to the suite.”

“Where is Clint then?” asked Mark.

“He was in the Business Center, waiting for a fax from our banker in the States,” Viki replied.

“Well, maybe he decided to stop at the craps table. Or at the roulette wheel — he seemed to be doing well the other night,” Mark said with a grin.

“I don’t think he would do that without at least finding me first, Mark.”

“Let’s go down to the Business Center, then to the area you went to and then split up and look among the gaming tables.”

“Let me get my jacket and put on my shoes,” Viki responded. What else is going to go wrong in this place?”

None of their search attempts proved successful. Clint was nowhere to be found –just as if he had dropped off the face of the earth. None of the bellmen had seen him; the Business Center said he had left about 4:15. Viki was growing more and more concerned over his absence. Clint never disappeared without warning. He was very considerate and punctual. She had a bad feeling in her bones that something was wrong.

Mark and Viki went back to the Buchanan suite and decided that they could do nothing but wait. Suddenly, Mark hit his head with his hand. “Of course! Kipling has him. That has to be it! I’m going now to Kipling’s quarters. I’ll let you know immediately if I find out anything,” Mark said as he leapt out of the chair and headed for the door.

“Please, Mark, find him. I’ll be waiting.”

“It will soon be time to wake Larry. If I don’t get back by 8:30, wake him up, please. I’ll be back to get you both before 9,” Mark assured her.

“Yes, I’ll let him get as much sleep as possible.”

Viki continued to pace in the suite. It was a nervous habit which often reared its head when the kids were out late or she was afraid of missing a print deadline. She was working off some nervous energy, but she was really beginning to feel tired. “That nap didn’t help at all. I’m exhausted,” thought Viki. She called Room Service and ordered a pot of coffee — thought about calling the kids. “No,” she thought, “I can’t do that. They’ll want to talk to their father and I won’t be able to explain his absence or pretend I’m not worried.” There was no one she could turn to now. Larry needed his sleep desperately. Everyone else was unreachable. Being alone was one of the hardest thing Viki ever had to did. Fortunately, she was never alone often, and only when she chose to be. Her life in Llanview was full and happy, and she liked it that way. But the evil Ivan Kipling was changing everything.

“Knock, knock,” again came the warning sign. She thought it must be Mark. That was quick, she thought, so maybe it was good news.

Opening the door, Viki was a little bit more than shocked to see Clint in a waiter’s uniform! She took several steps back, but couldn’t say anything.

“Madame, I have brought your coffee. Where do you wish it?”

“Why, Mr. Waiter, er, er, over here, I guess.”

Clint pushed the cart all the way into the room and shut the door quietly. “Honey, you won’t believe what I found out!”

“Oh, Clint, I’ve been so worried. How could you put me through this!” Viki’s voice was a little sharp and she was trembling.

Noticing that her bottom lip was quivering, Clint took her in his arms and held her very close. He could smell the fragrance of her perfume. He always liked the way Viki smelled. Even when she wasn’t wearing perfume, she still smelled wonderful. Their embrace was long and tender. Finally, Viki allowed him to loosen his grip and he started to speak again.

“Viki, I’m sorry. I tried to find you, but I couldn’t. Then this maitre ‘d caught me in the hallway in the back of one of the kitchens and gave me the third degree. Well, the only thing I could come up with was that I was looking for work.”

Viki’s laughter was light and sounded good to Clint. He hadn’t heard her laugh in far too long. She couldn’t believe what she’d heard and told him so.

“But, Viki, you wanted to find Karen and I couldn’t think of a better way than to be a waiter delivering room service,” Clint explained.

“Wow, that is remarkable. I mean what are the odds that someone would think you’re waiter material?” Viki asked with a laugh.

“Now, wait just a minute, Viki. I’ve done my share of manual labor,” Clint said defensively. “I’m not ashamed of it, either. I can sling hash and fry eggs with the best of ’em.”

Laughing again, Viki said, “I know that darling. I was just thinking about you pretending to be French. Your idea of speaking French is ordering crepes suzette.”

“Well, I didn’t pretend to be French. I told them I was an American and had lost all my money at the craps tables. He believed me. They must have been short-handed, because he didn’t hesitate. Took me to a locker room, got me a uniform and showed me the room service layout.”

