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Vienna, Austria
Sunday, 24 January, 10:00 p.m.
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It shouldn't have surprised me when we landed at a military base. Neither should it have come as a surprise when we walked through the base with our weapons visible. Rowan greeted the man who met us as we stepped off the aeroplane. Despite not understanding much of their conversation, it sounded like they were talking the way friends do.
The first chance I got, I asked, "What the hell just happened?"
"What do you mean?" Rowan glanced at me in the rear-view mirror and returned his eyes to the road. The black SUV waited for us on arrival.
"People don't just land on a military base and walk through better armed than any of the soldiers. Who owes you what favour?"
Aidan, riding shotgun, turned to me. "We foiled the kidnapping of the previous Chancellor's family while they were on vacation in Egypt. His gratitude is passed down to every Chancellor who follows him. The head of Austria is one of very few in his or her position who are aware of our existence."
I laughed aloud. "How dare you look your wife in the eyes and lie to me? There was no attempted kidnapping."
Mischief played in Aidan's eyes, but his face remained serious. "The family returned unharmed to Austria after seeing the pyramids, riding camels, and scuba diving in the Red Sea."
"You people crossed the line there, and Ryan is so proud of sticking to the grey." I snorted a laugh and stared out the window, seeing Vienna for the first time. Why our killer chose this time of year, I didn't understand. It was freezing. Unless he came for the snow, which was breathtaking. Perhaps a bad choice of words, as that's what the killer had done – taking the last breaths of two people. No, he ended the lives of twenty-four human beings.
"You people? Fin, you're one of us now. Everything we do is for the greater good. We live by the same rules you do – no matter what, as long as the end justifies the means." This time Rowan kept his eyes on the road.
I reached forward and placed my hand on his shoulder. "Calm down, Ro. This is a lot to take in. I've seen you work." The laughter bubbling out of me, not joyful. "I'm one of the people you've saved. Twice, if we consider the matter none of us ever speak about."
Rowan covered my hand with his. "You miss Ainsley. This killer is different and as you mentioned before, the chance of him still being in Vienna is slim."
I missed my daughter. The ache in my heart the worst I've ever experienced. As I stared out at the passing storefronts, and the snow falling on the other side of the window, only one thought came to mind. The sooner I catch this killer, the sooner I can hold my precious child. A luxury the victims' parents will never have again. No matter how much I longed to hear Ainsley laugh, or watch her try to walk on her own, hunting down a serial killer was worth the stabbing sensation in my heart. I had promised to make the world a better place for her, and by being on the other side of the world meant I kept my word. I had to stop more innocent people from being murdered and seek justice for those who already died at his hand.
Where the killer would strike next was anyone's guess. Frustration and anger sparred inside me; I glanced down at the SIG holstered at my right hip. How many bullets will I have to fire before the killer takes his last breath? No way I would allow him to rot in prison for the remainder of his natural life. In which of the seventeen countries would he serve his time?
––––––––
For the duration of our time in Vienna, we stayed in an apartment utilised whenever Fortius operatives need a place to stay. A safe house. I had learned a long time ago to stop asking questions when it came to how my in-laws acquired their wealth and resources. The story remained the same – someone owed them a favour, a past acquaintance, shares in a hotel Heather had inherited from her parents, payment for rescuing a high-profile hostage, or helping a government take down an enemy without causing an international incident.
A substantial amount of their wealth came from Heather's inheritance. Both Heather and Ryan had worked hard to grow the companies she took control of after her father's death, and kept using it to better the world. Of course, there were also the times they took what they needed from the crime syndicates, cartels, and individuals they took down. Money, weapons, whatever they needed, the rest destroyed in order to keep it out of the wrong hands. We operate in the grey. Rather in our hands than those who will use it to destroy the lives of innocent people.
Rowan walked out of the bathroom, his hair hung past his shoulders, even more of an envy-inducing curl when wet. He caught me watching him and tied it at the back of his head, and winked at me. "Are you ever going to accept it has to be long, but I don't need to enjoy wearing it down?"
"When it's down, you appear even more formidable, scary even, despite you being a marshmallow on the inside."
"And that, my dear, is the point. When are you going to share your little murder page with us?" Rowan laughed.
"She's armed to the teeth. Don't mock her." Aidan pressed his lips to my hair and placed a plate in front of me on the dining table.
I didn't want to eat, but I forced myself to. This killer wasn't making it easy for me, and I suspected he left Vienna soon after informing the Bundespolizei of his most recent murders. First thing the following morning I would meet with the detective assigned to the case and see the bodies of the two victims. I wish it would be the first time I saw human beings burned beyond recognition. War spares you nothing.
Aidan and I tried to do a video call with Ainsley before turning in for the night. She couldn't care less about our faces and tried to grab the mobile phone from Heather's hand to taste it. Heather said their day was going well. She laughed when she mentioned Ainsley didn't even ask for us once. It might be a good thing our daughter didn't realise her parents weren't home. At least Ainsley was having more fun than her mother. An elusive international serial killer – who killed following a distinct pattern Aidan and I had found – sucked the joy right out of me. Although, the darkness shivered with anticipation.
A killer like this one wasn't found in any textbook. Perhaps when he took his last breath, I might write a paper on him, in case there were more like him. I doubted it even as the thought came to mind. I couldn't write a paper, not without alerting the world to our existence. Fortius doesn't exist, which means neither do I.
Mr Walker and I both knew sleep wouldn't come easy; our bodies still ran on Marcel time. However, we perfected the art of tiring each other out. For Rowan's sake, I hoped the rooms were soundproof. If not, he wouldn't be able to look either of us in the eye over breakfast.