Reunion

The book, or rather the Eye of Jupiter, sent wave after wave of energy toward her. Ana adjusted her course. If a particular road took her too far from her objective, or if the signal became too weak, she corrected, or even doubled back once or twice. Her focus was singular. The actual driving of the car and all that entailed left to a different part of her consciousness. That part of her would not intrude on her thoughts unless necessary. So far it hadn’t been.

As the call grew stronger she came back to her physical self. She hadn’t recalled crossing the Spree, but there it was to her right, snaking toward the city center. How many tragic souls met their end trying to cross the Berlin Wall, only to die on the banks of the river? That was  lifetime ago, and she had to focus on the present.

She slowed the car when her course brought her parallel with the Tiergarten. Miles and miles of trees and greenery situated like an emerald on a silver ring. Its beauty radiant in the light of the afternoon. She rolled down the window to revel in its earthy musk. If the end of her days was near, she wanted to be reminded of what was good and magnificent about this tiny blue planet. Out of all the others, her ancestors had chosen this place, and breathing in the cool, moist air, she understood why. Earth fought for life more than any across the universe. But where there is life, there is death. Ana knew this all too well.

The droning of the Eye was relentless now. She reached out to it, doing her best to reassure it she was near. The signal lessened in intensity and frequency. The route to the apartment was clear in her mind. She turned onto a busy street. Apartments and shops lined both sides, and people bustled along the sidewalks happily unaware of the macabre play going on around them.

Traffic slowed the closer she got to her destination. When she was only a couple of blocks away, she could see why. The front of the apartment building was cordoned off and several police cars sat askew, blocking the roadway. Before being hemmed in, she turned the car off onto a side street and parked against the curb. Although a little awkward, she could still see the scene from her vantage point. There was certainly no way she could get into the apartment with all of the activity out front. She doubted the back entrance would be any less guarded than the front, and going in from the roof was probably out of the question as well. She would have to wait until nightfall. Hopefully the police would be done with the majority of their forensic work by then. She wondered how much carnage Doctor Gabriel left in his wake. Her stomach tightened at the thought. The poor woman he’d murdered had more than likely been a distant relative of hers, of Hannah Klein’s anyway.

Much to her surprise, the glovebox held a wallet with enough cash for a night on the town. There was also another gun, but she rather liked the one she had so she kept it, tucking it behind her back and underneath her blouse. She checked herself in the mirror, smoothing down her hair and wiping traces of smudged makeup away. She decided to find something to eat while she waited for the dark. Perhaps she could even find a nice little sidewalk cafe with a view of the apartment.

More and more people flocked toward the crime scene, so she decided a stroll in the opposite direction might be prudent until things calmed down a bit. There were still four or five hours until it would be dark enough for what she had in mind.

A little cafe beckoned to her from half a block away. Its wrought iron tables and chairs topped with colorful umbrellas offered the perfect vantage point. Her stomach rumbled, perhaps signaling its approval. As she made her way toward the restaurant, she caught a glimpse of a display window. A sleek, unisex mannequin adorned in black leather stood in the center, its raucous stance in stark contrast to the others with their more modest attire. Intrigued, she stepped through the doorway. A slender young man looked up from behind the counter, obviously affected by her. He jumped into action when she pointed at the leather ensemble. A moment later, he was opening a fitting room for her and asking if there was anything else he could do for her. She just smiled and shut the door.

The pants fit as if they’d been painted on, but the leather was soft, inviting. Perfect for her nighttime plans. The jacket also fit her to a tee and did a better job of concealing the gun. She zipped it up so that just a glimpse of the red blouse peaked through, framing the tiny chrysanthemum between her breasts. 

The young man actually gasped when she stepped out of the fitting room. His approval was obvious.

“That was made for you, Miss.”

She smiled and winked at him. Despite all of the troubles of the world, she still enjoyed the push and pull of everyday life. She had missed out on so much during her years at the hospital.

“Can I get you anything else?” He ran a hand through his hair and straightened his collar.

“Sunglasses.”

***

The waiter at the cafe was equally affected by her ensemble. He nearly shoved another customer out of the way to seat Ana at a table next to the outer wall. She made sure she sat with a clear view of the apartment building.

“May I get you something to drink?” Ana caught his hazel eyes drifting down. He blushed and cleared his throat when he realized he’d been caught. 

“How about a glass of wine?”

“Of course, Miss. What would you like?”

She ran her fingers along the back of his hand. “Surprise me.” She almost burst out laughing when he nodded, turned quickly and ran headlong into another patron.