“My, my, aren’t you industrious? But, the important thing is, did you find Karen?”

“I think so. I’m not sure, though. I delivered a tray to room 671. There were two thugs there who looked like bodyguards,” Clint explained. “When I asked where the third person was for the three meals, one of them told me to mind my own business.”

“What did you do then?”

“I was stalling for time — setting up the table, rearranging the silver and such. Then I heard a woman’s voice from the bedroom say something about being hungry and asking if the food was there yet. I saw that the lunch dishes were still in the room and offered to get them out. I told them I would come back with another tray, because that one was gone.”

“Then what?” asked Viki.

“They told me not to bother. But I went back later when I thought the woman might be out in the sitting room. I was hoping their guard would be off somewhere.”

“Did you see her?”

“No, the woman wasn’t with the men,” Clint responded. “They were eating and the third place setting wasn’t on the table. They were making her eat in the bedroom.”

“That’s a start but it doesn’t prove anything, honey.”

“I’m not finished! While I was there, cleaning up the first tray, the phone rang. I don’t know who it was, but the guy who answered definitely said the name ‘Karen’ to somebody. I know she’s there. It’s too much of a coincidence.”

“Yes, that would be hard to swallow,” Viki agreed. “So she’s possibly in room 671. Let’s go get Mark and storm the room.”

“Viki, I don’t think that would work. For one thing, there are two of them and I think they have guns, judging by the bulges under their coats. I mean, who wears a coat in their hotel room?”

“Too dangerous. And now I remember how much Ivan seems to know about the kids. We can’t trust him,” Viki rationalized. “We have to play along a little longer.”

“I think things are beginning to look up. Everyone’s safe and we haven’t done anything bad yet, so there’s always hope.”

“Let’s drink the coffee. I’m exhausted,” Viki said. “This has stretched my last nerve.”

“Oh, Viki, I have to go finish making my deliveries,” teased Clint.

“I don’t think so, man. You are mine,” replied Viki, as she pulled him to her by the buttons on his uniform.

“Watch it, Madame, this is my uniform.”

“Oh, I just love a man in uniform. I like maroon on you, too, and the little gold braids. You look just like Harold Hill in ‘The Music Man.'”

“But I can’t play a note, Viki.”

“You are playing my heartstrings right now, Uniform-Boy.” Viki kissed his lips and nose and nibbled on his ear. He responded by hugging her tightly and leading me walking toward the bed.

“You’re not gonna make me bite these buttons off are you, Clint?” purred Viki.

“No way. I had to pay about 20 bucks as a deposit on this costume,” Clint replied. “I’ll gladly take it off. But I can bite your buttons off, if you want.”

“My Gucci? No thanks, mister, the buttonholes work just fine!”

All of a sudden, it was a race to see who could get all their clothes off first. Viki finished first and yanked back the comforter and sheet before climbing into the bed.

“Oh, Clint, by the way. . .”

“Yes, Viki?” responded Clint.

“You don’t have to be gentle.”

With that they began making love with an aching, burning passion. It was so easy and nice — they were always comfortable with one another. Sure, they’d each had other lovers in their lifetime, but neither had really ever been satisfied by anyone else. Their lives were meant to be lived together, loving and growing as one.

It was 8:30 p.m. and suddenly Viki awoke. She silently crept out of bed and into the bathroom. Calling room to room, she waited for Larry to answer. When the phone rang for the 15th time, she began to worry. Finally, he picked up. Being sleep deprived, he was still groggy. Viki told him he had 30 minutes to get ready before they would meet him in his room to wait for Mark. Then Viki hurriedly took a shower and dressed before she woke Clint.

“Clint, darling, we only have about 15 minutes before we leave to meet Ivan.”

“Not so soon!” Clint protested.

“Yes, hurry! We don’t want Mark walking in on us getting dressed.”

“I locked the door, honey.”

“I know, but let’s not keep Ivan waiting. No use in getting him worked up.”

Viki had finished dressing and curled up in the overstuffed chair. The coffee was really cold by now and looked pathetic in the stainless urn. “Oh, for a microwave,” thought Viki. Viki put feet up under her and tried to get comfortable, all the while admonishing Clint again to move quickly. But she felt a hard object in the chair. Reaching behind her and down amid the cushions, she pulled out a man’s wallet. “Now who’s could this be? It doesn’t look like Clint’s,” thought Viki.

