Clint looked at Viki and almost dumped his tea in his lap.
“What?”
“Did you see the lady that just came in?”
“No, who was it?”
“I think it was Monique!”
“Monique . . .” muses Clint.
“You know, the lady in Monte Carlo who saw a burglar outside on her terrace.”
“Oh, that Monique.ย So?”
“Well, don’t you think that’s awfully strange? To see her a zillion miles from her home and in the same hotel we’re staying at?”
“Who says she’s a zillion miles from home? New York is a big city, very popular, even with Europeans.”
“Exactly. A very big city, thirteen million people, give or take a dozen. I could have sworn that was her!”
“Could have sworn? Then you’re not sure, you just think you saw her?”
“I saw the woman. I’m just not one hundred per cent sure it’s her. But I’d bet my next bubble bath that it was.”
“What do you mean ‘your next bubble bath’?”
“Just a figure of speech. I haven’t had one today and I’m tired from that plane ride and I thought I might have one.”
“Yeah, that was a wild ride, wasn’t it? Now, what again about the bubble bath?”
“I was thinking maybe if you went and asked at the desk for Monique Chatterley and she wasn’t a guest here, I would share my bubble bath with you.”
“Let me get this straight . . . if you’re wrong, we get a bubble bath. If you’re right, you get a bubble bath. Right?”
“Hm, yes, that’s correct.”
“This is gonna be like taking candy from a baby. Oh, baby. All I have to do is ask at the desk if Monique whoever is registered?”
“And if she is, I’m bathing alone. If she’s not, then it’s a bubble duet.”
“You know, even if that’s her, she doesn’t necessarily have to be registered here?”
“I’m willing to take the risk. I know it’s her.”
“I’ll be right back.” Clint put his napkin in his chair and left the tearoom. He went to the Front Desk and asked if a Monique Chatterley was registered.
“We have a Mr. & Mrs. Chad Chatterley and a Robert Chatterley registered, sir, would either of those be the party you’re looking for?” asked the desk clerk.
“No, thank you. I’m sorry to have troubled you.” Walking jauntily back to the table, Clint found a note at his tea cup.
“Meet me at the bubbles. Viki.”
“You tricked me, Viki.” Clint had paid the bill and gone up to their suite.
“I’m a little devil, I am.” admitted Viki as she put her arms around her husband’s neck. “Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”
“Ah huh. Did I ever tell you how much I love you?”
“No, Clint, I don’t believe you have in the last 15 minutes or so.”
“Well, I do. And I love you more than you could ever love me.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do, and do you know why?”
“Nope.”
“I love you more because I’m bigger than you. And every bone and body cell is totally and completely in love with you. Everything about me loves everything about you. And that is why I love you more than you can ever love me.”
“Oh, that’s so sweet. I could cry. ”
“No need to cry, Cupcake, it’s just the way it is,” he said kissing the tip of her nose.
“I love you so much.” Viki covered Clint’s mouth with passionate kisses, hugging herself against his strong, firm chest.
“You know we had a date for the Waldorf anyway.”
“Of course, I did, Clint, why do you think I went to such an elaborate scheme to get you up here fast?”
“I knew you tricked me. But it’s one of the best treats of my life!”
“Maybe………let’s see how the bubble bath goes.”
“Let me help you with these pesky clothes, Sweetheart,” offered Clint as he skillfully undid the buttons on her blouse. Their eyes were locked and each moment was excruciating for both of them. While their blood was rushing, their hearts were beating wildly. Every second away from caressing and touching each other was cruel punishment. The air was crackling and the only sound was their heavy breathing. Then, the water was running and the bubbles were in. They both stepped over the edge of the tub into perfect consummation. The warm water jetted around their bodies and soaked every pore with delicious joy. Steam, rising from the tub, swirled around their heads, intensifying their feelings of solitude. Alone, together, united as one in a world of their making. The seduction was so powerful, the feeling so high, they erupted together beyond splendor, beyond rapture.
“Viki, let’s get out.”
“What? Oh, okay, do we have to?”
“The water’s getting cool and I can’t reach the plug. Let’s get in the bed before we get too chilled.”
“I was so comfortable.” Viki said as she raised her head from his chest. “I love listening to your heart beat. It’s so steady and strong. It relaxes me.”
“The ticker went pretty wild for you earlier, Sweetheart. I was wondering if we were going to wake the neighbors.”
