Chasing The Dawn (Luke Temple - Book 2) (Luke Temple Series) (7 page)

Chung Su hurried through the desks, before she stopped dead in her tracks. Stood at the far end of the room were two newly arrived men who looked just like the men from the red car. A second look showed her that they were not the same men but there were striking similarities. Jet black hair, dark skin, and eyes that were like black holes.

They are not technicians …

Standing casually enough, something about their posture and demeanor didn’t fit with their surroundings. One of them looked straight at her.

“Miss Chung, come on … as you know, I like speed,” Brun urged.

Both men were now looking at her. One gave a friendly enough smile and they walked off to separate stations.

Stop being so paranoid … you are a scared fool. Silly girl.

She shimmied past a busy technician playing the control desk like a Steinway, and ventured out after Brun, trying to work out where her countrymen could be.

The day had passed by at a painfully slow pace and to make everything more excruciating there had been absolutely nothing of merit to note. As the day had worn on Luke had seen a lone man appear over to his left scaling the tree-dotted bank that lead to the summit where Luke’s observation post lay. The man had been dressed in ragged clothing and had taken a long time to claw his way up. At one stage Luke had thought the man would discover him, but as he breached the ridge it became clear that he was heavily intoxicated. He probably couldn’t even see the floor in front of him let alone pick out the car and its occupant.

The night was a lot colder than previous evenings and Luke now sat with gloves, hat and coat on and the obligatory crack in the window. The time was 7.40 p.m. and since Brun had entered that morning there had been no sign of him, his rust bucket still sat in the same space. Patience was not an issue for Luke, the endless waiting, watching, observing, processing, that was all easy to manage. The toughest part of surveillance was the silence. No matter how hard he focused, how aware he stayed it never fully kept the sharp echoes at bay, sharp flashes that struck like a punch to the gut.

There was movement in the facility car park. Luke pushed his eyes against the binoculars. It was Brun, Luke’s mind focused in.

He was not alone, the Asian woman who had arrived by taxi strolled alongside him. Luke had no idea if she was a player or a spectator. She had not been brought up in Davison’s short briefing.

The pair were deep in conversation as they strode across to the car. Luke threw the binoculars onto the passenger seat, started the engine and pushed the Audi into reverse. He had to stay close behind now, with an unknown involved the direction Brun would travel was no longer predictable.

The motorway was not busy and there was nothing but black either side where the rugged countryside spread far into the distance, kissing the feet of the Gran Sasso range out of sight. As the lights of Teramo came into view something caught Luke’s eye in his rear view mirror; there was a set of headlights moving fast in the outside lane, they tore past Luke and he noted they belonged to a red Nissan. His instincts tingled; the red Nissan overtook two more cars and pulled sharply into the slow lane two cars behind Brun’s rust bucket.

Something doesn’t feel right.

Luke flicked his eyes between the rear view mirror and the car, suddenly it pulled out again and hung there for a moment then dropped speed, giving the car behind no choice but to undertake; it then pulled sharply back into the slow lane. Luke’s spine tingled, the driving was erratic,
what are they doing?
The rust bucket was still maintaining its pace. The Nissan pulled out again and sped two cars forward then sharply pulled in with only one car between it and Brun,
They are tailing them
. He came alive, slowing his car instinctively, his eyes moving between the Nissan, the rust bucket and his mirrors.

Keeping focused on the road ahead Luke reached down and retrieved the Sig Sauer, without looking he pressed his knees against the steering wheel; he ejected the magazine and then rammed it home.

Brun exited the motorway at Strada Dei Parchi onto the SS80, it was a turn that took him away from his home. The red Nissan followed, but settled back. Luke gently took the exit without signalling. They were the only three cars on the small stretch of road; the risk of being made had escalated. His mind ran through various options and outcomes, Brun was crucial for his objectives and if the Nissan contained a threat he would need to neutralise it.