Looking into the wallet, she noticed a driver’s license with Mark’s picture on it. Only the picture didn’t say “Mark Hopkins” or even “Jean-Claude DuBois.” It said “Tim Ryan!”

As Clint came out of the bathroom, he saw the strange look on Viki’s face.

“What’s wrong, Viki? You look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.”

“Definitely something, Clint. Take a look at this! I’m afraid we’ve trusted in the wrong man!”

Viki handed the wallet to Clint and he sat down to look through it.

“Well, it seems the young man has at least 3 names. But ‘Tim Ryan’ is the only name in this wallet. The only thing connecting him to the man we know as ‘Mark’ is his picture. It’s undeniable proof that ‘Tim’ and ‘Mark’ are the same person.”

“What does it mean?” pondered Viki.

“It could mean a lot of different things, honey. Undercover agents carry fake ID’s all the time. They rarely use their own identity — it would be too dangerous. We’ll just have to confront him and get one more issue resolved.”

Viki relaxed a little and began to rub Clint’s neck and shoulders. This kidnapping business was turning out to be very perplexing!

It was almost 9 o’clock when Mark ran up to greet them. He was out of breath and anxious. “Let’s get going. We can’t be late!”

Viki and Clint had decided to keep the latest news about Mark to themselves. They also decided to keep their own ideas about Karen’s whereabouts a secret. Maybe playing their cards close to their vests would work out better. Clint was a firm believer in not telling everything he knew, saving some surprises for later.

Walking toward the elevator, the four fell into silent step. They were all tired and dejected, worried about what the next few moments would bring. None of them could guess what was coming before the night was over — it would be unbelievable.

“Hors d’oeuvres,’ anyone?” offered Ivan. He pointed to a tray of cheese, crackers and caviar. “The champagne is chilled and Jean-Claude will pour. Won’t you, please, Jean-Claude?” “Surely, Dr. Kipling.” Mark took his place at the party table and picked up the champagne from the cooler. The cork popped and fizzy bubbly flowed out of the bottle, which Mark tried to capture in the nearest flute. Not being entirely successful, he took the serving towel and began wiping up the spilled champagne. Then he poured the first full glass and extended it to Viki. “No, thank you, I don’t feel like this is a celebration. I think we all want to hear what you have to say and get on with the business at hand, Ivan.”

“Mrs. Buchanan, there’s no point in letting the best champagne available go to waste, is there? Go ahead, enjoy the fruits of this majestic land.”

“Kipling, leave her alone. If she doesn’t want to drink your lousy champagne, she doesn’t have to,” defended Clint.

“Very well. As you wish,” Kipling responded. “Dr. Wolek, have you prepared the list we discussed?”

“Yes, Kipling, I have. Here it is, ” said Larry pulling it out of his coat pocket. “There are over 30 names on this list. Good luck.”

“Au contraire, my good doctor. It is you who will need the luck. After I have reviewed this list, I will indicate which ones I would like you to contact.”

“Ivan, how do you expect me to get these people?”

“I thought by now you would have figured that out. Perhaps you’re not as resourceful as I’d hoped.”

“Actually, Larry, Clint and I have a plan,” Viki asserted. “We will invite these people to participate in a working seminar and hope that they can’t resist showing off their skills.”

“Ah, now that’s a thought. Yes! I think that will work! Excellent, Victoria,” said Ivan admiringly.

“Well, it remains to be seen, actually. We can try, Kipling, but we can’t promise. It’s not fair to hold Karen on the whims of these doctors,” reasoned Clint.

“But we will never know until you try. I suggest you go to your rooms and wait for my approval on these names. My deepest regrets that you do not choose to join me for supper. I did have an excellent cuisine planned. However, it can wait until another time,” Kipling said, dismissing them.

Mark ushered them out into the hall and spoke softly to them. “You’re free to go. Perhaps it would be a good change of pace for you to go to one of the restaurants downstairs. Maybe take in a show or gamble in the casino.”

“What happens if Ivan calls for us?” asked Larry.

“I can square it with Ivan. Just be back by midnight. I could also have you paged. Just don’t leave the hotel,” Mark responded.

“Let’s get some dinner, Larry. You must be starved,” said Viki.