Giggling, Viki replied, “This is a hotel. They should be used to noises like that. We’re paying good money for this bubble bath!”
“I think we certainly got our money’s worth, how ’bout you?”
“Sure. We definitely did. Now, let’s go unmake the bed!”
The next morning, Ivan and Mark gathered Viki, Clint and Larry into his suite and proceeded to tell them the plans he had made.
“I will be sending two escorts, two doctors, actually, to accompany the traveling medical team. Since they are leaving from Philadelphia, we won’t even be seeing them.”
“That’s absurd. I told every one of them that I’d be there to greet them and brief them. What will they think if I’m not there?”
“Good point, Dr. Wolek, but not to worry. I have it all under control. They will be told that you have gone ahead to prepare their luxurious accommodations. They won’t think another thought about it. Actually, appealing to their more greedy side will work rather nicely, I think. After all, they’re not in it for altruism, but money or glory. Pity they won’t really get either. Laugh’s on them, though. I’ve thought these things through rather carefully.”
“Does this mean we have to put them up in the Ritz or something?” mumbled Clint.
“No, actually we’re not going to. Besides, there isn’t a Ritz or even much of a something in Macao. They will get the finest barrack rooms available. Left over from the Brazilian coup of ’75.”
“That’s a relief. I vote we just get this thing going.”
“Before you ask your parrot-like question, Dr. Wolek, Karen is fine. She will be traveling with us, but not really with us, if you know what I mean. No harm has been done her. I am a doctor and wouldn’t want her harmed, unless it was absolutely necessary.”
“You are totally depraved, Kipling. If you weren’t, we wouldn’t be here. When this is over, I will make you pay, I swear.”
“Dr. Wolek, so you have said over and over. Truthfully, I’m beginning to grow weary of your constant threats and insults. Neither will gain you anything. Why not sit back and enjoy the experience? One thing I think you will have to credit me with, I have never bored you. Things are always happening when I’m around.”
“But never the right things,” stated Viki, “like your arrest or your repentance. That you have always swiftly avoided. I, too, am looking forward to the day when justice rains on your head. It won’t come soon enough.”
“Mrs. Buchanan, I am shocked. I thought at least you would have some sympathy for my project. I wouldn’t have expected that you would like to ignore people with medical problems, people who can’t get help from anyone else. I perceived you as the more tolerant, open-minded person here.”
“That’s right, pile some guilt on her head. It’s not enough that you’ve threatened our lives, our children’s lives, our friends’ lives and have stuck us with the bill, to boot, now you want her to enjoy it. Larry’s right, you are depraved.”
“Enough! I will not tolerate this abuse any longer. Be ready to depart for Macao this afternoon. It is a long flight, so dress comfortably. And, Mr. and Mrs. Buchanan, I trust you won’t be entertainment on this flight like the last flight? Not everyone is as ignorant as you might think. If you intend to repeat your escapade, Karen and I may have to apply for membership in your club, as well.”
Larry, not appreciating Kipling’s threats reached over to hit him in the face. Ivan quietly and quickly dodged to one side and threw a hand chop to Larry’s neck. With a groan, Larry sunk to the floor. Instantly, Viki was at his side.
“You’ve hurt him. He needs help!”
“Nonsense. He’ll be fine in a few moments. No permanent damage was done. After all, I was forced to defend myself. Excuse me while I make more preparations. ”
Larry started to come around and immediately began rubbing his neck where Ivan had delivered the blow.
“What happened? Oh, I remember, that snake threatened Karen.”
“Hold still. You need to lie there a little longer. He’s gone and there’s no rush.”
“Let me up. I need to beat the holy tar out of that idiot!”
“Now, Larry, it’s going to be fine. Don’t you realize that he was only baiting you? He wanted to get a reaction and you fell for it,” reasoned Viki.
“Do you think so? Really?”
“Of course, I do. He has no reason to hurt Karen. Not as long as we haven’t completed his plans. But after everything’s done, it might be a different story. We’ve got to concentrate all our efforts on getting through this and getting Karen. But violence won’t do it.”
“Viki’s right, Larry. We need to keep our head, no matter how hard it will be.”
“I always thought I had a hard head. But I never knew my neck was so soft. He hurt me! How did he know he didn’t kill me?”
“Must be a habit of his, hitting people there. He was sure that you’d be okay. My guess is, you’ll have a bruise there the size of Wisconsin. But, it’ll heal. Do you think you can walk now?”
