One who loves him, I suppose.
Or perhaps one who has been kept in the dark all these years. But then that would make her unbelievably stupid or very smart. Holic is a wealthy man. His debauchery affords her an excessive lifestyle.
She is neither stupid nor a woman who sanctions debauchery.
Is that so?
Yes, thats so.
Because you know her so well, right? If you say yes, you would be the only one. Shes as elusive as he is. When she didnt answer him, he said, I wonder if love is worth it.
Excuse me?
You said she loves him.
No, I said maybe she loves him.
And if she doesnt?
Then his death could be a celebration.
And if she does love him?
The gift of freedom can be a wonderful present to an imprisoned soul.
You dont believe in fate, then?
Living a life determined by fate is for passive dreamers who lack the confidence to embrace change and make healthy choices.
Is that your definition of Holics mystery wife?
Mady Reznik is not a dreamer. Shes a brave woman, caught in a storm of circumstance.
Mady Bjorns memory zeroed in on the name. In Rezniks file there was no information on the woman he had married. Nothing, but that he had a wife and a child. He said, They had a kid, right?
She was named Prisca after her grandmother. Ive often wondered if she is fair and slight like her mother, or if shes tall with hair as dark as her fathers black locks.
The comment convinced Bjorn that Nadja knew things no one else knew. Why was that? Or maybe a better question to ask was, who was Nadja Stefn before she became Quests bedroom assassin?
She glanced at the third monitor, and her interest made Bjorn look, too. Merrick was telling Polax that they should start without Q because her presence wasnt necessary to conclude the meeting.
Nadja motioned to the high-tech silver phone on Polaxs desk. Pick it up, Agent Odell. Ring Polax. Theres a similar phone in the conclave. When he picks it up, ask to speak to your commander. Tell him youve changed your mind. Tell him youve decided on the blonde with the cotton-candy ass.
Bjorn hated to admit it, but hed be a fool not to take her with him. If she could pinpoint Holic Rezniks hideout, then that would put him back on schedule. Possibly ahead of schedule.
Pick up the phone, Bjorn. Tell your commander youve had a change of heart. Tell him youve decided to carry around a spring-loaded cock after all. Her eyes found his crotch. And here I was worried that you might have injured yourself in Vienna. Its a relief to know there wasnt any permanent damage.
Merrick was standing now, clearing his throat to deliver Bjorns choice. Without further delay, Bjorn picked up the phone and pressed the red button on the panel labeled Conclave.
Polaxs voice sounded. Yes, who is this?
Its Bjorn Odell. Put Merrick on.
But were in the middle of
I know what youre in the middle of. Im watching from a monitor in your office. Put Merrick on the phone.
A moment.
When the phone was pressed to Merricks ear, Bjorn said, The blonde is the better choice. Tell Polax to get Q ready to fly. Tell him Bjorns eyes locked with Nadjas shell need plenty of wool panties to keep her sweet ass warm. The temperatures have been in the deep-freeze there in the past few days.
The minute he hit the button and disconnected the call, she said, Very good, Agent Odell. Now turn around and face the wall.
What?
Do it. She aimed the Springfield at his heart. Turn around and face the wall.
He turned and faced the wall just as Merrick announced that Nadja Stefn would be joining the Onyxx mission to Austria. A second later the scent of Alpine heather told him she had come up behind him. She leaned in, and her full breasts pressed into his back. Her gun hand moved over his hip, then down his thigh, letting him feel the hard steel against his leg. She took her time, moved across his thigh and stroked his crotch with the short barrel of her pearl-handled .45worked his cock until it was stiff.
Its chilly in the Alps, she whispered close to his ear. Wool panties are a good idea. Better pack an extra sock for yourself. You wouldnt want to freeze off anything you cant live without. The airport at midnight, then. Auf bald.
Bjorn left the Vysehrad Museum cursing his crystal-clear memory, and the snow that had gotten worse throughout the day. He hated winter. The cold shriveled your dick and made you aware of all your aches and pains. Reminded you of your vulnerability. It made him feel old, and then not old enough because he could still remember what it felt like to be alone and cold.
To be a hungry snot-nosed kid on the streets of Copenhagen.
Still, he didnt hail a cab, opting to walk instead to his hotel in Old Town even though the chill in the air was bone deep. In his room he spent time at the window thinking about Holic, then thinking about Nadja. She had looked
amazing today. Curvy and beautiful. So goddamn beautiful.
At six oclock he joined Merrick in the dining room at the hotel and they shared an evening meal. When the waiter arrived, he ordered a gin martini while his commander requested his favored bottle of Glen Moray. Over food and drink they finalized the last details of the mission. Before Bjorn left the dining room to return to his room, he ordered a bottle of gin to take along with him.