“It’s okay. But I almost reached out and jerked up that entire tray of cheese. You’re right, I’m starved.”

“Hey, guys, I found this neat restaurant today, ” said Clint with a wink to Viki. “It’s called the Purple Penguin.”

“The purple what? Is it in this hotel?” asked Larry.

“Yes, Viki, I found it this afternoon,” Clint repeated, this time accenting “this afternoon.”

“Oh, yes, I think that would be fine,” Viki said.

The Purple Penguin was actually a little bistro set in the hotel’s basement. There were Mardis Gras masks on the walls and the waiters all wore bright reds, greens, and of course, purples. The food was decidedly French. But there were a few Cajun dishes on the menu, which delighted Clint. “It’s been so long since I had decent Cajun. That’s one thing, besides chicken fried steak, that I just can’t get in Llanview. When I was growing up in Texas, the Cajun food was fantastic. I haven’t had anything this good in ages.” “Glad you like it, honey,” Viki said. “I’m enjoying the Caesar salad. Larry, how’s the chicken?”

“Viki, I was so hungry, I could have eaten cardboard and loved it. But, in fact, the chicken’s really good. I would recommend it.”

“I think it’s time we told Larry about Mark, honey.”

“What about Mark, Viki?”

Viki looked at Clint and Larry could tell that it wasn’t good news. “Well, Larry, it’s like this. We don’t really know Mark, after all.”

“What do you mean, you don’t ‘know’ Mark?”

“I found a wallet in the couch in our suite. Mark had been there waiting for Clint. He must have dropped it.”

“When we looked in it, Larry, there was no ID for a ‘Mark Hopkins.’ But there was ID for a ‘Tim Ryan.’ And no Treasury I.D. card, either.”

“Hmmm, that doesn’t surprise me, Clint,” Larry replied. “I mean, I wouldn’t think that someone undercover, so to speak, would carry their real paperwork, just in case they got caught.”

“But why didn’t he explain ‘Tim Ryan’ to us?” Viki asked.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s not important,” said Clint.

“And the other news is, Larry, we may have found Karen!”

“You’re just now telling me? How did this happen?” demanded Larry.

Clint launched into an explanation, including all the minute details and emphasizing that he wasn’t sure the woman was really Karen, but it looked promising. He suggested they keep the speculation to themselves, so as to not tip their hand.

“Maybe we can overpower the guards, grab her and get out of here!” Larry enthused.

“No, Larry, Ivan has already convinced me that he is extremely dangerous. He knows everything about our family and how to get to them. There’s nothing we can do to protect them from him. We have to cooperate until we can put him out of commission.”

“I understand that you’re in fear for your family, Viki. That’s how I feel about Karen.”

“You still love her don’t you, Larry?” Viki asked.

“I don’t know, but I certainly don’t want her dead. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her because I didn’t do everything in my power to rescue her.”

“I vote we hold on tight, and keep riding. We can do it, if we hang together,” vowed Clint.

“I certainly hope you’re right. I certainly hope you’re right!”

Mark returned to Ivan’s suite, was determined to learn where Karen was being held. Ivan was going over the names that were on Larry’s list. He made little clucking sounds sometimes, and Mark guessed he was not impressed with the list. Suddenly, Ivan threw the paper across the room and cursed. “I only know a few of these people!” “But, Dr. Kipling, you’ve been gone from Llanview a long time. I think that’s to be expected.” “You imbecile, don’t talk to me. Your speech takes up my air and I can hardly breathe as it is.”

Ivan was definitely in a terrible mood, thought Mark. But maybe if he lost his temper completely, he would find out something. Mark had worked with Ivan for months. But still he had not fully been taken into Ivan’s confidence. While in Brazil, Ivan would disappear for hours, sometimes days, before returning to the apartment in Macao. That left Mark alone for hours. He was researching his own project while Ivan was gone, unbeknownst to Ivan. But while Ivan was in town, Mark ran the errands, cleaned the house, drove the car, did all the things a chauffer/housekeeper would do. It was strange that Ivan would never take Mark with him. Mark always asked or offered to go with Ivan, but he insisted on driving himself. Whenever Ivan drove, Mark knew he was in for a long wait. Nobody ever visited Ivan at the apartment. The neighbors didn’t know him and he refused to get to know them. Mark was virtually alone. Mark also was given the task of recording receipts. He didn’t ever see the checkbook, but Ivan gave him piles of receipts that he categorized. To keep Ivan from getting suspicious, Mark had to pretend to have a difficult time doing this. After all, Mark was a Treasury auditor, an accountant. He could have compiled the reports in record time, but that would alert Ivan. Ivan also conveyed the charitable notion that he was “helping” Mark, grooming him for some job with the “company,” as he called it. But, of course, Mark was interested, so Ivan refused to tell him more.

