How Heroes are created 3

Samantha took one of the plastic bottles and weighed them in her hand. Perhaps, they could use them as makeshift clubs, for there wasn`t much else they could use as a weapon. Manu looked a bit despondently at her.

»Do you think the door is open anyway?«

»We will soon know – but first of all, do you think we are still at the sanatorium?«

Manu shrugged.

»I don`t know. I mean, I am working here for just six months and the cellars are a veritable maze. The janitor told me that during the war, the Nazis had a secret basis here.«

Samantha looked at the door that looked quite modern to her. Then, she carefully tried the handle. For a second, she thought that the door was locked, but then, she was able to open it. Even more careful, she peeped outside.

»Just a dark corridor in both directions! Well, get yourself one of the bottles and come!«

Manu followed her. Samantha felt the cold concrete under her pantyhose-clad feet and she knew that Manu, who was just having her underwear, would suffer even more from the cold. But she knew that if they would soon find a way back to civilization, this would be a minor discomfort.

THUD!

The door had fallen shut behind them and from one second to the next, the two girls found themselves in complete darkness. Manu gasped and felt for Samantha`s hand.

»I-is there a l-light switch?«

»Do you see one?«, Samantha remarked a bit angrily. Then, she said in a softer tone:

»Look, I have been in such a situation before. And as you can see, I got out of it unharmed!«

»Really?«

Samantha felt the grip on her hand tighten and then, Manu was closer to her. So close Samantha could sense her heartbeat.

»Manu-«

»I-I know – d-d-don`t scream!«, the girl stammered in a desperate attempt to seem confident. Samantha took Manu in her arms, feeling that the girl trembled like aspen foliage. She took a deep breath and then, she whispered:

»Manu, I am maybe better in hiding it, but I am scared, too. But there is one thing these bastards don`t know!«

»What?«, Manu croaked.

»The last time I was kidnapped, bound and gagged, I was saved by a real Secret Agent, albeit a retired one. And this man is my sister`s boyfriend! So, all we have to do is to is to keep away from our captors until he gets here by tomorrow!«

Actually, Samantha had no idea if Mike would be here right then and even less did she know if Isabelle or he would immediately figure out that she was in danger. However, the alternative of hoping the best was to get back into the room, wait for the man and find out how many penalty points thy had summed up so far.

Manu gulped and then, she whispered in a voice that sounded a little more confident:

»Perhaps, he will even show up tonight!«

»That`s the spirit!«

Carefully, and still holding each other`s hands, the two girls sneaked along the corridor. Neither of them had any idea whether they were heading into the right direction, but they knew they had only one way to find out.

***

The next morning, Mike got up early for he had to run a few errands before the ferry left at 1 pm. First, he went to the address Bishop had given him. It was a bit like in the movies, for as Mike said the right words, he was led into one of the back rooms where he could ask freely for some equipment he thought he could need during his mission. Obviously, Bishop`s rank was high enough to give him some credit, for he got everything he wanted plus some more and none of the two men asked for money.

Then, he went for the editorial office of the »Changing World«, the newspaper for which Laila was working. Mike`s first thought had been that it was one of the many SJW papers whose reporters were offended by almost everything and exaggerated small problems around them because they were unable to change the bigger issues. However, according to the »Changing World`s« homepage, Laila`s employer had a different approach. They tried to inform about social injustice, but in a way that also more conservative readers would find appealing. All in all, the paper had a serious approach and the articles from Laila he had read showed both her engagement and a talent for writing.

The office was rather small and from what Mike could see, there were only three people around. One of them, a black woman with glasses and a nose piercing, approached him. Mike was sure he had seen her on the homepage.

»Miss N`Kono?«, he asked. The woman smiled and they shook hands whilst Mike introduced himself as Henry Ironside. Then, he said:

»Miss N`Kono, usually, I would improvise a backup story, but unfortunately, I have to get straight to my point. I am sent by Sir Robert Steele – Laila`s father.«

 The woman raised an eyebrow.

»I know who he is – and I have to admit that he is showing more interest in her since her disappearance than in the three years she has been working here before!«

From their conversation the previous day, Mike already knew that Steele hadn`t approved his daughter`s choice to become an investigative journalist. He had not threatened to disinherit her or things like that, but during the last years, their relationship had been not very cordially. Mike thought that Steele feared it could be too late to reconcile if something had happened to Laila and therefore was so concerned.

»Well, he can only show remorse once she`s back! Besides, I am sure that you are concerned about Laila`s well-being, too. So, I am following your interests, too – and instead of Steele, you don`t even have to pay me!«

Now, Miss N`Kono smiled again, only to become serious the moment after.

