The Lure of the Pack (28 page)

“Not long now Otto, and we’ll have the shit!”

“Otto…”

Lana Franke’s voice made both men turn around, the hairs on
the back of Von Kurst’s neck, becoming rigid. “Lana, you seem to be making plenty
of new friends, but that doesn’t surprise me!” Von Kurst grinned as his ex
mistress drew close to his side.

“Yes, these events are always so interesting; you just never
know who you’re going to meet.”

I know that look, you little minx, thought Von Kurst, “well,
out with it Lana, you have something to tell me, something important!”

Lana giggled, her eyebrows dancing with mischievous relish,
“I think your plan to lure the lone wolf into your trap, is going to work out
far better than you could ever imagine.” She giggled again, much to the
annoyance of Wilhelm Oratz.

“Oh,” Von Kurst’s voice was low, solemn, “I am intrigued!”

“Yes, take a look over to your right, where that group of
reporters are stuffing themselves with their free food!” Ever so slowly, the
two men turned their heads.

“You see the tall man in the background, with his back
towards us. You can just make him out!” Von Kurst’s eyes narrowed, his
excellent field of vision zooming in on the group of guests who were now of
such great interest.

“The one with dark blonde hair?”  muttered Oratz.

“Yes, he’s a reporter from the Financial Times in London.”
Lana smiled deviously, relishing the secret she was about to reveal. “He’s very
interesting to talk to Otto, especially when you are up close…” she giggled
again as Oratz sighed, “…and personal!”

Von Kurst growled, a low, barely audible growl, an evil leer
sweeping across his face.

“So what are you telling me, my dear Lana?”

“Our man from the Financial Times is a Mister Oliver Drake,
supposedly!” She shrugged her shoulders, “I’ve just finished talking to him.
He’s very handsome!”

“Cut the fucking bullshit Lana,” Wilhelm Oratz was tired of
the woman’s childish goading. “Get to the point,” he muttered, trying to keep
himself calm.

“His eye colours are fascinating!” Lana Franke was enjoying
every second of her hold on both Von Kurst and Oratz, “his right eye is blue,
and his left eye is…amber!”

Von Kurst began to breathe very deeply as his ex mistress
continued her mischievous dialogue, “I asked Mister Drake if he would be
interested in meeting you, but his response was, well, how can I say…very
strange, for a reporter.”

“Oh,” Von Kurst could barely contain his anger. Yes he
thought, the lone one is here, insulting my intelligence, trying to bore into
my thoughts. God, how he will pay!

“Yes, he didn’t seem that keen. I said I’ll sort out a nice
little…meeting, just between the two of you.”

“Clever girl,” said Von Kurst as he turned to Oratz. “I
think I know who we’ll have for our interview, don’t you Wilhelm?”

“Oh yes! I take it you will be gracious enough to announce
the interview, straight after your speech Otto?” The look of sheer bedevilment
in both men’s eyes barely concealed a far deeper emotion…that of cold, stark,
hatred.

Even though he wasn’t hungry, Ash Piper took another bite
from the sandwich he had collected from the buffet and continued his polite
conversation with fellow guests. But his stomach was churning, his headache,
worse. He glanced again at his watch. Anytime now he thought, and Von Kurst
will be giving his presentation. As he chewed slowly on the ham, chicken and
mayonnaise sandwich, Piper’s gaze swept the four plasma screens placed around
the showroom. Two showed reports of further rioting across Europe, the third,
another report regarding the Festival of Peace, showing a tranquil view of St
Peter’s Square, and the fourth, a football report. He shook his head and
smiled. It’s a strange world we live in he thought, with so many aspects to
life, some good, some not so good, and some…Piper turned his gaze to Von Kurst
who was talking to Lana Franke…downright evil. He glanced at the televisions
again. Even though their volumes had been lowered to a barely audible tone, his
hearing was attuned to everything being shown. In many ways, the sounds around
him played havoc with his thinking. He needed a clear mind, a way into Von
Kurst’s thoughts, but he realised the task ahead would be difficult, and now
there was the added problem of Lana Franke. Piper cursed under his breath, his
conversation with her being a complication he could have well done without, the
scheming, manipulative expression on her face, still troubling him.

“I told you I’d find him for you, didn’t I? It was so easy
Otto. You should always trust a woman’s intuition you know. I knew there would
be something, something which would reveal this lone wolf to me. His eyes were
perfect, such a give away!”