The rust bucket continued onto Via Alcide De Gasperi, the Nissan still in tow. About half a mile down the road the rust bucket’s right-hand indicator flicked on and it slowly turned off the road and disappeared up a dark slip road leading to the Hotel Sporting. To Luke’s surprise the Nissan didn’t follow onto the slip road but drove past and screeched into a petrol station. Luke had to think fast, he continued on past the petrol station. The neon lights lit up the Nissan, there were two individuals in the car, both were male, dark skin but he couldn’t make out any details due to light reflection. Just past the petrol station Luke killed his lights and sharply swerved his car into a small car park in front of a shop.

His mind was racing. There were now three individuals that were unknown but clearly connected, he would treat all as players,
who is the girl?
He prioritised; his main objective at this point was to speak to Brun. He now started to process and work out how to identify and intercept the Nissan. He pawed the Sig Sauer. Maybe he could track round and take the Nissan passengers by surprise. Before he could decide on a clear strategy the rust bucket appeared again at the foot of the road. Brun was alone inside it. He checked both ways then pulled out, heading back the way they had all come. Luke breathed steadily, waiting for the Nissan to move first before he would follow. But it didn’t move … the Nissan stayed silent and still. Brun was slowly disappearing and the Nissan did nothing. Luke suddenly realised they weren’t here for him
… they were here for her.

The gate slid shut with a metallic grinding that pierced the quiet street. Brun took a moment to absorb the crisp night air; the cold clung to his face. Teramo stretched out below, the lights a twinkling mass of life.

The lights were on in the house and his shadow followed behind as he approached the front door.

“Professor? Well I’ll be damned, it
is
you. What an honour, it has been such a long time.”

Brun swung around, shocked by the unfamiliar voice. Striding toward him was the outline of a man. “How are you, dear Professor?” Before Brun could focus, Luke was upon him, wearing a beaming smile. Without dropping the smile Luke lowered his voice and spoke in perfect German.

“Professor, do not panic and keep calm. I want to ask you a few questions, nothing more. We are going to go inside; I am not here to hurt you or your wife, only to talk.”

Luke pawed his waistband without lifting up his jacket, and Brun understood; his eyes lingered on the shape of the pistol. He stared for a moment into Luke’s eyes, then turned his head to face the front door. He hesitated as he heard his wife inside.

“Just to talk, nothing more,” Luke reassured him. “We will go inside and say I am a colleague and I am here to talk business, then we will find somewhere private.”

Brun took his keys out and unlocked the door, the warmth from inside poured out, accompanied by a sweet pungent aroma. He stepped inside and Luke followed.

The house was a simple design; the downstairs was open plan, each room connected to the next with only archways separating them. The whole place was a mismatch of styles, old oil paintings were crammed onto the small wall space, depicting various landscape views. Alongside the pictures were modern white tables adorned with plastic flowers and various framed photos. It occurred to Luke that intelligence and taste did not go hand in hand.

Brun led them round to the left and they passed through the living room. In the far corner were two leather chairs facing a huge flat-screen television. Luke noted an array of photographs on one shelf, each one a different shot of Brun and Vittorio, all smiles and closeness. Luke lingered on Vittorio’s face, dark-skinned with intense dark eyes; he looked younger than his years – a vitality oozed from each picture.

Brun didn’t say a word; he walked through the living area and turned into the kitchen at the rear of the house. Luke noted two incense candles burning under the large bay window. Brun’s wife was busying herself in a cupboard. “Dinner is on the side, nothing special I’m afraid, just some bits I had to use up.”

Luke noted her German words held a thick Austrian accent. As she turned she let out a friendly yelp as she saw her husband was not alone. Switching to a harsh English she exclaimed: “Oh, it would appear you are not alone, my dear, my apologies.” She flashed Luke a smile.

Brun did not talk, an awkward silence hung in the air. Luke quickly stepped in and greeted her in German and introduced himself as Robert Reid. Shocked that he spoke German, she introduced herself as Pearl. “I’m afraid I only cooked for two, Roland did not inform me that we were going to be having guests.” She gave her husband a knowing look.

Brun finally spoke. “It was all very impromptu, Robert and I were discussing something and wanted to carry it on in comfier surroundings, probably best we carry it on in the outhouse. Weren’t you going out tonight?”

“No … I never had plans.”