“I’d love to try. I ‘d like to make some calls before we leave the States again.”
“Larry, do you think that’s wise? I mean what if Ivan’s listening?”
“I just want to call Danny. He didn’t even know I went to Monaco. He will be expecting to hear from me soon. I don’t want him to worry.”
“How will you be able to hide your emotions? He’ll know something’s wrong.”
“If I’m lucky, I’ll get the answering machine and won’t have to give many details. I just want to hear his voice, even if it’s a recording.”
“I know how you feel. I want to talk to the kids, too. But I’m worried I can’t carry it off. Clint, maybe we should call now, they will all be at school or work. We can do the same thing.”
“Great idea. Thanks, Larry, for the suggestion. Guess you’re pretty proud of Danny. Graduating at the top of his class at Harvard Medical School.”
“It was a long time coming. He took off some time and finally ‘found’ himself, whatever that means. He’s doing wonderfully, now. He is working at San Francisco General and doing great as a plastic surgeon.”
“Yes, I know. I got a card from him and his family. Said they were coming home next Christmas. I can’t wait to see them.”
“Boy, Viki, if you had told me 10 years ago that Danny would be anything above a loser, I would have doubted it. I was discouraged, but he pulled through and I’m so proud of him.”
“Yeah, me, too.”
“Folks, I don’t mean to break up a great family reunion or anything, but this is Ivan’s room and the sooner I get out of here, the better.”
“OK, Clint, let’s move.”
Larry struggled to his feet but seemed back to normal. They went to their prospective suites and began to get organized.
“Man, I wished I’d realized that we were leaving so soon. I thought we wouldn’t go until day after tomorrow.”
“I think you were the one, Viki, that said Ivan likes surprising his victims. Sort of like a cat playing with a mouse. He’s one sick wacko.”
Regardless, getting ready for the trip wasn’t all that hard. Taking the clothes off the rod, Viki just transferred them to her hanging bag and then zipped it shut. She gathered up her toilet articles and returned them to her over night bag. Basically, it only took about 20 minutes to get everything together and check the drawers for missed items.
Clint made the phone call to the kids while Viki was packing and left a message. He just told them they’d be gone another week. On the spur of the moment, he asked them to call Asa and fill him in. Then he called his estate lawyer and had a brief chat with him. Clint was a very cautious man. He didn’t like the idea of leaving the country and not letting someone know where he was. After all, as dangerous as Ivan was, they could be gone for a long time or dead before anyone realized it. He told his attorney that he was helping out a friend and would be going to Macao for a week or two. The ‘friend’ part really stuck in his throat. But he was doing it for Larry and Karen, and they were his friends. He asked him to keep it confidential, which he knew he would, unless he was gone for an unreasonable amount of time. He felt much better knowing that he had somewhat confided in someone.
He didn’t relish the thought of being in a strange country with a demented person. It just smacked of “lunacy”. He knew all the reasons they were going. They’d discussed it endlessly. Now all he wanted was for it to be over.
Boarding the plane, Larry looked around thinking he might spot Karen. It would be a long flight and the thought of her being on the plane, again, and him not being with her was heartbreaking. He wanted so desperately to hold her, hug her, talk to her. He had so much to say. And he was hoping that she had the same kind of things to say, as well. It had been so long, couldn’t they forgive one another? He wanted to go forward in a relationship with Karen. Discussing the past wasn’t necessary for him. He could forgive and forget.
Viki and Clint cat-napped most of the way. But Larry was restless. He had seen Karen in a window seat, with Ivan sitting next to her. Ivan seemed pleased. He was grinning that wicked smile of his, the one he smiled when he knew he had the upper hand. Killing him would be too good for him, Larry thought. He would get his day, he was sure of it.
The flight attendant brought Viki and Clint their meals and they began to eat. The flight had been very ordinary, up until that time. Suddenly, the plane lurched and drinks spilled.
“What was that?” asked Viki.
“Just an air pocket, probably,” explained Clint.
“Seemed awfully strong.”
“Maybe we’re going over the Bermuda Triangle or something.”
“Not funny, Clint. Don’t even go there. I don’t want to hear about airplane tragedies or anything like that. I remember you did that article about the unaccounted and missing planes and boats. That scared me.”
