Sky and Kristina were in trouble, and they knew it. If they went to the police station it is quite likely they would not be leaving it anytime soon. But they could hardly fight their way out of this and run, they would be captured quickly and be in worse trouble. The police officer asked them for their passports too and they both brought them out to show him.

He looked briefly at them and put them in his pocket. Now the girls were very worried, what kind of passports would they get back? Likely fake ones so they could be arrested more easily another time. Just then a tall, handsome man came walking into the restaurant and stopped, staring at Kristina. She looked back at him, somehow he looked familiar, but how could that be?

He came walking over to them and took out something to show the police officer. The officer immediately saluted and referred to him as Colonel. The tall man then told him to wait outside in their car until he came out. They began to leave but the tall man touched the one officer and held out his hand. The officer quickly gave him the passports.

The tall man then looked at Kristina again. “You are Kristina, are you not?” he asked in fluent English. “Yes Andrej, it is me,” she said, blushing a bit. “You were just 15 the last time I saw you,” he said, “may I join the two of you for a few minutes?” The girls said yes and he sat down. The waitress brought some coffee over for him.

“I come in here for coffee sometimes,” he said, “and occasionally for a meal as well.” He was sounding very friendly and Sky was quite intrigued that Kristina knew this Colonel. He turned to Sky and said, “I knew Kristina’s parents quite well, and always had my eyes on their most beautiful daughter. But alas, she was so much younger than me, and we were heading in different directions at the time.”

Kristina was turning quite red now. “I always thought he was such a handsome man,” she said finally, “but he was 30 at the time, and in the military, something that did not interest me.” He chuckled and looked at their passports, then he handed them back to the girls.

“You know, holding fake passports could land you in jail in our country if you were caught with such a thing,” he said casually, “good thing that your passports are in order.” That made Sky calm down a bit. “Now, I am a man that likes the truth,” he continued, “if you are truthful with me, I will be truthful with you.” Now Sky was worried again.

“Of course we all know that you are not insurance agents,” he continued, “you both work for an interesting group called The Investigators, a rather large group too.” Then he looked at Sky who was trying hard to be calm, but inside she was in turmoil, not knowing what to do. “And you are Sky, the wife of Steve who is the leader of The Investigators,” he said, “would you say I am correct?”

She smiled and replied, “yes, that is correct.” “Very good,” he said, “honesty is always the best way. So I would assume that your husband is likely not too far away from here.” “Yes, I see you have done your homework rather well,” said Sky. “That is my job,” he said and smiled, “and I rather think that more of your very experienced team are also not too far away, though I have not seen anyone else.

And, I rather think that you are here because of a certain young boy.” Just then a light showed up on Kristina’s phone that she had lying on the table. “A call coming through for you Kristina?” he asked. “Yes,” she said, “but it can wait.” “It could be from your home base with important information for you,” he said, “but it is better to wait for now.

There is a place not far from here, where perhaps a certain little boy might be, shall we say living, at the moment. It is often referred to as a fortress, and it truly is that. No one can get in that place, and get out again alive. It is said that 4 large machine guns line the front wall aimed at the approaching road which is the only way in to that fortress.

It is also said that perhaps 40 well armed men stay there, plus 8 men at the machine guns. It could also be that there are 2 well armed guards with the boy at all times and two others in the hallway on that third floor where the Gray Room is located. Personally I think it would be quite foolish for anyone to attempt getting into that place.

Although I know that The Investigators have done some amazing feats over the years, so if anyone could get in and out again, it would be them, especially if they attempted to climb up the rear cliff, though that would be extremely dangerous too, even for an experienced climber.” He then stopped and drank some coffee…

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.