Von Kurst bowed his head in mock appreciation of his ex
mistress’s comments. In reality he didn’t have time for Lana’s self gratification,
his mind being in overdrive, steadfastly controlling his thoughts for his
speech was due any minute. “You have done well Lana, very well indeed.”

“Are you still going to use Helga, to psyche him out during
your speech?”

“Yes, the plan still goes ahead. Helga is powerful, she will
enter the lone one’s mind, to make sure he doesn’t become a nuisance.”

“So,” a look of uncertainty ran across Lana’s face, “who are
you going to choose for the…interview of a lifetime?” She giggled again, her
eyes holding Von Kurst’s.

“Oh, I think you already know, you mischievous little vixen.
Yes, Mister Drake can have the pleasure of meeting me, in person.” They laughed
together as Von Kurst noticed Helga slowly walking past the milling guests,
towards them.

Lana licked her lips, “I have to admit Otto, I was becoming
quite moist while I was talking to him, I couldn’t help it!”

“Keep your voice down,” whispered Von Kurst.

“All I could see was his nakedness, fully secured and
helpless on my table. Oh God Otto, I can’t wait to examine him!” Lana Franke
suddenly fell quiet as Von Kurst glowered at her.

“What did I tell you, keep your fucking voice down and keep
those sort of thoughts to yourself!”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, looking down at the floor like a
chastised child.

“Otto, it’s time!” Helga Zeist wantonly threw a glance full
of hatred at the woman she despised, then gently kissed her lover on his lips.
“I’ll announce the presentation and then I’ll find the lone one for you.”

Von Kurst gripped Helga’s hand as he returned the kiss. He
smiled, a knowledgeable smile, “Lana has already found him Helga. Trust me, she
has the right man!”

“What, how do you know?” Helga could not suppress the look
of jealousy on her face as she turned to Lana. “How have you…?”

“It doesn’t matter Helga, not now,” Von Kurst’s voice had
become penetratingly low. He was ready, both for his speech and for action! His
face drew close to Helga’s, “you see the tall man with dark blonde hair, at the
rear of the showroom, in amongst the press contingent?” he whispered.

“Yes.”

“Enter his mind, concentrate hard, and give him one hell of
a fucking big headache!”

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IF YOU WILL KINDLY TAKE TO YOUR
SEATS, MISTER VON KURST IS ABOUT TO BEGIN HIS PRESENTATION. PLEASE CAN I REMIND
ALL OF YOU TO MAKE SURE YOUR MOBILE PHONES ARE SWITCHED OFF! THANK YOU!”

That voice thought Piper, over the Tannoy, no, it couldn’t
be! He turned around, facing the podium, or what he could see of it. The
atmosphere in the showroom was electric as the guests and media representatives
took their seats. Piper moved to his, his eyes quickly glancing at the woman
holding the microphone. He didn’t recognise her, but she seemed close to Von
Kurst, he could sense it. His gaze took him back to Lana Franke, sitting to the
right of the podium, facing the audience. Her eyes were set on his, her look,
slightly menacing. Was it his imagination, he thought, or was she smiling at
him? No, get your thoughts together, this is it, get into Von Kurst’s mind and
quickly. Piper gazed again at the attractive woman with the microphone. He
turned to a journalist next to him, from the German newspaper ‘Bild’. “Sorry to
trouble you,” he asked casually, “do you know who the woman on the podium is?”

The journalist turned lazily to Piper, as if to say, you
should know yourself, “yes, it’s Mister Von Kurst’s Secretary, Ms Helga Zeist.”

“Thanks!” Shit he thought, Von Kurst’s secretary, she was
the key person involved in organising the guest list. He shook his head; it was
throbbing.

The German reporter turned again to Piper, “are you
alright?” he asked, looking slightly worried, “you don’t look so good!”

“I’m fine, just a headache, thanks for asking.” This isn’t
just a headache he thought, it’s not like the others. Again, his gaze drifted
to Helga. Could it be? Her voice, it was the same…as in his dreams. No! Get a
grip, concentrate! Get into Von Kurst’s head!

As VKE’s Managing Director prepared for his speech, Piper
noticed many of the guests switching off their mobile phones. He didn’t bother
to switch off his own. He had no need, as he knew no one would ring him. His
line was strictly for an emergency, and Piper had a very bad feeling that same
emergency was going to take place…very soon.

“LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WILL YOU PLEASE WELCOME THE CHAIRMAN
AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF VON KURST ELECTRONICS… MISTER OTTO VON KURST!” Helga
Zeist began the rapturous applause that greeted the man walking onto the
podium, a large beaming grin sat on his face as he took the microphone from
Helga’s hand. The applause continued, so too did Von Kurst’s grin.

The smug, self-righteous bastard, thought Piper.

“Thank you, thank you, you are all so very kind.” Von Kurst
spoke slowly, professionally, his aura once again making its mark on everyone
in the audience, including Piper. “Ladies and gentlemen, please accept my
utmost thanks for your attendance here tonight. As I said earlier, it is a
great pleasure to meet with you all and to re-acquaint myself with old friends,
and of course…” the grin appeared again, “…to make new ones.” There was a
slight echo of laughter. The audience once again held captive by Von Kurst’s
charm and charisma. “Firstly, I must apologise for the level of security this
evening. Unfortunately, as you are all too aware, we live in trying and very
dangerous times. Sadly, the threat of terrorism is all around us and obviously,
with the dreadful atrocities recently perpetrated by the European Muslim
Freedom Fighters and the continued rioting in our city, I thought it best to
have extra security in place. Your safety is of paramount importance to myself
and all the Board members of VKE.”

There was gentle applause from the audience as Piper sat
staring at his enemy, his concentration deepening. He closed his eyes. Think,
concentrate! Get into his mind. Just what the hell are you planning Von Kurst?
I need to know!

In CEATA’s Communications Room, the tension was increasing
by the second, there being no further evidence of the extra four detonations
everyone expected, and still no further proof as to what the leader of the New
Totenkopf was really planning. “This could be it Colonel,” Jeanette Descard
turned quickly towards Charles Mann, who returned her gaze.

“It’s now or never,” he said, a look of forlorn concern
sweeping across his face, “come on Red Haze, get inside the bastard’s head,” he
muttered. Charles Mann turned to Maurice Hertschell who had joined the team
just minutes earlier. “It’s a waiting game Maurice, and by my reckoning Red
Haze has to psyche Von Kurst out within the next hour, then leave…rapidly.”

There was no reply from CEATA’s Commander in Chief!

On the VKE podium, Otto Von Kurst continued his speech, his
audience held in a mesmerising wave of charisma and high intellect. “My
friends, as you are all aware, microchip production has been in recession for
some months now. But why is that? These marvellous, wafer thin advances of
modern technology should not be held in recession! Far from it! But now of
course, in today’s cutthroat world of hi-tec business, there is so much
competition between microchip production companies! Ruthless competition,
involving cost cutting and redundancies. This competition is not helping
anyone…is it? So my friends, I now ask all of you, what can we make…of the
future? Yes, what of the future for our brave new modern world? The world of
the twenty first century requires new technology. A new technology to halt this
recession! ”

The Chairman and Managing Director of Von Kurst Electronics
walked slowly, tentatively across the podium, a microphone gripped tightly in
his right hand. In a strange way Von Kurst’s pompous oratory reminded Ash Piper
of American politicians speaking to the masses, rallying their support before a
general election. For Otto Von Kurst, his relaxed demeanour and positive body
language seemed to have his audience transfixed, glued to his resonance his,
some would observe, spiritual way of speaking. Piper closed his eyes again, his
thoughts reaching out to the man on the podium. Come on, get into his head, he
thought. Open up Von Kurst. Fucking well open up!

“This new technology my dear friends, has now arrived…”
there was a pause in Von Kurst’s speech. He looked around then down at the mass
of journalists, all listening intently, many quickly scribbling notes.

Piper suddenly opened his eyes. Shit he thought, God, my
head!

“WE KNOW YOU ARE HERE, LONE ONE!”

Piper began to sweat! That voice, he thought, in my head,
again…the woman’s voice. He closed his eyes once more as Von Kurst continued
his speech, now and again casually glancing over to where Piper sat, as if he
didn’t have a care in the world. Piper pushed his thoughts further,
concentrating solely on the man on the podium. Then, as his body tensed, he saw
an image being projected into his own mind. A large, snarling wolf, standing on
its hind legs next to a body, ripped to shreds. My God he thought, opening his
eyes quickly.