Night Kill (Private Investigator Andrew Knight Mystery Series) (25 page)

Andrew turned around to see Silver Blade take aim with a crossbow. He had no where to go. It was over.

Talia had just cleared the park when she saw Andrew knockout one of the Knights of VanHelsing. She started towards him when she saw one of them rise up from the driver’s side. Talia froze when she saw them load up their crossbow.

Silver Blade let out an unexpected yelp and fell face down. An arrow was protruding from the back of his neck. Andrew first looked at Silver Blade in disbelief and then looked up to see Talia. She saved his life.

“Andrew!” Talia called out. She tossed aside the crossbow and ran towards him.

Andrew swept Talia up in his arm and twirled her around for a few seconds and put her back down. The overpowering stress of that moment finally hit them and for one brief moment they forgot themselves. Talia and Andrew’s lips locked together in a long, hot blooded kiss. And as suddenly as it happened, they parted. Talia touched her lips. She had never been kissed like that in her entire lifetime. Andrew walked away. He was embarrassed at what just happened between them. Talia stretched out her hand towards him and was about to say something, but never had the chance. She felt a blow to the head and everything instantly went black.

Andrew awoke. Every bone and muscle in his body hurt. The last thing he remembered was that kiss between he and Talia and how he had walked away. That was it; no memory of what happened after that.

Andrew, more focused now, looked beside him. His blood ran cold and a sickening feeling came over him. Next to Andrew was the body of Sergeant Fredrick Schindler. The realization of the circumstances finally hit him; Sergeant Schindler was a Knight of VanHelsing! Andrew saw that Fredrick was in street clothes and not his Knight’s outfit. Andrew took a quick look down at his own clothing and froze. He was dressed in Fredrick’s outfit! Andrew rose unsteadily to his feet. He surveyed the area. The van was gone, but more importantly, Talia was also gone. He had failed to protect both her and Kara. The plans he had made were now compromised. The Knights of VanHelsing had found they were in Berlin through Fredrick’s deception. Andrew recalled that Talia had told him that the Knights would assume a secret identity and blend in during the day. Fredrick had them all fooled. The Knights of VanHelsing were setting him up for the death of Fredrick; the death of a police officer. Andrew started to leave, when he heard the sirens of the approaching authorities. If he were caught, it wouldn’t be good. Andrew tore off back towards the hotel. He hadn’t gotten very far, when three officers appeared. They drew their weapons.

“Die hände halten, wo wir sie sehen können.” They ordered him to put up his hands.

Andrew did as requested and put up his hands. Two of the officers put their weapons away as they approached Andrew. The third kept his gun pointed at Andrew. There wasn’t time for this and he couldn’t afford to be arrested. So Andrew did what he had to do. Andrew grabbed the two officers and slammed them into each other and while they were disoriented, he jumped in the air and with a double spin kick, removed the gun out of the officer’s hand and delivered a knock out blow to the head. Andrew landed and turned around to face the first two officers. They rushed him, but Andrew had them on the ground and out cold in seconds. Andrew took off when he heard more sirens approaching his way.

Lieutenant Gunderson got out of his car just in time to see Andrew, wearing strange garb and leaving the park. Just as Andrew crossed the street, one of the officers that he had assaulted, came rushing up to Lieutenant Gunderson. He explained through gasping breaths what had happened. Lieutenant Gunderson’s face turned white and he immediately got on his radio. He issued an arrest order for Andrew.

“We need to get to the Hotel Augusta immediately!” he shouted.

Andrew thought about it as he walked along back to the hotel. He could not believe that the mission had been comprimised. Andrew knew he had to finish no matter what though, and quickened his pace with a great deal of urgency.

Nick woke up with a throbbing headache. That wasn’t the worst part though. Talia was gone! Nick rose to his feet and immediately felt nauseas. He ran to the bathroom and made it just in time to the toilet. Nick hung onto the bowl for dear life. It felt like his insides were trying to come out. Soon the nausea passed and Nick walked unsteadily to the bed. He finally noticed the pile of black clothing on the bed along with an open suitcase and its contents strewn about. It looked like someone had been in a great hurry.

