The Lure of the Pack (21 page)

Without any show of emotion Piper quickly glanced at the
e-mail. It was a confirmation of acceptance for Mister Oliver Drake to attend
the Von Kurst Electronics Promotional Cocktail Evening on Thursday at their
Head Office in Dusseldorf. Cocktails were to be served from 18.30 hours,
prompt!

“At last, I’ll show this to the Colonel, thanks Nick!”

“No problem, catch you later!”

As Nick briskly walked back towards CEATA’s Communications
Room, Piper peered down at the e-mail once again. This is it he thought, at
last I’m going face to face with Otto Von Kurst. He growled menacingly, his
thoughts racing.

“Are you ready Ash?” Jeanette Descard’s velvet voice and
radiant smile brought Piper out of his entranced state of mind. As usual, she
was dressed in a stylish business suit, her shoulder length, dark brown hair
seemingly gleaming under the corridor’s overhead fluorescent lights. “What’s
that?” she said, inquisitively.

“Mmm…oh,” Piper paused for a second or so, once again
admitting to himself just how attractive Jeanette Descard really was, “it’s the
confirmation I’ve been waiting for regarding the VKE promotional evening.” The
smell of Doctor Descard’s perfume and the underlying aroma of her body
stimulated the wolf’s senses, “yes, as of now Mister Oliver Drake of the
Financial Times is officially confirmed on the VKE guest list.” Piper smiled as
his blue and amber eyes met Jeanette’s.

“Fine!”

As Piper approached CEATA’s Chief Criminal Psychologist, he
felt a foreboding hint of sadness enter his thoughts. Coupled with the look of
intense disquiet on Jeanette’s face, it wasn’t difficult to guess how she was
feeling. “Are you alright?” he asked, concerned.

Jeanette boldly returned Piper’s gaze, “you know my feelings
regarding this stupid show of arrogance…”

“What!”

“Arrogance Ashley! Stupid, downright annoying, arrogance!
You think you can do battle with Von Kurst all by yourself, don’t you?”

“Don’t bloody well start this again, Jeanette,” Piper was in
no mood for another of the good Doctor’s in depth, psychological lectures,
“we’ve been through all this before. I have to go there, you know I do!”

A sudden, grim silence enveloped the corridor, then in a
hushed tone Jeanette spoke again, “you’re playing the part of Daniel, aren’t
you?”

More riddles thought Piper, more mind games, “and just what
the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“The classic biblical tale, where Daniel comes face to face
with the lions, only that has a happy ending!”

There was something in Jeanette’s eyes that made Piper start
to wonder. Was he doing the right thing? Perhaps she had a good argument after
all, but then…“look Jeanette, there is no need to worry, just trust me on this,
please! When I am attending the event, the Followers who are monitoring Von
Kurst and Oratz will be right outside, and from what the Colonel has told me
they are quite capable of looking after me.”

“So, you just walk right into the lion’s den, hoping that
CEATA Followers will be your guardian angels. I’m right aren’t I? You know
you’re taking one hell of a risk, don’t you…well?” Jeanette raised her voice,
“YOU ARE, AREN’T YOU?”

“Time’s moving on, we’ll be late for the meeting.”

“Don’t ignore me Ash. You’re playing a stupid game with a
man who could quite possibly…” Jeanette’s hesitant pause made Piper lean over
and kiss her gently on the lips, “…kill you,” she whispered.

“I’ll be fine Jeanette,” Piper smiled, his eyes radiating
confidence, “besides, you’ll be monitoring my every move by overhead satellite.
So what’s the problem?”

“You…are the problem,” she muttered, hesitantly.

“Now what does that mean?” This time Piper laughed, not
understanding the significance of Jeanette’s statement. She looked angry.

“You just don’t understand do you, Sergeant. At times, YOU,
are so…so…”

“Yes Doctor, go on, say what you have to say!” The laughter
had ceased, the smile on Piper’s face, gone.

“YOU’RE SO DAMNED, PIG HEADED!” Just for a few seconds
Jeanette cast her mind back to her recent meeting with Colonel Mann, to her
outburst after he accused her of having emotional thoughts for Piper. Once
again, she felt slightly foolish.  She took a deep breath, this time keeping
her voice down, “I’ve been watching you a great deal over the last few days
Ash. I’m worried about you.” She looked at him, her steady gaze penetrating
deeply into the wolf’s eyes.

