The train journey isn’t long, but I force myself to sleep. After years of working when I didn’t know where I’d find my next bed, I learned how to take advantage of the time when I had it.
Hours later, I’ve got my bag strapped across my chest, and I’m boarding a boat. I paid a local enough cash to borrow it for a few hours and keep him quiet while I do what I need to. It’s nearly silent as I take it across the edge of the lake and to the estate in the distance.
I don’t have a picture of the young woman I’m after, only one of her as a child. It was taken the day before she disappeared, but seeing her mother and father should give me a good indication if it’s her or not.
The Adairs have ties to Germany, and the father Tomas used to go by the name Ansel when they lived there. They left right around the time of the disappearance but were never questioned or looked at as suspects. There’s a lot more dirt I found when uncovering the connection, but that’s not what I was hired for. I’m here to collect the girl and take her back home, nothing more.
It’s sunny on the lake, and most people don’t expect a hit to happen in broad daylight. Which is why it’s the best time to do it. I’ve also been keeping tabs on the Adairs, and Tomas is out of town until tonight. It’s the best time, and it’s why I’m traveling today instead of the day before.
The longer I’m here, the more likely people will either recognize me, or I’ll draw suspicion. I don’t exactly blend in at six-eight and three hundred and fifty pounds. The orphanage gave me the name Dutch because when I was born I was the biggest baby in all of the Netherlands.
In the distance I can see the back of the estate and house with their gardens surrounding it. They have a boathouse that’s open, so I turn off the motor and take out the paddle. As quietly as I can, I paddle the small craft into the boathouse and tie it off. I check the other boat nearby and see the keys are in it. Good.
Dropping my gear, I unlatch the knife at my side. I plan on going in silent and coming out hot. I cross myself and say a prayer to whoever might be listening as I quietly open the door of the boathouse and make my way through the trees. The gardens are dense with shrubs and roses that are almost as tall as I am. They’re in bloom, so they offer enough coverage that I’m not seen right away.
In the distance I can hear people talking, and I stop to see if I can make out what they’re saying. It’s getting closer, and I tighten my hold on my knife as I wait.
Footsteps are loud against the pebbles on the path, but I keep my breathing shallow. Through the leaves of the roses I see two people just on the other side.
“Now that I’ve seen these pretty pink petals, why don’t you show me yours?” I hear the man say.
“I’m sure my mom is wondering where I am.” The girl’s voice is so soft it’s hard to hear, and I see her feet moving back, away from the man.
“She knows exactly where you are, Iris, and she’s more than aware of what I’m capable of.” His feet move closer to her, and I clench my knife harder.
“What?” She pauses her retreat. “What are you saying, Brock?”
“Now you know I don’t kiss and tell.” His feet move closer to her, bringing him within arm’s reach.
I need to know if this is her, and I’m not stumbling on something that I should ignore.
“That’s a sick joke,” she says, and I can hear the hurt in her voice. “Don’t touch me.”
“Come on, Iris. You know our parents are going to force us to be together no matter how hard you protest. Why not let me get a little sample? I’m going to have you either way.”
“Stop, no!” I hear feet shuffling as she cries out, and I can’t take it anymore.
I’m a man with low morals when it comes to criminals and breaking the law, but I’ve never hurt women and children, or allowed anyone I know to do it. I’m not starting today, even if that means I have to come back another time to take what I’m here for.
Without a word I slip from the shadows and come up behind the guy she called Brock. He’s got her pushed back on a cement wall with his hands up her dress. She’s fighting with all her might, but she’s too small to push him off.
One quick move and I’ve got one arm around his neck and the other holding the knife to his throat. He’s frozen in place when he feels the steel of the blade, and I’ve got his full attention. I realize from his size and seeing his face that he’s much younger than I originally thought.
When I look up I see the dark-haired beauty with wide eyes that are as gold as the cathedrals in Russia. I’ve never seen eyes so gold before, and for the first time ever I lose all thoughts. It’s only a flash, but it’s there and it goes all the way to the center of my bones.
It’s her.
“I’ll scream,” Brock says, and I want to laugh.
“Do you think that will save your life?” I ask, my accent thick while my eyes stay on the girl. I almost want to ask what she would have me do with him just to see what the answer would be. But even now, I can see that her heart is untouched by darkness. I can’t kill this boy in front of her eyes.
“Who are you?” she asks, looking around like I appeared out of some kind of box.
“Give me a moment and I’ll explain.”
I pull the knife away, and the boy tries to elbow me. I shake my head and then put my hand around his throat. One quick pinch to the right vein, and he crumples to the ground.
To my surprise, the girl screams and it’s so piercing that there’s no way the security at the perimeter didn’t hear it. And like clockwork an alarm sounds in the distance and I curse.