Nick looked around the room for other signs. He had a hunch it was Andrew, but wondered several things; why Andrew was in such a hurry; why he didn’t wake Nick, and where did Andrew go?

Nick decided to search the room further for some clues as to what happened with Andrew. He started in the bathroom first. Nothing was out of the ordinary. Nick went next to the sitting area, but again nothing was out of order. He returned to the sleeping area and examined the pile of black clothing and that’s when Nick found a folded piece of paper. Nick unfolded it and discovered it was a note from Andrew that read:

Nick
,

I had to leave in a hurry and will explain later You will get a visit from the police. Tell them only what you know and that you never saw me or know what happened. They will want to search the room, let them. They will not find any trace of me. After they have gone, meet me at the Berlin Train station.

You will be followed, so let me come to you.

Once you have read this note, destroy it.

Andrew

Nick had just refolded the note when the door flung open with a loud crash and police officers stormed the hotel room. They shouted out a warning with weapons drawn. Nick quickly jammed the note down the front of his shirt. He raised his hands in the air and the police swarmed over him. Two officers roughly grabbed Nick and pushed him face down on the bed while the third handcuffed him. Once Nick was secure, Lieutenant Gunderson entered the room. He strode briskly over by Nick.

“Sit him up,” Otto ordered. The officers immediately complied.

“Where is he?” Otto demanded of Nick.

“Who?” Nick answered back.

“Who do you think?” Otto was upset with Nick’s apparent indigence. “Andrew, where is he, Nick?”

“I haven’t seen him since earlier this evening,” Nick was more cooperative now.

“He was here,” Otto pointed out the open suitcase, strewn about clothing, and the pile of black clothes on the bed. “You never saw him. You are lying.”

“I was passed out on the sofa over there,” Nick nodded in the direction of the sitting area with his head. “I only woke just minutes ago, I swear.”

Otto looked Nick over from head to toe. He finally nodded that he agreed that Nick was telling the truth.

“Why are you looking for Andrew?” Nick asked, after being allowed to sit down.

“Andrew is suspected of the death of Sergeant Schindler,” Otto explained. He sat down next to Nick. He motioned for the officers to take off the cuffs. Otto looked sad as he continued, “Andrew fooled us all I’m afraid.” He turned towards Nick and went on, “All this time Andrew was a Knight of VanHelsing and we never knew it. I suspect that with the plans to attack this Gothica castle, Andrew was setting us all up to be captured.”

“That’s in…” Nick began, but remembered Andrew’s note. He switched to, “That’s incredible. I mean I never suspected.”

“Ya, ya,” Otto agreed nodding his head in agreement.

“Like I said,” Nick added. “I never saw him.”

“I believe you,” Otto said. He rose to his feet and motioned for the other officers to follow him. Otto turned to look back at Nick, “Let us know.”

“I will,” Nick answered.

“Good.” Otto smiled and closed the door.

Once he was out of the room, Otto turned to the officers that were with him. “Keep a watch on him,” Otto ordered. “I am certain that Andrew will try and contact Nick.” They nodded that they understood.

Nick was relieved when Otto and his officers left the room. He went to the bathroom and took some peptol bismol. His stomach was still rumbling a bit, but he felt a little better. He left the bathroom and went back to the bedroom. Nick grabbed his passport and coat. He glanced around the hotel suite once more, and walked out the door and closed it behind him.

The Berlin Central Train station was a monument that offered state-of-the-art conveniences for travelers and considered the biggest train station in Europe.

Nick stood on a row of seats to get a vantage point over the menagerie of travelers mulling about. Out of all the hundreds of people in the station that day, a few really stuck out to him. He saw a mother with pink streaked blonde hair talking on her phone while walking ahead of a screaming child. Nick turned in another direction and saw a group of Chinese businessmen in a rush to catch their train. He turned for the third time and saw a couple with black hair wearing jeans and navy blue pea coats. They were walking with their arms around each other and carrying duffle bags. Nick felt a tap on his leg. He looked down and saw a police officer.