Gently, Piper placed both his hands on her shoulders,
“Jeanette, I promise you, this won’t be Daniel in the lion’s den. Think of it
more like…Oliver Drake, in the wolf’s den. I’ll be fine, don’t worry.” Once
again, gently, affectionately, Piper kissed Jeanette on her lips, “come on
Doctor Descard, let’s get to that meeting or the Colonel won’t be very happy.”

As they strode briskly down the corridor Jeanette’s face
wore a gritty frown. Yes, pig headed, she thought, and so damned stubborn!

“The total number of guests including the media, will be two
hundred and seventy three. I have just finished sending out the last few
invitations.”

“Excellent Helga.” Otto Von Kurst stood up and walked over
to one of the large windows in his well-appointed office. He opened it and
breathed in a large, refreshing lungful of air then looked back at the woman
sitting across from him. As usual, she looked radiant. Closing the window, he
walked over to her then sat boldly on his newly repaired, french polished desk.
“I take it the staff who have been invited to Thursday’s event, have all
confirmed their acceptance?” Helga nodded, “and catering and general
decoration, including the podium, all confirmed?”

“Everything will be ready. The promotional hall will look
splendid, I guarantee it!”

“What, even more splendid than it already is?” They laughed
aloud, together. If it was one aspect of Otto Von Kurst that Helga Zeist truly
loved and indeed admired, it was his stoic sense of humour. All of a sudden,
the couple’s laughter came to an abrupt halt as Von Kurst’s mobile phone began
to ring. He leaned across his desk and picked it up, the facia glowing with the
word KREUTZ. As Von Kurst put the phone to his ear, Helga Zeist noticed the
look on her lover’s face turn to that of stone.

Yes she thought, the war still continues.

“Herr Untersturmfuhrer Kreutz?” Gone were the pleasantries,
the smile and the laughter. Otto Von Kurst now had death written all over his
face.

“My Fuhrer, the final targets to complete Phase Four have
been successfully reconnoitred. We are ready!”

“Excellent, inform all Scharfuhrers to make no further moves
until Saturday.”

“Of course, my Fuhrer.”

“Now, I require an update on the reconnaissance for Phase
Five’s targets.”

“The Scharfuhrers involved with recon for Phase Five have
all reported in. Again, suitable targets have been acquired and confirmed.
Another fifty detonations will take place on Sunday, as already planned my
Fuhrer.”

Just for a few seconds Otto Von Kurst fell silent, his face
radiating evil, his tongue licking his lips as if the wolf inside was calling
to him, baying for blood.

“My Fuhrer?” Jochen Kreutz’s voice cut through the airwaves,
he sounded concerned.

“My apologies Kreutz, yes…I am still here. This is excellent
news, again, tell the Scharfuhrers to pass my thanks and congratulations to our
grenadiers.”

“I will indeed, my Fuhrer.” Jochen Kreutz sounded elated. As
always, he was proud to be serving his leader, proud to be a central, key
figure in the New Totenkopf’s battle plans. 

“Now,” Von Kurst continued, his voice low and penetrating,
“take note Herr Untersturmfuhrer, as of Thursday evening I will not be
available for contact for at least one week. You must monitor all events
yourself. Use your common sense Kreutz; keep in close contact with all
Scharfuhrers during this coming weekend. After Phase Five has taken place on
Sunday, recall the grenadiers to Camelot…all of them, do you understand?”

He did understand, for Jochen Kreutz knew if his beloved
leader was not contactable for some time, then there was only one explanation!
“Of course, my Fuhrer.”

“Good, I will return to Camelot at the end of next week.
Remember Kreutz, do not fail me; the skills of our grenadiers will be required
soon enough at Feldtberg Castle!” There was no reply as Von Kurst finished his
important conversation and placed the mobile phone back on his desk. He got up,
walked over to Helga and stood behind her. He breathed deeply for a moment,
savouring her female essence then leaned over, randomly trailing passionate
kisses down the side of his lover’s neck. She closed her eyes and sighed.
“Suffer, the little children,” whispered Von Kurst as his tongue met hers.

“I’ll have to go in unarmed and with no direct
communication,” Ash Piper folded his arms as he spoke to Colonel Mann, who sat
grim faced in Commander Hertschell’s office. “Security will be tight, they’ll
search everyone entering the building and there will be many people around me,
especially if I’m sat with a group of reporters for some time. I just won’t get
the chance to speak to you!”