»We are indeed worried about Laila. I mean, it is part of her job that she sometimes disappears for some time, but this time – well, I just have a bad feeling. However, this has not been enough for our Police to do something!«

»According to what Mr. Steele said, the French Police also wasn`t that helpful. But now, I am here and as long as Mr. Steele`s paying the bills, I will do my very best!«

She looked at him. Mike hoped that she had bought his appearance and considered him some private eye, a snoop who was trying to play Philipp Marlowe instead of making photos of cheating husbands. When she finally spoke again, it showed that she didn`t think he could be helpful, but rather that it didn`t matter if her tried his best.

»Well, all I know is that Laila was in Calais the last time we spoke which was five days ago. She said that she could generate us a few clicks once her next article would be published. But I already told that to the Police!«

»I know, Mr. Steele told me. But there is one thing I don`t get!«

He looked around in the room where only two more persons, a man and a woman, were working on their computers.

»This is a small newspaper. According to your homepage, you have six employees altogether. So, to survive, you have to work as a team and there isn`t much room for concurrence among the people working here!«

Now, the woman focused him.

»What is that supposed to mean, Mr. Ironside?«

»It`s supposed to mean that if Laila had a big story, she would not hold it back to make herself more interesting. She would have mailed you at least something, so you could prepare everything and publish the whole article the moment she sends you the rest!«

Mike looked at the woman`s eyes and after a few seconds, she seemed to think that perhaps, he was more than just a discount private eye.

»Wait a minute!«

She opened a file on her computer and told Mike to come beside her. He saw a photo of two men shaking hands. According to the quality, the picture had been taken by a hidden camera. The man on the left was an elderly gentleman with grey hair whilst the other was younger and looked tall and athletic. Though the lighting was bad, Mike could see he had black hair and a rather dark complexion. Miss N`Kono pointed at the man on the left.

»We already did a background check. This is Kenneth Pearce, member of the Ministry of Defense. I have no idea who the other guy is, but I think it has to do with these!«

The second picture was of much better quality, maybe, because it was a simple stock photo. It showed a Harrier, a VTOL fighting jet that had been used by both the Royal Air Force and Navy for some time, but had been taken out of service a few years ago.

»Do you think that`s the story? Pearce is making a deal with the other guy, about the Harriers?«

The night before, Bishop had showed him the few pictures of Harun Ibn Badr that they had and the man on the picture could definitely be him. However, the explanation was a bit disappointing: had they really let Laila disappear, just because she had discovered a dirty deal about some discarded fighting jets?

Miss N`Kono seemed to have similar thoughts.

»I think it is only a part of it. I mean, what would happen if we published an article about just another deal with some not so democratic regime? The public would be a little upset for a day or two, maybe, Pearce would have to take his hat and then, everything would go its course. Nah, I am sure that Laila has more, but wanted to find further evidence.«

Mike nodded slightly. He also understood why the newspaper hadn`t given that information to the Police, at least not yet: if Laila would return in a few days, they would perhaps get a big story. And if not, the picture of Pearce was just speculation and they could even get sued for false accusation.

»Well, I think I will see what I can find at Calais!«

He said goodbye and left the office, looked after by Miss N`Kono who thought that maybe, Steele hadn`t hired a complete dumbass to look after his daughter. None of them noticed that the woman on the other desktop also looked after Mike. A little later, she went out for a cigarette, but also dialed a number she had been given a few days ago.

A few minutes later, she went back inside, knowing she had just earned herself a Grand.

***

»London calling!«, the man in the upholstered chair said towards another one standing close to his desk.  He put away his cell phone and took a sip from his water before he continued:

»A guy has just been at the ›Changing World‹, asking for Laila Steele. According to my informant, he asked a few intelligent questions and they even showed him a picture of me and Pearce.«

He didn`t seem the least concerned. Instead, he leaned back and folded his hands at the back of his head whilst smiling at his companion.

»If they are relying on a private eye, they must really be desperate. Obviously, the British Police is as disinterested in Leila`s whereabouts as the French. Anyway, I will send you the photo of that man. According to my informant, he wants to go to Calais. So, if you go there for our other target, you might have a look at him and may take measures if necessary.«

The standing man nodded and once he had received the photo, he left the room. Harun Ibn Badr looked at himself in the mirror that showed him a tall, athletic man. Harun knew he was considered handsome and he raised his glass, toasting to his image. In his eyes, vanity was only pathetic if one was less than he pretended to be.