“Really? It intrigued me. There’s documented proof that so many planes and boats have just disappeared into an abyss of some kind. Maybe we’re close to it and it’s gonna suck us in!”
“Stop it. I told you, I don’t want to hear it! I’m squeamish, I can’t help it. I mean, Ivan is scary enough to contend with. I don’t want to reckon with a force of nature, too. Nothing is as strong as Mother Nature.”
“Unless it’s Mother Viki. I was just teasing, Honey. See? Since we’ve been talking, we haven’t lost any more altitude. I’m sure it was an isolated incident.”
“It better be. I haven’t come all these miles, through all this with Ivan to get blown away by a tornado or something.”
“OK, OK, let’s eat.”
After the meal tray was removed, Viki made her way to the back of the plane. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Karen. She looked much as she had the day before. Drugged, certainly, Viki thought. Passing Larry, she gave him as assuring smile and even looked at Mark. Mark was busy engaging in a conversation with the lady sitting next to him. She didn’t recognize her. Maybe she was just a stranger with an inquisitive mind. There are lots of those, she thought. She didn’t know why Mark and Larry weren’t sitting together, but she assumed that Ivan had a reason for it. Ivan had a reason for everything. Just as she got to the rear of the plane, the plane lurched again, sending her sprawling into another passenger’s lap.
“Oh, my goodness, I’m so sorry. I do apologize.”
“It’s OK, it wasn’t your fault. Can I buy you a drink?” asked the gentleman?
“No, thank you, I am on this flight with my husband.”
“Too bad, I would have liked to buy you that drink.”
“Sorry, but, no.”
“Can’t blame a fellow for trying, right?”
“Sorry.”ย Viki was so embarrassed. Plus, the captain had turned on the Fasten Seat Belt sign. But she still needed to go to the restroom. She decided to take the risk and go ahead. She prayed the whole time that the plane wouldn’t take a nose dive. It would be just her luck, she thought, to be caught in mid air.
When she left the restroom, she saw Ivan standing there, like he was going in.
“Mrs. Buchanan. Everything alright?”
“Yes, of course,” replied Viki.
“Just checking. We did hit some violent weather earlier. I wanted to make sure you were safe. And that you had everything you need.”
“Yes, I have everything,” she pointedly said.
She could feel his eyes on her the entire length of the plane. Staring was an accomplishment for Ivan. He did it better than anyone. It left goose bumps on most people, just as it did Viki this time.
The pilot landed the plane with a minimum of fuss and the six people left the airport in an old limousine. Larry was busy comforting Karen, who didn’t seem to care one iota that he was even there. Finally, Ivan said, “Dr. Wolek, you can relax. You’ll not get anything out of her for several hours.”
“Karen is a United States citizen. She has rights. People will protect those rights and you will be held accountable.”
“Duly noted, Dr. Wolek. Now let’s move on in our plans.”
The limo was old, but very clean and very comfortable.
“No, they don’t make new limos like this beauty,” cooed Ivan.
“Where did you get this dinosaur?”
“Clint, I’ve had this for many years. With care, it will last me for 10 more years. In this jungle, believe me, it is a luxury beyond compare. The natives all love it. You’ll see.”
The plane ride had actually ended in Rio de Janeiro and another 3 hours by car was ahead of them to Macao. Viki wondered when this indeterminable voyage would end. Little did she know, it would almost end for her and Clint before Ivan’s plan got fully underway.
Mark got out first and started unpacking the luggage. Clint and Ivan got out, but Ivan mysteriously disappeared. Viki stuck her head out the window and summoned Clint back to the car.
“Since we’re here in the city, of sorts, would you mind going over to that vendor and getting Karen some water to drink. Guess it should be bottled water, too.”
“Sure thing. How about you?”
“Yes, that would be nice after the long trip. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Viki. Be right back.”
Clint left the apartment parking lot and proceeded to cross the street. Coming out of nowhere, going very fast, was a dilapidated van. The windows were tinted and the driver’s face was shielded by the sun behind him. The careening van drove straight toward the sidewalk where Clint was standing. Viki screamed, choking on the words, “Look out”. The shrill, high-pitched scream reverberated through the air, but not in time to help Clint. Mark rushed over and with just seconds to spare, pushed Clint as hard as he could. However, the van still hit Clint, sprawling him like a rag doll. He went head over heels in the grassy lawn of the apartment complex and lay there limp and motionless.
To be continued . . .
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