Luke could feel Brun trying to indicate to his wife, pleading with his eyes but she did not register any danger.

“Forgive my husband, Robert, he has a rather childish urge to show everyone who passes through the door his glorified shed.” She switched to a mock-whisper. “I feel it is a man thing I shall never understand.”

Luke smiled.

“Right, ok then, I suppose I shall pop this back in to warm.” She flipped open the oven and slid one of the plates inside. “Nice to meet you Robert.” She walked out of the kitchen.

Brun didn’t say a word. He moved over towards a small drawer; before he could open it Luke gave a whistle and Brun froze.

“I need the key,” Brun said in a hushed whisper.

Luke moved over to the drawer and motioned for Brun to step back. When he was at a safe distance Luke opened the drawer. The only things inside were four boxes of strike anywhere matches and a large bunch of keys. Luke picked them up and tossed them at Brun.

“Slowly.”

Brun’s hands were shaking as he began unlocking the back door. He led Luke out into the garden, and two bright searchlights on the back of the property exploded into life. The garden was not well kept, the grass was dead or dying and no plants were to be seen.

Brun led them over to a large wooden structure stuck at the back of the garden. He unlocked a solid-looking padlock and opened the wooden door. As he stepped inside he flicked a switch and a bright white neon strip light flickered and flashed into life. Luke closed the door and took in his surroundings. The shed was large enough for five people to interact comfortably; three wooden chairs sat facing each other, a series of shelves housed numerous small machine-like parts such as large interlinked cogs and glass lenses of all shapes and sizes. The air smelt of motor oil and in the centre of the space stood a wooden workbench with a solid lead top. It all made for a cramped space, but one that obviously got a lot of use.

“Sit.” Luke gestured to one of the chairs.

Brun took a seat and sat forward, looking at the floor. Luke remained standing.

Brun leaned back and took off his glasses, rubbing behind his ears in a circular motion. Then he spoke in English. “I can assure you
Robert
the gun really isn’t necessary.”

‘Not your decision.’ Luke looked around the oversized shed. Pinned to the ceiling was a map of star constellations. They were not the basic ones that were taught in school, these were strange shapes with diagrams and numbers written all over them “Quite a space you have here.”

Brun nodded. “I suppose we all have our own temples.”

“A religious man?” Luke asked

“Define religion?” Brun stared, not blinking. He was wringing his hands, trying to interact in a calm manner. “Forgive my bluntness but let’s get on with talking about Ernesto.”

Luke kept his eyes locked on Brun. “Who else has been asking questions?”

“Not the types that show up on your doorstep at night and threaten you with a gun.”

“What were the officers’ names?” Luke didn’t want to engage immediately about Vittorio, he wanted to tread a less obvious path.

“Questions, questions, questions. You live your life letting questions drive you forward and suddenly they become the very thing that haunts you … ironic, don’t you think?” Brun spoke to the floor.

“Names? What officers have been asking questions?” Luke persisted.

“Does it really matter? You are here to know about Professor Vittorio’s …”

Luke kicked Brun backwards off the chair, he needed to shock him, intimidate him, and brutality worked fast. Brun rolled onto his side and gently stood back up, trying to regain composure. He straightened the seat and Luke motioned for him to re-take it.

“Names?” Luke growled.

Brun rubbed behind his ears. “There were a number of provincial officers that were swarming round when we first reported Ernesto missing.”

Brun didn’t know what to do with his hands; slowly he held them up in a yielding gesture, showing Luke there was no threat, he then turned and opened a metal case in the corner, it was a mini fridge and inside were several bottles of Tannen Zapfle. He lifted two out and offered one to Luke, who shook his head. Brun shut the fridge and re-took his seat. ‘I hope you don’t mind if I do, she doesn’t like me drinking anymore, claims at my age health is all-important, so I keep a stash in here.” Brun’s light tone was paper-thin. He unwrapped the gold foil from around the cap, opened the colourful bottle and took a big swig.

Luke said nothing as Brun drank; he waited for the first swigs to settle. “Names?”

“The man who has now taken over the investigation is Carabinieri Beltrano, and he has a colleague … Officer Delvechi.”