He thought of Ahmed, his elder brother. Ahmed had been quite successful in his field, close to becoming a billionaire. But where was he now? Despite his lawyers, he had to serve two years in prison and his privileges now only consisted of a single cell with a TV at one of the more tolerable prisons and a steady supply of chocolate and cigarettes.

Harun scoffed. In his eyes, his brother was like his country: extremely rich, quite powerful and living by its own rules – but not living up to its potential. However, Harun knew that all Saudi Arabia needed was a strong leader. And hadn`t he be named after the most powerful Arabian Caliph, Harun al Rashid?

»To him, even Charlemagne bowed his head. Let`s see who will bow to me!«

He looked around in the room. The mirrors, the carpets and the luxury furniture could not hide what it was: an abandoned bunker room from WW II, some ten yards under the surface. Not quite the palace he dreamed of, but soon, this would change.

Actually, Ahmed was the eighth in line of succession whilst he was number nine. However, his older brother had already agreed upon a deal with him: Harun would get access to Ahmed`s money and exact his revenge whilst he could follow his own plans at the same time.

Again, Harun scoffed. Ahmed`s revenge plan was as limited as his whole life had been, but by accident, it played into Harun`s cards. His brother held a grudge against two women who in his eyes had caused his demise:

The first was Guylène Delacroix, a French businesswoman and also partner in crime of him. She had betrayed him and then, during his arrest, had managed to disappear. Even Harun had not been able to find her, but he had offered his brother a consolation prize: Guylène had had a woman as her personal slave, a woman who had later confessed against Ahmed at court. An Englishwoman named Cordelia White.

The second was a French Policewoman. She had been after Guylène and only crossed Ahmed`s paths by accident, but in the end, he had left her to die. However, not only had she been rescued, but also made a confession and so, she had deserved punishment, too.

It had been a lucky coincidence Isabelle Marceau had chosen the very sanatorium where he had one of his three hideouts in France. According to his informant at the sanatorium, she had been visited by her sister. Said sister now was his »guest« and could perhaps play a minor role in his own game, too. At least, he could use her as leverage against Isabelle.

Harun`s thoughts wandered to Laila. That bitch had really come close to him, but he had been able to eliminate her before she had been able to cause damage. Thinking of Laila, he showed a wolfish smile. Then, he contacted another of his henchmen and gave a few orders concerning his captive.

***

Perhaps, the corridors of the old bunker could not be called a maze in the technical sense; after all, they had not been designed to confuse anyone and also, all corridors were meant to lead somewhere. However, for Samantha and Manu, stumbling along in the darkness, this didn`t help the matter. The only light were glowing red points, indicating light switches. However, these were not strong enough to enlighten the corridors and so far, they hadn`t dared to switch the light on.

Samantha had no idea how much time had passed since they had left their cell, but they had not come closer to rescue. She was about to scream or cry and only her feeling responsible for the even more frightened Manu had kept her from losing her self-control so far.

Manu worked as a nurse at the sanatorium, but she had not the slightest idea why she had been kidnapped the night before. She had not witnessed anything and she also was not related to Isabelle. Manu only vaguely knew who Samantha`s elder sister was and had so far not even spoken to her.

»Maybe, they are White Slavers! After all, we are both beautiful!«

»Oh, thank you!«, Manu answered with a trembling voice. Samantha had no idea if the blonde was shivering from the implications of the compliment or just from the cold. Spontaneously, she slung her arms around Manu.

»We are getting out of this! Pinkie swear!«

Manu wasn`t especially tall, but maybe three inches taller than 5`3`` Samantha and so, her head rested on Manu`s breasts as they cuddled against each other. Suddenly, the girl squirmed and said in a hoarse voice:

»Samantha, I-«

Samantha steeled herself for what she supposed would come now. She expected Manu to either tell her that she wasn`t into girls – or that she was. Well, both options were not their most urgent concern right now.

»Just tell me – I promise I won`t tell anyone around!«, Samantha tried to joke. Manu stammered:

»I-I h-have to p-pee!«

Samantha let out a breath.

»So! Just go, I will wait for you a few yards away! I don`t think you will miss me in this narrow corridor!«

»I – I c-can`t let g-g-go your h-hand!«, Manu croaked and Samantha wondered why the corridor wasn`t bathed in reddish light from how the other girl sure was blushing all over. She pressed Manu`s fingers.

»It`s at least better than holding your hair whilst you are throwing up!«

Manu stepped away, but her hand still held Samantha`s. She heard a rustling of her pantyhose and panties and then a faint splashing, accompanied by an oppressed sigh.