When Ivan was away, nobody called. Mark couldn’t call out on the house phone because it would show up in the record. His only means of communication with the outside world was via the pay phone at the gas station in the village. But then Mark had precious few people to call. His aunt was dead. He wasn’t required to report to his employers. He couldn’t explain his absence or his lifestyle to any of his friends, or former friends, now. He was alone. He had felt alone for many years. But he was going to change that. Ivan wasn’t the only person who had plans. Mark had been planning, too. Almost as fervently and methodically as Ivan. And he was determined that Ivan was not going to get in his way!

Ivan’s words jolted Mark back to the present and to Monte Carlo. “Jean-Claude! I’ve never known anyone who could make themselves that blank! Would you contact Dr. Wolek and the Buchanans and tell them that I have changed my mind? We will meet for breakfast here tomorrow morning. And I expect them to eat this time!” Ivan’s voice bordered on a scream and Mark knew it was best to just slip out and take care of business. Mixing with Ivan when he was in this mood was not smart.

“Why do I keep that moronic muscleman, anyway? He’s becoming tiresome. I should have dumped him long ago,” thought Ivan. “But there is something rather engaging about him at times. I almost feel sorry for him. Without me, he’d have no one, nowhere to go. I suppose it’s my cross to bear to give him a home. After all, charity does begin at home.”

Ivan’s thoughts soon turned from Jean-Claude to Karen. “Ah, yes, the lovely Karen. I would love to see her tonight, but I don’t dare risk it. There are many who would love to know her whereabouts, but I can’t let my guard down. But I can see her tomorrow, before I let her see her precious Larry.”

Viki and Clint were pleased that they didn’t have to face Ivan again that night. “Every moment I spend with that man gives me the creeps!” shuddered Viki.

“Yeah, it’s like running up on a snake. You want to walk away, but you know if you do, it’ll probably kill you.”

“Another Tex-ism?” Viki grinned.

“You haven’t heard that before?” asked Clint.

“I believe that’s a new one, dear.”

“Well, glad you liked it. Say, what shall we do? Want to go dancing? I’m ready to twirl you around!”

“Any other time and I would just jump at the chance. Clint, I want to go to the suite. Maybe we can listen to some music and relax.”

“Sounds good. Will you be all right, Larry? I hate to leave you, but I guess it’s that time of night.”

“That’s OK, Clint, I understand,” Larry replied. “I believe that jet lag hit me worse than ever before. But could I ask you to do one more thing before you turn in?”

“Yes, Larry?”

“Take me to Karen’s room.”

“Oh, Larry, I don’t think that is a good idea. If you start something, I’m gonna have to help you finish it and I’m not ready for a fight tonight.”

“Clint, I promise. I won’t do anything foolish. I just want to see the door. If everything’s quiet, I’ll feel better.”

Clint looked at Viki and they both shrugged. Viki couldn’t bear to say “no.” After all, she had her true love right there with her. Larry was so worried about Karen. Everyone was worried.

“OK, let’s go. Viki, can you get to the room by yourself?”

“Not on your life, Clint Buchanan. I’m going. I’m not going to be left behind again. You end up in some of the craziest situations when I’m not with you.”

“I end up in the craziest situations when I am with you. But OK. That way we can both keep an eye on Larry.”

Clint grinned at Viki and the three of them started toward the bank of elevators that would take them to the sixth floor.

Not knowing what to say, no one said anything until the doors opened and Clint pointed the way. When they were almost to the end of the hall, they heard a woman scream. It wasn’t just an ordinary scream, though, it was a bloodcurdling 3000 decibel scream that rocked the otherwise quiet hallway. Frozen in their tracks, all three watched in amazement as a door flew open and a woman stumbled into the hall, hysterical and out of control.