“Agreed,” Charles Mann nodded his head, “very well, Nick,
the satellite over the VKE warehouse, get it repositioned over their head
office, at least we’ll be able to monitor Sergeant Piper’s movements whilst
he’s in there.”

“No problem Colonel!”

“So what about the Followers?” There was a certain amount of
apprehension in Jeanette Descard’s voice.

“When Oratz returns on Wednesday evening, two Followers will
once again pick up his trail from Dusseldorf airport. The ‘couple’ we have
trailing Von Kurst are doing a good job, they’re outside VKE’s Head Office at
present. On Thursday evening, when Piper is inside the building, the Followers
will be very close by.”

“That doesn’t answer my question, Colonel!” Jeanette looked
across at Piper, “what if things go wrong? Ash will be unarmed!”

“The Followers are well armed Jeanette, believe me. IF,
anything goes wrong, we can order them in straight away, but let’s be realistic
about this forthcoming event, shall we?”

“Sir?”

“I realise there is an element of risk in Piper meeting Von
Kurst face to face, but think carefully about the situation on Thursday
evening. This is a promotion for VKE, a very important night. No doubt Von
Kurst and Oratz will be showing off all evening, basking in the glory of this
new microchip technology they seem so keen to promote. Are they really going to
cause any problems? No, I don’t think so! This is an excellent opportunity for
Sergeant Piper to psyche out Von Kurst, to find out more about him and of
course, from our point of view, to find out more about Piper’s kind.”

The office door opened briskly as Commander Hertschell
walked in. “Good morning everyone, my apologies for being late, I’ve been back
up at SHAPE for another general review of the situation across Europe. The Top
Brass are getting edgy; they think we should definitely go public regarding Von
Kurst’s grenadiers.”

“You can’t blame them!” said Jeanette.

“I have told all concerned,” continued the Commander,
brusquely, “if we do so, the violence will escalate and we won’t be able to
stop Von Kurst from his final battle plan, whatever that may be.” All eyes lay
on the Commander as he sat at his desk.

“I think Thursday evening will be a key turning point in all
of this, Maurice,” said the Colonel, “Piper will be able to sense Von Kurst and
hopefully penetrate his thoughts.”

“Yes, I have read your report on your proposed plan for
Thursday evening, Sergeant.”

“Sir,” Piper looked confident as he continued the
conversation, “as we already know, in some inexplicable way many of my thoughts
are linked directly to Von Kurst. If I can get close enough, I just might be
able to gain a more thorough insight into what’s going on inside his mind with
reference to the planning of these atrocities!”

The Commander nodded his head, “well, this is certainly a
very different war we are facing, and if we have to fight it through psychic
links then so be it.”

“Err, excuse me…everyone,” Nick Lucas sounded like an impish
schoolboy as he looked around at his colleagues, “if Ash can read Von Kurst’s
thoughts, and…well…get into his mind, then can’t Von Kurst do the same to Ash?”

“Yes, most probably!” Colonel Mann paused momentarily, “but
that’s a risk we are willing to take!”

“But what about CEATA Colonel? If he finds out about our
organisation, well…that’s crazy!”

“We know what you mean Nick,” said the Colonel, boldly, “and
in many ways you’re right, but the facts speak for themselves! We have to let
Ash go in!”

The two large, powerful wolves continued their journey. As
always, they had been clever. Close to the borders of Luxembourg and Belgium
they had travelled, carefully, stealthily, always keeping one step ahead of
human contact. The travelling had been good. Just like their wild cousins, the
two Were had been able to travel many kilometres in a day, their constant gait
steady, their powerful stamina never faltering. But now the going would be that
little bit tougher. As they reached the outskirts of Koln, the human wolves
knew they had to be careful, for the required meeting with their Fuhrer was
drawing ever closer. They would now have to move very quickly; therefore it was
best to split up!

Jurgen Falck gracefully lowered his furred, pointed ears and
turned to his close friend. The two whined then whimpered. Ever since the
dreadful, bloodletting days of World War Two, Falck and Kempler had always been
together, except when there had been a necessity to part. Now, that necessity
had arrived again, for they could not risk being seen as they drew ever closer
to dense human population. They would meet the next day, Wednesday, at Von
Kurst Electronics Head Office for mid-day. The two Were whined again, their
beautiful, fur laden, canid bodies gently rubbing against each other, their
tails wagging furiously.