»That`s really the next level of Stockholm Syndrome – if the hostage begins to mark her territory in her dungeon!«

Manu giggled and adjusted her clothes the best she could with only one hand. Then, she once again cuddled against Samantha.

»How can you be so brave?«

Samantha hardly felt brave, but she knew that she had to feign as much confidence as possible to keep Manu from panicking and so, she joked:

»Genetics! My sister´s a Policewoman!«

»Well, my brother`s an orderly at the sanatorium! That`s how I got the job!«

Then, she fell silent as they heard a strange sound. A second later, the neon lights flickered and then, the corridor was suddenly brightly lit. A few yards away, a woman was standing and stared at them. She was wearing a nurse`s uniform and she stood like petrified, her hand still on the light switch.

»P-please, you must help us!«, Samantha, who had first recovered from her initial shock uttered and approached the woman. She obviously had decided that the two girls, one of them in just bra, panties and pantyhose, were no threat.

»Who – who are you?«, she asked in a voice that had a slight accent. Samantha guessed that she was perhaps an Algerian.

»We were assaulted! Please, we have to call the Police and-«

The nurse also seemed to have recovered quickly. She pointed at a door next to her.

»Just wait here! I will go and get the Dr. Castell, he will know what to do!«

Samantha wasn`t that happy that she would be left alone, but Manu obviously found the idea of showing herself to the public in just her underwear less appealing and so, she persuaded Samantha to follow her into what looked like another maintenance room. At least, this one had two chairs in it.

»I`ve got no net down here!«, the nurse explained, »but I promise I will be back in five minutes!«

The door fell shut and Samantha hugged Manu.

»If we hadn`t stopped because of you, we would perhaps have missed her! So, it seems your girlie bladder saved the day!«

»Idiot!«, Manu pouted, but she also could not oppress a smile. Soon, their ordeal would be over!

»Look, there is even an old frock over there! So, this Dr. Castell won`t see your beauty!«

Samantha was sure that Manu had slightly blushed before she got up and put on the shabby frock. Now, she looked like a tramp, but at least, she was more or less decent.

They had no idea whether it had taken the nurse the promised five minutes, but after a rather short while, they heard the sound of approaching steps. The door flew open and the nurse stepped in, accompanied by a man. Samantha just wanted to greet Dr. Castell when suddenly, her jaw dropped. The man was wearing clothes she had seen not very long before and though he wasn`t sporting a mask this time, he still had his gun – and the barrel was pointing right at them.

»Now, what do you think this little stunt will cost you, Ladies?«

***

Laila was dozing, her arms slung around her body. Today, she had skipped her exercises, for she no longer felt strong enough to do so. Her teeth would have chattered, had the large nerf ball not still been inside her oral cavity. She knew that  the end would come soon, in one way or the other: either, she would betray her informants or she would die from hypothermia.

»At least, I didn`t give in easy!«

She heard the now common roar of the rising tide and the water began to form waves. For a while, Laila thought of just remaining seated and to let it be over one and for all, but when the water reached her feet, she worked her aching body into a standing position and leaned against the wall.

It seemed that today, the water was rising faster than usual, for it now had already reached her knees. Suddenly, though she thought that the ordeal of the last days had worn her down, she felt new fear grow inside her.

Laila was a determined woman, but she also still wanted to live and so, when the water had reached her hips, she began to anxiously look for the lid through which the man had spoken to her. Quickly, she guessed the distance between the ground and the ceiling. It was some three yards; with her ankles cuffed and with the chain around her neck, Laila could just not reach the ceiling by jumping.

»Seems that I will have to swim a bit today! Well, so, I will get my daily exercise!«, she thought as the water had reached her breasts. Still, it came in with considerable speed and now, she was sure that there was a valve.

»Maybe, they just want to frighten me! Of course, once it has reached my neck, they will stop! They still want the information, don`t they?«

Instinctively, she began to move her arms as the water was at her neck`s level and the small waves already touched her chin. She knew that with the chain and the foot cuffs, swimming would be quite a challenge, but she tried her best to keep her head above water.

»It`s quite a fake execution! They will let me swallow some water, but then, they will let the water float back! It`s just a psychological thing!«

Laila persisted, even as her feet had lost contact to the ground and she had to swim only able to use her aching arms. Then, however, as she saw the ceiling come closer and closer, she started to panic.

