Viki and Clint had just discovered that Mark Hopkins’ real name was Tim Ryan, according to his wallet, anyway. The two of them met Larry and waited for Mark (Jean-Claude/Tim) to escort them to Ivan Kipling’s suite. 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 secret ideas about Karen’s whereabouts. Maybe playing their cards close to their chests would work out better. Clint was a firm believer in not telling everything he knew, save some surprises for later, he thought.
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 filled with cheese, crackers and caviar. “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 chiller. 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 spill. 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.”
“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. 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 for 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. 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, Viki,” 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 approvals 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.”
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 down stairs. 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.”
“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?”
“Yes, Viki, I found it this afternoon,” this time Clint accented “this afternoon”.
“Oh, yes, I think that would be fine.”
The Purple Penguin was actually a little bistro, set in the hotel’s basement. There were Mardis Gras masks on the walls and waiters who 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. I’m liking the Caesar salad really well. 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 on the couch in our suite. Mark had been there waiting for Clint, he must of dropped it.”
“When we looked in it, Larry, there was no ID for a Mark Hopkins. But there was everything for a Tim Ryan. And no Treasury ID card, either.”
“Hm, that doesn’t surprise me, Clint, 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?”
“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 went to all the minute details and emphasized that he wasn’t sure that 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!”
“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?”
“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 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 had returned to Ivan’s suite and 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 don’t know but 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 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, unbeknown to Ivan. But while Ivan was in town, Mark ran the errands, cleaned the house, drove the car, did all the things a chauffeur/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, he was an accountant. He could have complied the reports in record time, but that would alert Ivan. Ivan also had the charitable idea 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, 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 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, have 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 changed 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, and 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 of time 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?”
“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? Hate to leave you, man, but I guess it’s that time of night.”
“That’s ok, Clint, I understand. 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 here. 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 6th 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 blood-curdling, 300 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.
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