“Komm, bitte, nach unten,” he asked Nick to get down. Nick shrugged his shoulders that he did not understand. “Komm, bitte, nach unten,” the officer repeated, this time motioning for Nick to come down from the chairs. Nick finally understood and did as the officer asked. Once he was down, the officer left. Nick felt sick again and made a dash for the restrooms.

Otto peered down from the second floor balcony. He was using the glass elevator for cover. He had received a call that Nick had gone to the train station. Otto suspected that Andrew had made arrangements to meet Nick and proceed with their plans to go to the castle Gothic. But so far Andrew was a no show. Otto moved a little further over when he saw Nick go into the rest room. A few minutes later, a dark haired couple stopped in front of the restrooms. The man kissed the woman and walked in the men’s room. She stayed outside and waited.

Nick was washing his face in the sink when the guy he had seen earlier walked in. He smiled at Nick. “Bonjour,” he said before going into an available stall. Nick simply nodded and continued splashing cold water on his face. He heard the toilet flush and saw the man come out and walk over to the sink next to him.

“Je vois que vous ont été suivies. Vous n’avez pas idée de qui je suis,” the man said.

“I have no idea what you just said.” Nick shrugged.

“Vous ne parlent pas francais,” the man said.

“French,” Nick recognized the word ‘francais’. “No I do not speak French.”

“Too bad,” he said. “You really should learn another language Nick,” the man replied.

“How do you know my name?” Nick was shocked.

“Kara and Talia are counting on us,” he continued.

“Andrew?” Nick took a closer look at the man with the black hair and full, trimmed beard. “Holy s—” Nick gasped when he finally knew it was Andrew beneath the disguise. “What the hell are you doing? The cops think you killed Fred. Did you?”

“Fred was a Knight of VanHelsing,” Andrew said. “Talia killed him to save me. I was knocked out and they set me up to make it look like I was a Knight of VanHelsing.” Andrew moved closer to Nick. “When you leave the restroom, I want you to get out of the station and take a cab. Have the driver take you around for a few minutes and return. By that time, the police will have left the station to follow you.” Andrew reached inside his coat and took out an envelope. “Here is your ticket. Don’t be late.” Nick took the ticket and put it in his coat pocket.

“Who is the girl?” Nick finally asked.

“Emma Strauss,” Andrew answered. “I met her when I came to the station early this morning. We sat down and started talking. Emma told me she attends the University of Berlin. She was on her way home to Zwickau. I asked if she would do me a favor. I offered her five hundred euros to help me out. She needed the money.”

“You are something else.” Nick shook his head.

“Now you’re going to leave first,” Andrew instructed Nick. “I will follow in a few minutes. Just meet us on the train.”

“Okay,” Nick agreed. Nick left the bathroom. Andrew followed a few minutes later.

Otto saw Nick come out of the restroom. A few minutes later the other man came out. He walked up to the girl and gave her a kiss and then they walked in the direction of the train platforms. Otto was disappointed. Andrew had never showed up to meet with Nick. Otto called on his radio to follow Nick and to keep an eye on him. The officers radioed back that Nick had gotten into a cab. Otto radioed back that they should follow him. Satisfied, Otto took the glass elevator to the first floor. He was headed towards the exit, but suddenly stopped. Otto thought back to the case he had worked on with Andrew. He recalled that Andrew always traveled with a suitcase with a variety of disguises, clothing, and identifications. Otto even witnessed Andrew’s transformation into a disguise on that case long ago. Andrew could blend in anywhere, anytime. Otto slapped his forehead. “Dummkopf! Andrew war der andere Mann im Badezimmer,” Otto realized that Andrew was the other man in the restroom with Nick.” Otto shouted in his radio to stop the cab Nick was riding in. He also told them he was going after Andrew. When the elevator doors opened, Otto took off in a full run towards the train platforms.