»Perhaps, the valve is out of order! Perhaps, they will come back to late and-«

»Hhrrrrrrmmm! Uuhhmmmmmm! Mmhhrrrrmmmmm!«

Laila screamed and slammed her fist against the lid, now just inches above her head. Beside her, the electric light was still burning and for a moment, she feared getting electrocuted if the water reached it. However, it seemed that the Plexiglas hood was waterproof.

»Uuhhmmmmm! Hhrrrmmph! Gghhllgg!«

Some water had found its way into her mouth and through her gag. Laila coughed as the salty water trickled down her throat and she arched her head back to get some of the precious air in the tiny gap between the ceiling and the water`s surface. The light seemed to dance around her and then, another wave flooded over her head. Laila once again flailed and then, she lost her consciousness.

***

 Mike had gone to Dover by bike, but had decided to leave the Triumph behind and to rent a car at Calais instead. If he really found the missing Laila Steele, he would perhaps have to transport her and then, a car was of better use than a motorcycle.

At the ferry, he met two persons he knew, Cordelia and David. They were just taking a few selfies and seemed to anticipate their trip to France. When he approached them, he noticed the slight concern in Cordelia`s eyes, but she was also friendly towards him.

»So, you are also staying for more than one night?«, she asked, pointing at Mike´s backpack and the suitcase he was carrying. She and David each had a trolley with them.

»Well, let`s see how long Belle will stand my presence!«, he joked and they entered the ferry. The short trip to Calais was unspectacular and Cordelia smiled as the two men had a quick beer to »celebrate they were on the Open Sea«.

Once at Calais, Mike went for the office of the Hertz Company to get the keys of the car he had ordered online. Before, he asked:

»Do you need a ride?«

»No, thank you«, David said. »The guys from the symposium will send a car and pick us up!«

They exchanged numbers, for Cordelia still wanted to visit Isabelle if they found some time and then, Mike went for his car. He had fallen back in old habits and ordered a plain car, but strongly motorized. When he steered the grey Renault from the parking lot, he saw to his surprise that David was still standing there, alone and obviously slightly upset.

»Has she gone shopping already?«, he asked and David forced himself to grin.

»Obviously, these – slightly incompetent people from Boulogne have made a mistake! I mean, they have sent a veritable limousine, but obviously, they know nothing of my existence!«

He told Mike that an obviously embarrassed chauffeur had explained to him that they had only gotten the order to pick up Dr. Cordelia White and in addition, the car was already full. Cordelia had offered to wait with him, but he had insisted that she already checked in, hoping that at least he would get his room and would not have to sleep in the lobby.

»At least, they had the courtesy to take my suitcase, too! Well, I will now see if I can get a taxi or-«

»It`s out of the question!«, Mike contradicted. »I haven`t told Belle that I am coming today and so, I don`t have to be at her spa at a specific time. Jump in!«

An obviously relieved David only resisted a little out of politeness and so, they drove for Boulogne that was just some 20 miles away. He had no real clue where Laila was and so, he could also start by being a Good Samaritan.

During the ride, Mike did some small talk, to avoid that David asked him where he and Cordelia knew each other from. He was sure that he didn`t know the full truth and it would have been counterproductive if he told another white lie than her.

»There we are, the ›Hotel Plaza‹!«

The building looked like a typical modern hotel that could be booked for business meetings and Mike wondered why they afforded a limousine service to pick up their guests. David insisted on inviting him for a drink and so, both men entered the lobby. Mike sat in one of the armchairs and was just checking a brochure when he suddenly heard David raise his voice at the receptionist`s desk.

»What do you mean we are not in your system? Here`s my voucher!«

Mike frowned and approached the scene. David was just showing a young woman a sheet that was obviously his voucher, but she only shook her head.

»May I help?«, he asked and so, he was informed that neither he nor Cordelia were registered at the hotel. In addition, the receptionist insisted that the voucher David had was different from those they used at the hotel.

»What is this? A f- a prank?«

He dialed a number, obviously Cordelia`s, but clicked away the number after a few seconds.

»She isn`t answering my call! Oh my God, is there another ›Hotel Plaza‹ around here?«

Then, he suddenly grew pale and grabbed Mike`s arm.

»Damned!«

Mike led him outside, smiling apologetically at the confused receptionist. Then, he asked David what the problem was.

»In the limousine were three men – the chauffeur and two guys in suits! We thought that they were just two other guests and I was talking to Cordelia when the chauffeur took care of our luggage, but now, I can see it in front of my eyes!«

He focused Mike and lowered his voice:

»Our two suitcases were the only luggage in the trunk!«

Mike would have loved to say something calming, but he had to admit that he shared David`s concerns. These puzzle pieces spelled the word »kidnapping«!

***