The street seemed to be returning to normal. The crowd around the crime scene was thinning, which gave Ana a better view. There were at least two policemen stationed at the front, and several other men in plain clothes moved in and out of the building. Detectives, she imagined. The body had probably already been removed, which might account for the thinning of the crowd. 

The waiter returned with a glass of red wine. She didn’t hear the name or the vintage. A man walking down the street toward the cafe caught her attention. 

“Would you like to hear the specials, Miss?” The waiter intruded on her thoughts.

“What?” She turned to face him. “Oh, yes. No. I mean, bring me your favorite. I’m sure I’ll like it.”

This seemed to please the waiter. He gave her a broad smile, and rushed away to fill her order. Ana turned her attention back to the sidewalk, but she couldn’t see the man any longer. There had been something about him. What was it? The sapphire eyes, the black hair drawn back in a ponytail? She knew she hadn’t met him before, but there was something about him. It reminded her of her first meeting with Lee. She scanned the crowd again. Nothing. Could he be another one of the protectors? Surely not. She had met all of the others back at the Estate. Hadn’t she?

The waiter brought back a plate of beef tips over pasta with a side of asparagus. She dove into it, waving away the waiter. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had such a wonderful meal. 

A little later her waiter returned. His eyes went wide for a split second, apparently amazed at how fast she had put away such a large plate of food. “Can I get you anything else, Miss?”

“A little more wine.” He started to leave, but she caught his arm. “Do you know anything about the commotion down the street.”

He looked at her, then down the street. “Oh, that. Terrible business. Apparently some lady was murdered in her apartment today.”

“Do you know which apartment?” She let go of his arm.

“No, Miss, but my manager has been here all day.” He pointed back inside the restaurant. “Perhaps you could ask him.”

The waiter left her and hurried to his next table. Ana turned back to see if she could spot the manager. Perhaps he would be able to offer some information, which might prove useful. She scanned the interior of the restaurant, but turned back quickly when she caught sight of the man she had seen earlier. His sapphire eyes seemed to look right through her. He was sitting just inside at a small table. He had a clear view of her from the open doorway as well as one of the windows. Was it only a coincidence? Had he been watching her?

She turned her head back slowly. He was definitely watching her. She looked back down the street. It was still too early to attempt entry into the apartment. The man behind her could very well be an agent of the Horsemen. Surely they would know where she was headed. I need to lose him, she thought. 

There was a clear path for her to jump up and get a head start. She placed a few bills on the table to cover her meal, and then got up without looking back. Maybe she could draw this man down a dark alley. There were still too many people around to use the gun, so she’d have to be careful.

Wrought iron grated on concrete behind her. She quickened her pace, not chancing a backward glance until she was in a throng of people. It was him. He was definitely following her. Those eyes looking through her. So familiar. She pulled the gun from her waist and shoved it in a jacket pocket for easier access.

Evening approached. Streetlights came on and splashed their light across the shop windows, casting funhouse mirror reflections of the passersby. She pushed herself deeper into the crowd. Every time she looked back, he was there. Still watching her. Still following. What if there were more like him? What if the Horsemen had anticipated her next move? They could have agents everywhere.

Every face in the crowd became suspect. Ana pushed her way back out of the people, angling toward a dark alley adjacent from the crime scene. Her footfalls struck the pavement in time to her heartbeat.  She wrapped her fingers around the gun and darted into the alley. Several people walking by glanced toward her, but didn’t stop. She pressed herself to the wall and sidled deeper into the darkness, bringing the gun up in front of her.

Without thinking, she grabbed the man that came around the corner by the shoulder, shoved him into the wall, and then pressed the gun into his back.

“Who in the hell are you?” She pressed the gun deeper with each word.

“I’m a friend, Ana.” The man spoke through a half open mouth.

“How do you know my name? Did the Horsemen send you? Answer me.”

“I swear I’m a friend, Ana. No one sent me. I’ve been looking for you my entire life.”

“What do you mean by that you sick bastard?” She stepped back, aiming the gun directly at him. “Turn around.”

“My name is Frederick, but you know me by another.” He turned slowly, keeping his arms up, palms facing her. “Look into my eyes and you will know the truth my dear, Ana Eloise.”

Impossible, she thought. This swarthy man with the piercing eyes was too young. He couldn’t be any older than twenty-five. She studied those eyes, a reflection of hers. It couldn’t be. He had died…twenty-four years ago. She dropped her arm to her side, the tears already flowing.

“Ana, my little girl. I’ve found you.”

“Daddy?”